It's the festive season, and everyone is home. You pick the remote to find something for everyone to watch, you like the thumbnail of 4Play. Hold your horses, I wouldn't do that especially if children are around. This Showmax original show leans heavily into what I can only describe as risqué storytelling.
This is a raunchy show. But, the raunchiness is not gratuitous, it’s actually integral to the story. Beneath the provocative surface is a narrative about relatable struggles, anchored by a well-rounded cast.
4Play, on the surface, may seem to be designed for men exclusively, but there's more to it than that. The story takes a swing at exploring themes of love, friendship, and personal struggles among men living in Nairobi’s flashy, hustle culture.
The title card and it's imagery in relation to the story is cool. The opening credits design-wise also work.
The show stars Daniel Weke, Elsaphan Njora, Maina wa Ndungu, and Bilal Wanjau as Malik, Allan, Edu, and Michael, respectively.
Supporting them are Patricia Kihoro, Habida Moloney, Tracy Macharia and Jimmy Gathu, who add complexity and depth to their roles. The performances elevate the series, particularly as the character continues to grow when some of the characters begin shedding what at first looks like one-dimensional story arcs.
For instance, Edu, the seemingly stereotypical dealer and Lorna the “annoyed housewife” archetypes transform into something richer as their personalities start coming together in the third episode. The evolution of the characters, especially when they start to cross paths, is where the script works.
The four main characters, who call themselves "The Aces," deal with relatable issues; financial struggles, familial pressures, and emotional vulnerabilities. These characters could easily be someone you know or have seen in the city’s nightlife, or in your neighbourhood.
What’s most commendable is how the raunchy elements are interwoven into the story. While some scenes exist purely for shock value, the majority of the provocative content serves to emphasise the characters’ struggles and relationships. These moments feel authentic rather than forced, if you have been in long-term relationship/marriage some moments are very familiar regarding bedroom matters.
From the casting to the costume design to location choices, there was a clear move to create a visually believable world. The characters look and feel authentic, whether it’s Jimmy Gathu in his suit or Lorna, the stylish housewife, in her understated wardrobe. The costume and makeup teams help in creating visuals that match the personalities and circumstances the characters find themselves in.
The cinematography captures Nairobi beautifully, especially with the B-rolls, blending generic cityscapes with stunning, creative shots every once in a while.
The music, like the story, gets better with time since one of the character's arc revolve around music.
Negatives
The ADR (automated dialogue replacement) work in 4Play is too clean and obvious, often overpowering ambient sounds. This is most noticeable in scenes set in noisy environments, like clubs, where the lack of believable background noise detracts from the audio immersion.
The show is relatable, but there are a lot of familiar tropes that I thought lean towards just lazy writing. There are characters and situations that would have worked really well with a bit of subversion.
The editing, however, is a mixed bag. While the B-rolls add energy and pacing to the show, dialogue scenes sometimes feel sluggish.
There are noticeable pauses between lines, which makes the conversations feel less natural.
The lack of individual episode titles is a missed opportunity. Unique titles could have given each episode a distinct identity and made the story feel more segmented rather than one long narrative.
Elevation
Look, this series starts slow, using its first episode to establish the characters and setting. However, by the second and third episodes, the stakes rise, and the relationships deepen like Allan, Malik and the “engineer” relationship.
The chemistry between the characters becomes more engaging, especially as their personal challenges intersect. Notably, the dynamic relationship between Habida and Edu's character stands out, adding tension and intrigue.
The set-up for some of the characters looks promising like a character played by Patricia Kihoro has a brilliant set-up with Allan. Micheal has his own secrets that slowly start to come to life and Edu's role within the story might be generic but it's promising.
Final Thoughts
4Play is a decent series that isn’t afraid to explore uncomfortable topics. While it has some technical flaws—particularly in sound design and editing— and some character tropes are too familiar and might at times lean more towards lazy writing, it delivers an entertaining and relatable portrayal of Nairobi’s middle class.
The performances, thematic depth, and polished visuals make it a series worth following.
