Netflix Wanted More Anikulapo. The Story May Not Have Needed It

From Mythic Masterpiece to Expansive Franchise

When Anikulapo first dropped on Netflix in 2022, it didn’t feel like just another Nollywood release, it felt like a moment. Rooted deeply in Yoruba folklore, the film stood out for its rich visuals, strong performances, and emotional storytelling. Kunle Afolayan showed what Nigerian cinema could look like when culture meets ambition. The story was focused, the characters felt real, and the world it created pulled you in. It proved that Nollywood could deliver spectacle without losing soul. Naturally, success led to expansion, first with Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre in 2024, and now Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens. But this latest chapter exposes something important, not every great film is meant to become a series. What once felt tight and meaningful now feels stretched, and the story that was once contained is beginning to feel scattered.

Narrative Ambition That Loses Its Way

The Ghoul Awakens opens with big ideas, starting in the afterlife, bringing back Bashorun Ogunjimi, and expanding beyond Oyo into wider territories and political conflicts. On paper, it sounds exciting. But watching it unfold, you start to feel overwhelmed. There are too many storylines happening at once, too many side characters, and too many mystical detours that don’t always connect back to the main plot. Instead of carrying viewers on a clear emotional journey, the series often feels like it’s trying to say everything at the same time. The result is a story that feels busy but not necessarily deep, ambitious, yes, but also confusing. You find yourself asking, “Where exactly is this going?”

Characters That Deserve Better

One of the biggest disappointments this season is how the characters are handled. In the original film, Saro and Arolake had clear motivations and emotional weight. You understood their choices, even when they were flawed. In The Ghoul Awakens, that connection is mostly gone. Saro, once the heart of the story, is removed too quickly and without enough narrative care, turning a complex lead into little more than a spiritual symbol. New characters like Prince Aderoju and Omowunmi arrive with potential, but their stories don’t get the attention they deserve. You can tell the actors are trying, but the writing doesn’t always support them. It becomes hard to fully invest in anyone’s journey because the emotional groundwork simply isn’t there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNctJq935-k

Anikulapo Season 2 Is Beautiful to Look At, Hard to Follow

Visually, The Ghoul Awakens still carries Kunle Afolayan’s signature style. The costumes, locations, and cinematography do a solid job of bringing Yoruba mythology to life, and the darker “ghoul” elements add a layer of horror that works in places. But visuals can only go so far. Long exposition scenes, slow pacing, and constant plot detours make it difficult to stay emotionally connected. You admire the look of the show, but you’re often struggling to understand the direction of the story. For me, this is where the series stumbles most, it looks good, but it doesn’t always feel good to watch.

Bright Moments in an Uneven Season

To be fair, the series isn’t without its strengths. Some performances land well, especially in intense confrontations. The world-building remains impressive, and there are moments that remind you why Anikulapo mattered in the first place. The spiritual themes, cultural textures, and occasional emotional peaks still shine through. But these moments feel scattered. Instead of building toward something powerful, the season often feels like a collection of isolated high points. You get flashes of brilliance, just not enough consistency to carry the entire story.

A Franchise Searching for Its Identity

At its core, Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens feels caught between two worlds, the intimate storytelling of the original film and the sprawling demands of a streaming series. This is a common problem in today’s franchise culture, turning a successful movie into a long-form series without properly reworking the narrative structure. While the ambition is clear and the production quality remains respectable, the emotional center keeps slipping away. Fans of the franchise will likely stay invested, but casual viewers may find it hard to keep up. The series serves as a reminder that expansion alone doesn’t guarantee depth. Without strong storytelling to anchor it all, even the most visually striking worlds can lose their meaning.