After 30 Review: A Messy love letter to all women trying to figure it out
There was Before 30, I'm so glad there's an After 30
- written by Joy Onu
- 5 min read
- 15 May, 2025
After 30Nollywood did its thing when it came to Before 30; it was the perfect story for all women in their 20s who had to deal with the looming pressures of culture and society. The looming pressures told us we had to settle down and get a husband before 30 or no one would want us. Before 30 was by no means a self-proclaimed anti-societal medicine; it did, however, serve as something we could all relate to, and the drama and all the love triangles? They were the spark that gave the series life.
The 2015 series Before 30 followed four friends in Lagos and how they navigated the pressures of being a woman in Nigeria before turning 30. Nearly a decade later, we get the gift of having those four women back on our screens in the sequel, After 30. Damilola Adegbite, Beverly Naya, Meg Otanwa, and Anee Icha reprise their roles as Temi, Nkem, Aisha, and Ama, and boy are we glad they're back.
In the series, they were bold, ambitious, fun, dramatic, and always yapping about their biggest problems: men. In the sequel, they've grown, but not a lot has changed in the drama department. They are still as chaotic as we knew and loved them to be. Now, we get to see how they navigate life in their 30s.
After 30 is a steady reminder to all women still being chased down by societal pressure. Life doesn't end just because you turn 30. For our four favorite women, the story is just as exciting and introspective. The opening credits alone will take your breath away, while simultaneously breaking your heart with the Kabiri Fubara tribute.
The premise of After 30 remains mostly the same. The female friendship trope is more alive than ever, with each friend having a distinctive role and characteristics. The women have grown and had changes in their lives, but to their core, they remain the same personalities we fell in love with all those years ago. This time, they are more fearless, more established than ever, but they still don't have it all figured out.
Damilola Adegbite as Temi is now a kickass lawyer, but she’s still bewitched by Ayo’s (OC Ukeje) charms, even with all the damage he's caused in the past for her, and after all the years that have gone by. Plus, what would the Before 30 sequel be without a love triangle? This time, a rich and charming new man has been thrown into the mix, Kunle (Samuel Asa’ah). Temi falls for Kunle, but what seems like the perfect relationship is ruined by Ayo again; he seems to show up when she has something good going on.
Nkem (Beverly Naya) is a successful investment banker, but remains fearless on her usual sexploration journey. Her character has evolved, and she now has a deep need to become a mother.
When it comes to motherhood, Aisha (Meg Otanwa) is killing it, but she is also dying inside at the thought of having another child. However, the pressures from her husband and his family keep rising, leading her to make some tough decisions that could make or break her marriage, and even her friendship. Let's not forget Ama (Anee Icha), because her friends always seem to forget about her. Well, things are looking up for her after she inherits a small fortune from her late, wealthy godmother, but her sexuality is a new hurdle she has to face head-on when she meets Alice (Celestina Aleobua).
When it comes to portraying female friendships, After 30 truly excels. The characters are well-rounded and provide a captivating glimpse into the highs and lows of close bonds, especially when secrets and manipulation come into play. Temi, caught in the center of a love triangle, takes the spotlight, but the show does stumble slightly in its storytelling.
Voice-overs can be a brilliant narrative tool when used sparingly, but in After 30, they sometimes overshadow character interactions. While I appreciate a well-placed voice-over as much as anyone, it occasionally interrupts the organic flow of dialogue and connection between characters. The chemistry between Temi and Kunle had the potential to be electric, but instead of seeing their love story unfold naturally, I found myself being told about it. It’s the classic case of “show, don’t tell”, and After 30 leans a bit too heavily on telling.
Despite this, the show’s charm remains undeniable. However, there’s a noticeable difference in storytelling between Before 30 and After 30.. Perhaps the showrunners could have considered a limited series to fully explore these characters and how their journeys would end.
Don't get me wrong, I completely enjoyed After 30, and I truly believe it does justice to storytelling in all of Nollywood. The film is a shining example of Nollywood storytelling done right, tying an impressive soundtrack, strong writing, stunning cinematography, and unforgettable characters perfectly to form an unforgettable experience. Though the cliffhanger ending left me wanting more, I can’t help but hold out hope for another part.
So, is After 30 worth watching? Absolutely. It’s a compelling Nollywood drama that will leave you craving more stories like it, and it will also leave you with an incurable desire to rewatch Before 30. The female friendship, the love triangle, and all the drama are worth your time.
After 30 premiered at the NollywoodWeek Film Festival 2025. It is now streaming on Prime Video.