This review could not go down with many South Africans as a either a disappointment in my taste of stories but if you could please stick with me halfway through this review, you might come to the conclusion that you appreciate this article. Also, I'll leave you with a great tip at the end which could make watching this series a 100 times better.
Wille and his brother Pieter Esterhuizen did a remake of the beloved Afrikaans comedy, Vetkoekpaleis. "Vetkeoekpaleis I " was brilliant, entertaining and everything you can expect from one of the Esterhuizen productions like "Orkney Snork nie" and "Mollie and Wors".
What is 'Vetkoekpaleis II' about
I personally love the setting for the remake. Now, Boeboe obviously became older, but she was replaced by supposedly her daughter Boudjies. She's also extremely attractive even though it sounds as if she speaks Afrikaans with some kind of an accent.
Oom Frik who used to be portarayed by Zack du Plessis is sadly not with us anymore, so now Worsie (Willie Esterhuizen) is the new owner. He's much more mature now.
Klein Frikkadel is the new addition who portrays Worsie's old role as the cook, but with a twist. He supposedly used to run Vetkoekpaleis after probably inheriting it and the business failed dismally.
Tannie Poppie's still in the picture but the security guards, old Sheredan and crew are replaced by larger white guys who can only wish to be half as funny. They've lost that Capetonian coloured guys effect.
Another addition that extremely upped the potential is Lizz Meyring who played her Iconic role, now as Mollie, Worsie's wife and not Boeboe's cousin anymore. Once again, she's perfect.
Stuff that could cause a bit of confusion
Since the shop/ set was reinvented, the shop will seem smaller and the decor changed a bit. The new uniforms are the same patterns and colour, but
The shop look different. The video quality is nice and sharp and the sound quality is perfect, however the set end costume design feels fake.
We last saw Worsie marrying Koekie, but now he's married to Mollie. Mollie, portrayed by Liz Meiring has ample experience playing the role as Mollie. Even how lovely she is in the role, she used to be Sue-Ellen in the first series.
The one thing that stopped me from watching the rest of the series
The one single thing that stopped me from getting past the first two episodes is the lack of using the potential for another great series that will become a staple in Afrikaans culture. This doesn't continue from the old series. It doesn't even have the same kind of magic it used to have and feel forced, or a lost of interest.
Watching this series feels like the script of the first series was merely adapted for the new cast. The story is nearly word for word exactly the same.
The Verdict
I feel that by adapting the script from the first series was lazy and somehow irritating in the back of my mind. Especially knowing that the original writers are involved who has the best talent in the world to once again create a magical experience for the Afrikaans community.
Finding the series on Afriforum TV actually introduced me to the channel, but it isn't perfectly compatible with smart tv's as an app.
Obviously there's nothing wrong with the cast nor the set, having a world of potential. By using the same script, I refuse to watch it further because I feel it is an insult to the first series. For that reason I'll give Vetkoekpaleis II a rating of three out of ten. It pains me to ever give such a low rating to a production I adore.
I feel that although this extremely experienced cast aren't being done justice by the production which makes me suspect that there is something else wrong.
Rating: 3/10
Tip
If you've recently watched the first series, wait maybe a year or two before watching the second. Don't watch it with the first series fresh in your memory as you'll quickly feel disappointed. If you haven't watched the first season recently, go ahead and enjoy yourself.
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