If you're like me, watching The Oval, it isn't just entertainment, it's a mirror reflecting the scary truth about power. While the show is packed with drama, the real core of the series isn't politics, it's the sheer level of unhinged crime and the terrifying way the First Family raises their kids.
Let’s be honest, the show is a mess, but a beautiful, messy drama that you can't look away from. Here is my take on what makes this show so wild.
Please note: These are purely my views on the movie, and I am open to being corrected or hearing your own thoughts!
The show makes one thing perfectly clear: corruption is systemic. It’s not just a few bad choices by the First Family; the rot spreads through everyone around them.
The crimes Hunter and Victoria Franklin commit are unbelievable, especially the way they use the Presidential office to cover things up. I’m often shocked by these scenarios. Think back to when Hunter brought his mistress to the White House; she was killed, and part of her body, ( her head, I think) was cut off. Yet, the entire crime was taken care of without a single trace. Even more shocking was the way Jason eliminated his grandmother on the plane effortlessly. It’s hard to believe this happens in a presidential setting, but it perfectly captures the cold, high-stakes game the elite play.
Watch the Trailer Here
And it’s not just the First Family. Even the Secret Service agents, the people meant to protect the President, are pure criminals in my opinion. They are just another part of the criminal machine, showing that once you're in power, the law doesn't apply to anyone within that circle. The only good news is that the show does a good job of showing that these characters sometimes face real, lasting consequences for their actions.
The true horror of the show doesn't come from the political drama, it comes from the Franklins' home life, their toxic parenting skills.
Victoria and Hunter are not just failing parents, they are deliberately poor parents who use their children as tools, whether for political gain or emotional manipulation. They are pure criminals, and this toxicity is the source of all the chaos.
Jason is the disaster they built. His destructive and criminal behavior isn't just random, it is the direct, painful result of the neglect, toxicity, and enabling from his parents.
The show also cleverly hints that this sickness is generational. Victoria’s own terrible behaviour seems linked to how her parents treated her, making the cycle of crime and trauma look like a family norm that the children are expected to follow.
When parents are pure criminals, you can’t be surprised when their children turn out to be even worse. The Oval shows that bad parenting is the origin of all the show’s chaos.
The biggest reason The Oval hits home for me is that it reflects the integrity and public image of powerful families even here in Nigeria.
The privilege to lie, intimidate the poor, cover up crimes, and do all sorts of unpleasant acts is a harsh reality that makes this drama feel uncomfortably real. It confirms the painful truth that powerful families are fond of covering up lies and using their position to oppress others.
My conclusion is that The Oval is loud, messy, and often over-the-top, but it's a must watch if you love intense drama and want to see a fictional, yet relatable, breakdown of power, crime, and family morality.