Run The World review: This fantastic foursome will have you rooted to the screen as you become a part of their lives

3.5/5

Story: Four thirty-something best friends are always there for each other, as they navigate their romantic life and career with the idea of world domination. Enter the world of Whitney, Ella, Renee and Sondi as they party all night and find themselves in Harlem. 

Review: It’s not often one finds themselves thrown into a series about the lives of four girl friends who just like to have a blast and take life as it comes, and come out of it feeling great after binging the entire season. But thanks to the glimmering setting, cultural richness and great characters that are on show, Run The World becomes a breezy watch that lets you laugh and enjoy life for four hours. 

The series follows Whitney Green (Amber Stevens West), Ella McFair (Andrea Bordeaux), Renee Ross (Bresha Webb) and Sondi Hil (Corbin Reid), four best friends in their thirties who have one eye on their career and the other on how to live the best life. But even as they crash bars till late night and look for steamy one night stands, all of them have their own problems to deal with in their personal lives. 

Whitney is engaged to a doctor and is soon to be married, but has second thoughts as she feels she hasn’t lived her best life yet. Renee is sick and tired of her practically jobless husband who still lives the pipe dream, and decides to part ways with him. Ella is a failed writer who has to start her career over again with a digital tabloid, before her ex who still haunts her walks back into her life. Sondi is a doctoral student learning African-American studies, but is in a relationship with her guide. 

As life keeps throwing new problems into their lives, they are ready to kick back and handle it thanks to each others’ support. One of the reasons that makes Run The World fun is the conversations that they have with themselves. Be it oversharing their sex life with stories about getting a stink eye to a rather elaborate conversation about why most of them do not prefer black porn, some of them are great comedy. It is also great to see how they treat each other, almost reminding some of us of the relationships we had with our best friends. And this has to be the biggest reason as to how the show can easily grab the viewers’ attention and place them as a fly in the wall. 

The story, which could be slated as a tribute to the iconic Sex and the City, takes place in Harlem. The makers have done a great job at making sure that the culturally rich Harlem is used to its fullest. Giving us glimpses of its history to exquisite bars and restaurants to how life is lived there, Harlem is as much a member of the cast as the others, and it adds to the brilliant setting of the show. 

While it sounds like everything is breezy, fun and karaoke nights, this is not the case. There is a lot of drama that happens in the eight episodes, with the characters defining and redefining themselves. Ella finding her foothold in life again and Renee realising that maybe more sex and drinking just might not be her answer to a carefree divorce, are some of the things that stands out in the writing in this case. The other two friends also have their moments of change, which are just as much interesting to witness. 

While the four girls take the lead in the show, there are other characters as well that make an impression on us. Among them are Tosin Morohunfola’s Ola, the lovable fiancee, Stephen Bishop’s Matthew, the college professor and single dad, and Nick Sagar’s Anderson, the returning ex. All of the show’s cast looks good on screen and they play their characters to near perfection. The good acting comes unnoticed in most cases, simply because of the actors’ chemistry with each other. 

As this fiery foursome of sazzy, focused and proud African-American women navigate life at Harlem, we end up becoming just as concerned and involved in their lives as the characters in the show. The thirty minute runtime also makes Run The World a great series to binge. 

Verdict: Run The World becomes an interesting and engaging watch despite it just having the basic plot of shows from the past. Thanks to great acting and impeccable chemistry, the lives of the lead characters become important to the viewer and this makes the show great for a quick binge watch.