Unseen (TV series)

Last updated
Unseen
Genre
Created by
Based on Fatma
by Özgür Önürme
Starring
Music by
Country of originSouth Africa
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
  • Simon Beesley
  • Nosipho Dumisa
  • Bradley Joshua
  • Daryne Joshua
  • Benjamin Overmeyer
  • Travis Taute
CinematographyZenn van Zyl
Editors
  • Simon Beesley
  • Aluta Mlisana
  • Tanja Hagen
  • Andrea Shaw
Production companies
  • Gambit Films
  • Idea Film & Creatives
  • Filmscape
Original release
Network Netflix
Release29 March 2023 (2023-03-29) 
present

Unseen is a 2023 South African crime drama television series created by Travis Taute and Daryne Joshua. The series is a South African adaptation based on Fatma , a 2021 Turkish drama series.

Contents

Premise

A house cleaner desperately searches for her husband as a dreaded criminal syndicate dredges up past tragedies and ultimately drives her to violence. [1]

Cast

Episodes

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
1 629 March 2023 (2023-03-29)
2 62 May 2025 (2025-05-02)

Season 1 (2023)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Episode 1"Travis TauteSean Drummond29 March 2023 (2023-03-29)
After her husband, Max, is released from jail but doesn't arrive home, Zenzi Mwale struggles to find him — and gets pulled into a deadly criminal web.
22"Episode 2"Travis TauteTristram Atkins29 March 2023 (2023-03-29)
Zenzi encounters one dead end after another in her search for Max. Enrico threatens to leave her homeless, while Raymond proposes a risky job.
33"Episode 3"Twiggy MatiwanaMeesha Aboo29 March 2023 (2023-03-29)
The police begin to question Zenzi when another suspicious death occurs. Lufuno attempts to learn more about Zenzi's life for his book.
44"Episode 4"Rolie NikiweTristram Atkins29 March 2023 (2023-03-29)
Zenzi has a harrowing night. Later, the truth of Max's crime and Esulu's death begins to emerge. Fearing for Zenzi's safety, Lufuno calls Naledi.
55"Episode 5"Rolie NikiweMeesha Aboo29 March 2023 (2023-03-29)
After fleeing town, Zenzi encounters new revelations and perilous obstacles. The police investigation widens, while Joseph's silence worries Raymond.
66"Episode 6"Travis TauteSean Drummond29 March 2023 (2023-03-29)
In her furious search for the truth, Zenzi confronts the shooter who tore her family apart. A showdown at Blessing's club may push Zenzi to the brink.

Season 2 (2025)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
71"Wallflower"Travis TauteSean Drummond
Story by: Travis Taute & Meesha Aboo & Tristram Atkins & Sean Drummond
2 May 2025 (2025-05-02)
Zenzi's new reality brings with it enemies and alliances, as prison life proves to be harsher than she expected. Detective Lyners begins to dig deeper.
82"What You Won't Do For Love"Travis TauteTristram Atkins
Story by: Travis Taute & Meesha Aboo & Tristram Atkins & Sean Drummond
2 May 2025 (2025-05-02)
In the wake of murder, Detective Morkel's rage sends him on a vengeance-filled mission and Zenzi shows up injured on her sister's front doorstep.
93"Homecoming"Rea RangakaMeesha Aboo
Story by: Travis Taute & Meesha Aboo & Tristram Atkins & Sean Drummond
2 May 2025 (2025-05-02)
Zenzi's clean escape is deterred when TK's threats move to the safety of her sister, but will her protection be enough when the past comes knocking?
104"Reckoning"Rea RangakaMeesha Aboo
Story by: Travis Taute & Meesha Aboo & Tristram Atkins & Sean Drummond
2 May 2025 (2025-05-02)
Detective Morkel goes against orders looking for the truth. Zenzi is now caught between hell and incarceration as law enforcement catches up with her.
115"Wolves"Brett Michael InnesTristram Atkins
Story by: Travis Taute & Meesha Aboo & Tristran Atkins & Sean Drummond
2 May 2025 (2025-05-02)
Naledi and her sister part ways, but when Zenzi reaches Lufuno, his fate has already been sealed. Meanwhile, an unlikely partnership is formed.
126"Collision"Brett Michael InnesSean Drummond
Story by: Travis Taute & Meesha Aboo & Tristram Atkins & Sean Drummond
2 May 2025 (2025-05-02)
The tapestry weaves together as police, outlaws and felons all find themselves at Andrew Harting's trust event. Will Zenzi finally find her vengeance?

Filming

It was filmed in South Africa mostly in and around Cape Town. [2]

Release

The show was released on Netflix on Wednesday, 29 March 2023 consisting of one season for a total of 6 episodes. Unseen was renewed for a second season which premiered on Netflix on 2 May 2025. [3]

Reception

After the premier of season 1 the show rose in the global charts and was one of the most watched series in Africa in 2023. [4] The show received significant praise for its depiction of people who are not valued in the community with Gail Mabalane getting critical acclaim for her role as Zenzi in Unseen and has been called the heart and soul of this show. [5] [6]

There have been polarised reactions based on the reception of Fatma, even though they are similar with the biggest difference between the two series being the location with some questioning why the remake was made. [7]

The anticipated Unseen Season 2 which was hyped to have more twists and new faces, [8] appears to be generating a largely positive hype with continued praise for Gail Mabalane as well as the new cast member Danica De La Rey Jones. [9] The new season has also faced criticism for its pacing and drawn out scenes that rehash already known knowledge. [10]

References

  1. "'Unseen' Netflix Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  2. Shrestha, Naman (March 27, 2023). "Where is Netflix's Unseen Filmed". TheCinemaHolic.
  3. Singh, Anjali (2025-04-09). "Unseen Season 2: Release date news, streaming details and more about the Netflix thriller's upcoming chapter". www.soapcentral.com. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  4. "12 African Series You May Have Missed in 2023 - Afrocritik". 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  5. McKay, Karelle (2023-07-06). "I Binge-Watched All 6 Episodes of Netflix Crime-Thriller 'Unseen' in Under a Week". PureWow. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  6. "Unseen Series Review". Becoming The Muse. 2023-04-12.
  7. MacArthur, Greg (2023-04-24). "Why Netflix's Unseen Has Such Mixed Reviews". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  8. Magagula, Nompumelelo. "Unseen season 2 set to be more intense as Zenzi Mwale escapes from prison". City Press. Retrieved 2025-05-03.
  9. "Unseason Season 2 Review". Becoming The Muse. 2025-05-03.
  10. Sharma, Anjali. "Netflix 'Unseen' Season 2 Review - A Cleaner's Comeback That's Grimy, Gritty, and Occasionally Glorious". moviesr.net. Retrieved 2025-05-03.