The highly-polarized docuseries “Queen Cleopatra ” has been the talk of the town for weeks now. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the release, with many opinions about its motives and historical coupe. However, after its recent debut, the numbers are in, and it’s safe to say that this rendition of “Queen Cleopatra ” has met its rightful fate. Stay tuned to find out what kind of fate.
Remember this much anticipated docusies by Netflix?
From the moment it was announced, “Queen Cleopatra” has been an object of controversy and contention. The show, produced by Jada Pinkett Smith, promised to delve into the life and legacy of one of ancient Egypt’s most iconic queens. But as soon as the show premiered, it became clear that not everyone was happy with the way it was shaping up. According to rotten tomatoes, there is a 2% audience rating and an 11% critic rating for the docudrama.
One of the biggest points of contention has been the casting of Adele James, a mixed-race actress, in the role of Cleopatra. Many Egyptians, who consider Cleopatra to be an important part of their country’s cultural heritage, were outraged by the choice. They argued that Cleopatra was a white queen and that casting a mixed-race actress in the role was a form of misrepresentation.
One critic had this to say, “Willing to give it a chance since it was promoted so much for some reason on my feed. I don’t know where all the money goes to these shows you can never notice it. The acting wasn’t the worst but the story is just slow and dreadful,”
Another commenter said.“If this was supposed to be a fictitious, loosely based reimagining of Queen Cleopatra this would be an otherwise ok film. However it is being showcased as a documentary and the insurmountable inaccuracies of this ‘documentary’ are too many to ignore.”
Even critics who were initially excited about the show have been disappointed by its execution. The Daily Telegraph called it “too soapy for serious history fans, and not enough of a soap for viewers who like juicy historical dramas.” Others have criticized the show’s pacing and storytelling, suggesting that it fails to do justice to such an important and complex figure as Cleopatra.
But despite the backlash, some defenders of the show remain. Director Tina Gharavi, for example, has defended the choice to cast Adele James as Cleopatra, arguing that it’s a powerful statement to see a black actress in the role. She has also pushed back against accusations of historical inaccuracies, stating that the show is intended to be a “reimagining” of Cleopatra rather than a completely accurate retelling of her story.
The new docuseries produced by Jada Pinkett Smith has been ruffling some feathers since it was announced. With the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities already releasing a statement saying the project didn’t accurately reflect history, it’s not surprising to see some negative reviews rolling in. The backlash told the entire success story. The world wants the truth to be told, not racial agenda.
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