Nonkels (2022-2024)

The first season of 'Nonkels' could not hold my attention, but this excellent sequel does. Pleasantly surprised that it is possible to create an inclusive series without seeming pushy. There are no fewer than two disabled people playing, someone with dwarfism and someone with Down syndrome, and both are not DEA fifth wheels in the car, but get enough lines and do excellently. Jaimie Van Kerschaver, whom some know from Down the Road, shines as comic relief and William Boeva also plays his supporting role with verve. And of course there is the black Innocent Dipanda and his girlfriend Safa Ngono, so that the whole of Flanders could feel represented in the series. Yet the editors of the newspaper De Standaard were able to accuse the makers of racism. Apart from some contempt for the Flemish identity (Innocent still does not speak a word of Dutch after all this time), I could not detect any racism myself, but then I have not completed any training as a journalist.

The best actors are actually in the supporting roles. Then I think of the two cash register colleagues of Luc Persyn and Carine, played by Isabelle van Hecke. The latter delivers another great bitch. But the other cast also performs fantastically well. As a Flemish person with a garden, I can be found in garden centers every week, so the decor in the garden center by Christian Van Eeden, wonderfully played by the always fantastic Wim Opbrouck, also felt familiar. There are some hilarious scenes, but the series mainly provides mindless diversion, more than enough for me.

Translated from Dutch · View original

Just like the first season, quite enjoyable and at times even really funny, but elsewhere Nonkels is a bit too close to the level of, say, FC De Kampioenen for me personally. Lots of misunderstandings and sometimes just a bit too bland.

I initially rated the first year at 3.5*, but then reduced it to 3*. I'll stick with that for season 2. But I'd like to join in again for a third season.

Translated from Dutch · View original