She travels to Kinshasa to start to investigate and soon a web of storylines begins which, in this viewer's opinion, is symbolic of a widow's web. The topic itself, made into a series (no US series!) The Widow is not great, but is good and very enjoyable. Bad acting, bad cinematography, bad directing, bad storyline, bad sound effects (Kate seems like talking from another planet or maybe cannot talk properly due to cosmetics), bad music (lamentable, inconsistent with whatever is the thing we are watching), bad expressions (Kate cannot move anything in her face), bad make-up artist (feels like tons of make-up)...bad...ukhkkk...couldn't finish the second episode. Bizarre. The plot is gritty, violent, insightful, duplicitous, thrilling, sterling, intelligent and has a cathartic ending. In spite of what a lot of other people say, I thought it was excellently made with a lot of twists & turns. This seems to of gone on for the simple fact that it had to be 8 episodes even though the story, cast and personalities weren't strong enough to get it past 5. Parents need to know that The Widow is a mature drama about a woman (Kate Beckinsale) whose husband disappears while he's on a mission in Africa.Violence is frequent, with a major storyline involving child soldiers who carry guns and participate (reluctantly) in the murder of civilians; we hear gunshots and people begging for their lives but don't see actual deaths. You also see the deplorable side of the Congo rebels or milita killing innocents while they kidnap the children training them to be killers for their cause or just be the hired help. If I was Kate, I'd put a bullet in his head. The dialogue is so stilted, so poorly written, littered with expletives to attempt to improve the realism but littered with the wrong ones. They spend months tracking him, creating a fantasy around him, and convince themselves he's hiding bodies in his attic. The same goes for the human rights violations and vile child labor when it comes to the mining. Ok.. Bad acting, bad writing, and distracting cosmetic surgery by the usually gorgeous Beckinsale, Keeps getting dumber as you watch more episodes, A Widow's Web Of Deceit, Corruption And Truth, A ridiculous plot that ruins the entire series at the end, Predictable plot, subpar acting, pretty awful writing, doesn't engage the audience, very flat and monotonous, Frustrating to watch, Although I kept watching, I wanted to like it, but there were no explosive moments, TV Shows I Have Completed, Or Am Up To Date With. This series has formidable direction, writing, cinematography, settings, score and acting. Well, that mystery is solved. It also touches slightly on the horrendous acts of forcing children to kill for the merciless militant groups. They had a lot to work with and make it interesting. Could be better. Yet it does involve you in the characters lives and definitely holds your interest. I'm a big fan of Kate Beckinsale and she did not disappoint. (In particular, a storyline about two blind people in the Netherlands seeking treatment to restore their eyesight is completely unnecessary.). With Kate Beckinsale, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Charles Dance, Matthew Le Nevez. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. The flash backs are confusing. She sees a man being pulled through the fighting wearing an orange baseball cap that is identical to what Will was wearing when he embarked on the fatal flight. Set in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the eight-episode series also contributes to the self-perpetuating canon of white-savior narratives, despite efforts to present the Congolese with far more range and depth than has been seen traditionally on screen. Writers Harry and Jack Williams, best known for the gripping thriller “The Missing,” showcase Kate Beckinsale’s considerable talents in “The Widow,” an intriguing mystery-adventure that ultimately suffers from trying to shoehorn in too many storylines. The score adds to the intensity of certain scenes and the overall tone of the series. Well-done, compelling series. This story started off very well and can certainly be called a thriller, lots of intrigue and mystery. This is a definite weakness of the show. And this is Africa but no wildlife? I will say it was a decent watch, I watched, but kept pausing to Googled a Recap of episodes to figure it out.. Both Adidja and Emmanuel (Jacky Ido) — a man who lost his wife on the same ill-fated flight — are the series’ most sympathetic Congolese characters. She looks like a meg ryan or nicole kidman post-plastic enhancements (surgery or not). A glimpse of his telltale orange baseball cap on the news leads her to believe he might still be alive, and thus begins her African adventure in which she plays amateur sleuth and dusts off her rusty Army skills. The best part of the show is Kate Beckinse's amazing hair which magically stays perfectly curled even while walking through a jungle for days.