When Love Back first aired with Thomas Gumede, it was obvious that it would be a hit. Think about it, a show about departed lovers trying to get back with each other. There is no way you can script that.
While some people might feel it is a bit of an invasive show, we love it. So much so that it has cracked the nod for a second season. Sadly, Gumede, who is a producer of the show, will not host it this time around. In his place will be the animated and talented Wright Ngubeni (pictured).
The Generations and Rhythm City actor will bring his years of experience to the show. His cheesy personality will match that of Gumede’s who was responsible for listening to the parties who wanted to rekindle their love.
The biggest strength of this show is that it is as real as relationships get. Sometimes when you try to get back with someone, it works out and in other cases it doesn’t. That’s life and Love Back shows us just that.
What’s also interesting is the authentic reactions of the couples when they first have their surprise meetings. The host and the producers separate them for most of the show so they set up the audience for an interesting confrontation right at the end.
The only thing the show needs to work on is the dialogue. We need more detail when the couples end up speaking. The current situation sees them say a few lines to each other and then in no time they are in each other’s lives. Life is not like that. We need them to shout, cry and air their differences in a way that is familiar to us. Basically, what we are looking for are former couples with serious issues that can even take a few episodes to solve.
SABC has Nyan’Nyan’, a no-nonsense relationship show in the vein of Love Back. If Love Back were to take it up to a notch, it will get ratings as high as big shows like Our Perfect Wedding.
It is a new era, a new season with a new presenter – we hope that Ngubeni is up for the challenge.
l Love Back returns to Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) every Sunday at 6.30pm.