Bad blood in the Oval Office
More scandals and strife await when The Oval returns.
The Oval
Season 4 Wednesdays (from 23 November) BET (*129) 22:30
The White House is a subject that’s captivated Hollywood since movies and TV shows were first made, and writer-director Tyler Perry (Madea in the Madea film franchise) explores this in his series The Oval. The soap operastyled series – which looks at the lives of fictional US President Hunter Franklin (Ed Quinn, Randy from the comedy series 2 Broke Girls) and his family – is back for a fourth season and will look further into what it’s like to be one of the US’s most powerful families with their own personal relationships, challenges and scandalous behaviour. This story shows what the world would look like if it were run by maniacs and highlights the corruption of the political system.
Season 3 ended on a violent note with firearms aimed at, and by, the White House staff. Assistant to the Chief Of Staff Allan (Nick Barrotta in his breakout role) and Vice President Priscilla (Taja V Simpson, Jupiter in the drama series A House Divided) faced an assassination plot, while Chief Of Staff Donald (Lodric Collins, Smokey in the drama film Respect) and his wife Lilly (Ciera Payton, Wendy Williams in the drama film Wendy Williams: The Film) were shot by someone unknown after Lilly threatened to kill Donald.
“I wanted the show to follow the president home and upstairs to his residence. I wanted to follow the Secret Service home, the butler and the Chief Of Staff. Their lives outside of politics are what’s important,” explains Tyler.
MORE POTUS vs FLOTUS
“I wanted to have an interracial couple who’re not so good with each other,” adds Tyler, hinting that the animosity between President Hunter and his wife Victoria (Kron Moore, Dr Bridget Chapel in series Stargirl) continues in season 4.
Don’t expect to see the same dynamics like between former US President Barack Obama and his First Lady wife Michelle on screen. “Victoria is not
Michelle Obama,” says Kron about her character. “She is very opinionated and no-nonsense type of person. She seems to actually come off a little cold and scary, and that plays into how the audiences respond to this determined First
Lady Of The United States.”
INNER CONFLICT CONTINUES
Besides Hunter’s promiscuity and passing advances at the women around him, we were shocked last season to find out that he also dabbles in cocaine. In season 4, viewers can expect to be saved from this cliffhanger.
“Hunter Franklin is one of those individuals who has lived his dream to the fullest but also realised that it’s not all he thought I would be. He is filled with a bit of regret,” says Ed.
“He is hyperaware of all the damage, the trajectory and the success has had on his marriage and his family.”
The most interesting thing about the presidential character is that although he self-sabotages, the president still cares deeply about public opinion, like in season 3 when he overheard comments about what a bad dad he is. But will President Hunter improve in season 4?