With The Polygamist taking over Netflix viewing lists worldwide, two major Hollywood names have become the latest celebs to sing its praises—helping spark a fresh wave of buzz around the South African drama.
Key takeaways
- Sherri Shepherd shared an animated social media reaction to the Netflix series.
- Taraji P Henson said she already watched every episode during her day off.
- Shepherd and Henson’s comments were quickly amplified by fans and members of the show’s South African cast.
- The Polygamist is based on a novel by Zimbabwean-born author Sue Nyathi.
- The 22-episode series has been leading Netflix’s local streaming charts since it launched two weeks ago.
Hollywood stars react to Netflix’s The Polygamist
Daytime Emmy winner Sherri Shepherd kicked off the excitement with an animated post that reads like a mini review, telling her followers she’d been drawn into a Netflix story focused on a wealthy African family and the complicated romantic mess at the heart of it. She said the drama instantly had her hooked, adding a playful comparison: if Crazy Rich Asians impressed her, this would be “Crazy Rich Africans” in a whole new lane.
Taraji P Henson soon joined the conversation. Responding in Shepherd’s comment section, Henson revealed she’d already binge-watched all 22 episodes in a single day off. She also warned Shepherd that the conclusion would hit hard, writing that it “had [her] in a chokehold.”
The back-and-forth didn’t stay in the Hollywood orbit for long. Fans carried the exchange back to their corners of the internet, where it was met with enthusiasm from the series’ South African cast. Sdumo Mtshali, Celeste Ntuli, and Gugu Gumede were highlighted by fans in the comment section, and they used the moment to express their appreciation to Henson and Shepherd, saying, “Thank you so much for watching”.
What The Polygamist is about
For those new to the title, The Polygamist is a television adaptation of Zimbabwean-born author Sue Nyathi’s novel of the same name. The show centers on the Gomora family empire, led by patriarch Jonasi Gomora, portrayed by Sdumo Mtshali. His double life begins to unravel when his secret wife, Essie (played by Celeste Ntuli), reappears after he takes on a third wife, Matipa (Kwanele Mthethwa).
Gugu Gumede takes on the role of Joyce Gomora, a key figure around whom the family’s turmoil swirls as the women are pulled into the same orbit. Gumede described Joyce as a character that required both composure and emotional depth.
“I’ve often said, with Joyce, every tear I’ve cried, every laugh I’ve shared with my loved ones, every single thing – it was all there, and I could pour it into this woman,” she shared with News24.
Why the series is resonating
Premiering about two weeks ago, the 22-part series has been dominating Netflix’s local streaming charts, sparking the kind of widespread, everyday conversation South African audiences haven’t seen in a while. And for viewers still deciding whether to jump in, the message from the celebrity chorus is clear: if you haven’t watched yet, you’re missing out.
