After six showstopping seasons, drama-filled telenovela The River has come to an end.
Launched as the flagship show for 1Magic in 2018, fans were devastated to learn of the show’s cancellation.
“It will soon be time to bid goodbye to the beloved citizens of Refilwe, as M-Net local entertainment channels announces that 1Magic’s The River is coming to an end with its upcoming sixth season”, reads a statement from the channel.
Over the past five years, The River has become South Africa’s most-awarded telenovela, with 26 South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs), an International Emmy Award nomination and has since been adapted in many different countries across Africa, including Angola and Nigeria.
As the saying goes, ‘a good dancer always knows when to leave the stage’, and now it’s that time for The River season 6.” - @PhathuMakwarela. ??
— 1Magic (@1MagicTV) February 3, 2023
After six amazing seasons and a cast to match, #TheRiver1Magic comes to an end soon, time for one last dance in Refilwe. ICONIC. ??
Executive producer at Tshedza Pictures, Phathu Makwarela, explains in the statement how the story of The River was always meant to have a definite ending.
“Now on its sixth season, we feel the time is right to bring the story of these beloved characters to an end, on our own terms and when viewers still treasure the show”, Makwarela comments.
As the sixth and final season premieres, let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at the highlights and most shocking moments from the award-winning series:
1. An iconic villain emerges
Set against the backdrop of South Africa’s mining industry revolving around communities on opposite ends of the economic spectrum, renowned actress Sindi Dlathu brought to life the exquisite and cutthroat antagonist of the series Lindiwe Dlamini-Dikana.
She keeps us on the edge of our seats with her villainous schemes. Who could forget the mind-blowing murder of Thato Mokoena for the diamond he discovered to keep her mine afloat and prevent her family from losing everything, unaware that this very act set the wheels in motion for the astonishing twists and turns the show is known for?
2. Whose wedding is it anyway?
Arguably, the most iconic moments from the show have come from the lavish weddings that inspire love, betrayal and tragedy in every kind of way for the characters.
READ MORE | 2022 the year of viral TV weddings - Harriet and Hector, plus 4 couples that had us swooning
From the truth-bomb dropped by Lindani Dlomo (played by Lunga Shabalala) at Tumi Mokoena (played by Larona Moagi) and Zolani Dlamini’s (played by Lawrence Maleka) wedding, to witnessing Lindiwe’s shocking revenge play out at Gail Mathabatha (played by Mary-Anne Barlow) and Zweli Dikana’s (played by Hlomla Dandala) wedding, no one could’ve anticipated the emotional rollercoaster that was in store for them.
3. Tumi’s tragic demise
Tumi’s tragic arc on The River ends with her death in a helicopter explosion, caused by Lindiwe herself in an incredulous end to the third season of the show.
The climactic end to three seasons full of cover-ups, lies and murders is one highlight to the show we couldn’t forget.
4. The baby switch
If that wasn’t enough to get you hooked, viewers were left reeling at the classic swapped-at-birth story with its own twist when it was revealed that Angelina Mthombeni (played by Nokuthula Ledwaba) switched her deceased infant son with her sister wife Paulina Dlomo’s (played by Tango Nectezo) baby, leading Paulina to believe her child had died.
READ MORE | EXCLUSIVE: The River's Nokuthula Ledwaba on her role as Angelina - 'Everything she does is for her survival'
Such a show with so many unexpected turns brought to life by the talented cast and crew will be treasured by South Africans as a cult classic.
