Henchwomen Fight

Movie Name : City of God: The Fight Rages On AKA Cidade de Deus: A Luta Não Para 
Actress Name : Andréia Horta
Character Name : Jerusa
Year : 2024

In tv show City of God: The Fight Rages On AKA Cidade de Deus: A Luta Não Para season 1 aired 2024. Actress Andréia Horta plays as villainess Jerusa.

The show seemed to be based on a famous movie, for me the show is famous for very different reason, I remember a tweet going viral of gangster shooting his rifle and the one who posted it claimed to be real, then it turned out to be from this show, that's how I remember the name, I think that tweet was the first tweet to be community-noted about a TV show, and I guess it gave the show some good marketing.

The show is narrated by a photographer who cover gangs in City of God, while shows like Narcos was narrated from the cops point of view, this show take the photographer point of view as he represents kind of impartial view and supposedly presenting facts as it is, my problem is I don't know if I should take the show as realistic, because how the narrator describe things seems made up and unrealistic, he goes like "I take photos of shootouts because I love taking photos." which is like one of the cringest things I ever heard, I would like it more if he had some family he take care of and risking his life to provide for them, and thus have to risk his life to take care of them. On the other hand I can't take the show as if it's action show as it take things too seriously which is one of the reasons the clip of the show went viral on Twitter, so I can't take it as realistic and can't watch it as pure entertainment, so the show kind of stand in the middle.

I think the reason they narrated the show using the photographer instead of a main character is that they don't want the show to be tied with main player and die with them, but more like a franchise that continue even after the bad guys out of the picture and give a chance for the photographer to cover other stories, so they focus on him despite not being the most intersting character, which could be a good and a bad thing, it's a good thing because anything can happen to any character in the show, and a bad thing because the show is less focused on way more intersting characters.

The movie having too much voice over, too much "telling you, not showing you", and for a photographer, the character talks a lot, it feels like a documentary, which would make you assume that the events actually happened the way it's portrayed, but I don't think so.

Almost half of the first episode is like voice over and the main character introducing us to every one in the neighborhood, and finally he introduced Bradock AKA Waldemar Cavalcante played by Thiago Martins, which would be my second most intersting character in the episode, who would be released from prison to have both freedom and the gorgeous Jerusa played by actress Andréia Horta waiting for him to take him in her car and then sleep together.

  So the former crime boss of Bradock send him a gangster after Bradock asked him to have his corner back after he was released from prison, the messenger met Bradock and Jerusa in some cafe.

The messenger was so disrespectful, he insulted our villainess, she warned him, he didn't listen, then she shot him in the head.

I still don't know how to watch the movie, do I take it as documentary and treat the events as if it happened in real life, or as entertainment, not being from Brazil, I can't say, the show is like a mix between Narcos and The Boy's Word: Blood on the Asphalt, both shows are based on real events, which is why I assume this show also based on real events, the show also would be fine if it focused on Bradock since the beginning, everything before him is all about introducing characters for the sake of introduction, maybe it have something to do with the original movie, don't know, haven't seen it. 

As for our gorgeous villainess, let's see what will happen in the future, I may update the post in the future about our villainess and what she would do, maybe the show will get boring and stop watching it, don't know, let's see. 

Now to episode two, now it's confirmed that it's a work of fiction, which is cool, I think the show just using unique style, so, the evil couple argue about what happened and what our villainess might have caused, and our Jerusa was like "Just say I did it!", and he laughed, like, girl, you know he would never do that, even if he would die for it, I love this scene a lot it's so warm and romantic in its own way.

The journalists introduced Shield Le Cocq to the story, I wished they were introduced in a different way, like showing us what they do in the start of the episode, keeping people curious about who are these people, then we have the journalists explaining later.

Bradock is in a huge trouble, and Curió won't let him get away with killing his man, till now Curió have no idea that Jerusa is the one who did it, and will probably go after Bradock, it feels like the silence before the storm, and things will get very ugly.

Ok, finished the episode, things got really complicated this time, Bradock basically declared war on his mentor, who treated him like a son once, someone is pushing for a gangs' war, it's possible to be Jerusa, she will probably get Bradock killed, as she got so many people killed this episode, the episode also introduced Clayton Machado AKA PQD played by actor Demétrio Nascimento Alves, PQD is a veteran, Curió tried to recruit him before, but he refused, now he will join the fight and will go after Bradock after one of Bradock's men assaulted his friend, in the first episode Jerusa was taking money from someone, so she could've been paid to start all of this, not that she shot the messenger out of anger, who paid her is also unclear, could be the government wanting gangs' war, I guess we have to wait in order to know. Although the show is fictional, it have a very realistic style and going towards tragedy and drama, more than action and thriller. 

Here's what I like and don't like till now..

First what I don't like, the show introduce a lot of characters, the first episode already introduced a lot of people, and I only remember the villainess of course, Bradock, Curió and the journalist, and I guess the singer too, but just because she sings in every episode using erotic lyrics LOL. Other than that it's hard to remember the rest of the characters, thus hard to connect with them, or remember them.

What I like about the show, is that they humanized the character of the journalist in this episode, he was talking about how he can't speak about certain things because he feared for his life, also how he worked in order to provide for his family, something I talked about when I watched the first episode, and I liked him more and the character felt more humane and not made-up when he said he's doing the job to provide for his family, It doesn't mean that he doesn't believe in what he's doing, but if there isn't a financial return for him getting shot in a shootout, anyone would never do such a thing, especially a man who have to take care of his family.

One of the great things I really like in this episode is how the characters being built, like I can absolutely understand why Bradock is doing what he's doing, how he would never sell out the villainess he loves in order to be safe, and for that he's willing to go into a war against a man who once looked up to him and considered him his godfather, also you can understand what Curió is doing and how does he feel that the man who saw as a son now betraying him, launching a war against him, putting his family, community and business in danger, basically destroying his whole world, the situation is similar to Breaking Bad and the situation between Gus Fring played by Giancarlo Esposito and Walter White played by Bryan Cranston that despite both characters were villains, you may root for one of them more than the other, but you still have some kind of connection with the other characters, you kind of understand their enmity, for me, I was absolutely rooting for Gus Fring, but this doesn't mean that I hate Walter White, so, the writing of the show is really good.

 As for our villainess, I get crazy every time I see her on screen, every frame with her in it is like a painting of beauty, I don't care if being with her would get me killed, I want to be with her anyways 𓆩🥺🫶🏻💞𓆪.

Now episode 3, so PQD with the crime boss are preparing for the attack, this episode will probably be tense, BTW, the scene I was talking about at the start of the post is in the start of this episode.

Damn, It's a war about to begin, I don't think they will get Bradock, at least, I hope not, not that early.

So after PQD made the attack, not against Bradock, but his ally, and killed him. Bradock then got so angry wanting him dead, and here's why I love Bradock character and the character is written really well, because one of his guys suggested that he go after PQD's wife, Bradock refused, our beloved villainess disagreed with him, that's why I love these two, Jerusa, babe, if he went after his wife, PQD will go after you, Bradock is a good man, in an evil villainous way, he loves her, she's his love, and he would protect her at any cost, no matter what she did/do or will do, he will be always be on her side, yeah, that's why I can really connect with his character and have empathy towards it, Yeah, I can die for doing so, but so what, all of us gonna die someday, some people die for a paycheck, wouldn't I risk my life for the villainess I love!! 

That's how to make a villain do a selfless act, he's not doing it out of pure selflessness, but behind his action is a selfish motivation, that's how you know you have a good writer.

God I love Jerusa so much, she's so beautiful, I love she's a main character of the show, TBH, she's the only thing make keep watching the show.

Ok, this episode is so emotional, our villainess manged to outsmart Curió, she manged to extract information from one of his guys, Curió wasn't expecting the attack and didn't wear his bulletproof vest, the moment Bradock shot his mentor in the back, it's so hard, it's unbelievable, just to think of what Curió was thinking then to be shot by the one he considered his son, I think PQD survived, still I can't believe Curió died this soon, I was expecting him to survive, it's so hard that he was shot in the back too, it's like the scene have a double meaning and represents how Bradock betrayed Curió and the death scene making you share Curió's feeling, RIP, Curió.

  As for our beloved Jerusa, she's one of the most beautiful female villains I've ever seen in my life, every scene of her is breathtaking, I'm so happy she's a character in the show.

Now with episode 4, after we said goodbye to Curió, now the neighborhood sad for his departure, as he kept his territories relatively safe when he took over, the episode starts with funeral, Bradock went there to pay his respect, I'm like, are kidding me, dude? you cowardly shot him in the back when he was running away, how dare you show your face to his family!! as we say in Arabic "kills the victim and marches in his funeral."

Gonna Cry, Bradock? *using spiderman meme* 

The son of the Secretary of Security is so angry, like WTF, dude, It's just amazing how the actor manged to perform like that, I can't tell if he's acting or he's genuinely angry about something.

Some of Curió's men met with Bradock to negotiate peace, he met them with our beloved Jerusa.

  It seems that our villainess doesn't trust them, here's the problem Jerusa doesn't trust ZeroOnze because of the snitch dilemma, you love them when they are on your side, yet, you can never trust them as they can stab you in the back the same way they did with their former boss, and she has a point TBF, on the other hand, maybe she's doing it to keep the war going, if what I thought about her trying to start a war is true.

I don't know why Bradock is doing the negotiation, who can say no to Jerusa? She can ask anyone to do anything and they wouldn't be able to resist, I know I wouldn't LOL.

Now, it's confirmed that our Jerusa is working to start a war, and Wilson will expose her, damn you, Wilson, you know, I'm happy they invented smartphones and social media, now you will get paid way less for taking photos.

  I totally forgot about PQD, now he woke up from the coma to find his boss is dead.

Damn, dude, he lost his leg, this is horrible, he haven't lose it fighting in the army and lost it in a gang's war, it's so sad. 

Wilson keeps digging on our beloved Jerusa, like leave her alone, dude, she's doing it for a noble cause, to get rich. 

 Damn, Bradock just shot ZeroOnze to avenge Curió, the same Curió who he shot in the back, it's crazy, it's more crazy that I get why he did it.

This show is a masterpiece.

Bradock would probably lose his mind, who wouldn't! The idea of his shooting the man who treated him like a son in the back is enough to destroy him from inside, I hope our Jerusa get out in time, and doesn't stay till it's too late.

  I can't believe Bradock is talking to Curió's as if he's one of them, this man is being torn inside, very desperate for acceptance and forgiveness.

What I expected kind of happened, still, if I was in Bradock place, I would still be with her defend her, yeah, she doesn't love him and even cheating on him, but as long as they are together every villain have to fight for his villainess no matter what, still, him shooting Curió and started such war, that's entirely his fault, he had a chance to reach peace, but he was easily manipulated, he had the chance to be with Jerusa and still don't make such horrible decision that is going to destroy him and his community.

I don't know what is going to happen with the fall of Curió and the government being involved, Bradock probably won't make it, or at least go back to prison, The City of God could burn in flames.

As I said at the start the show is probably tragic and dramatic, still it's a villain show, it's so fun to watch, it focus on humanity with all its flaws, not on manufactured, inhumane, mass-produced characters.

  Can't wait for the next episode.

Now it's time to our weekly trip to the city of god, to see how our gorgeous villainess is doing in episode 5..

The government now is advancing towards the city of god, going after Bradock, Bradock is also preparing arms, I don't get why our Jerusa still there, she can just leave the city, at least for now. And Bradock is losing his mind, this man have no chance fighting them off, he also could've run away while he can, it's better than spending the rest of his life in prison or worst.

 It turns out that our beloved villainess had multiple names, Mirela Leite, Jerusa Campello Athayde, and
Rafaela Siqueira. We can just call her the gorgeous villainess.

Damn, this is so tense, our villainess is nervously waiting for the cops to attack the city of god, and I'm so nervous too, like the waiting and what could happen afterwards, if they did it right away it would be easier, which actually make it a good show, shows shouldn't feel bland.

 Ok, our Jerusa didn't know that they are attacking the city now, these assholes didn't tell her, so she can leave safely, she's angry, and I'm angry for her. Also come on, attack the place already don't keep me waiting.

Jerusa is trapped in there and I kind of feel trapped with her, it feels so weird, she's watching the TV and goes like "Backstabbing assholes.", which exactly what I would've said.

Wilson is taking photos of the raid, and Berenice is warning him, saying that he may get shot for doing that, he's risking his life and can easily die for that, and Berenice aware of the gravity of the situation, that's how good writing is, even if it's a fictional show, yet, the show take itself seriously, treat the characters in humane way, they aren't generic or mass-produced products, they are unique and humane.

 Wilson again take a photo of Jerusa with the cop, this guy can't mind his own business.

Barbantinho was shot in the crossfire between the cops and Bradock.

 Bradock couldn't believe that a politician can lie, like, dude, that's in the job description!! 

The episode of this week was very tense, I think the most tense part was waiting for the raid not knowing what could happen with our villainess trapped in there with no way to get out of the city, thankfully she was lucky and survived the episode, Barbantinho wasn't as lucky and it was unexpected, especially because he wasn't as active like Wilson for example who was taking photos of the attack, he was like kind of just there, as if he was passing the street to be shot in a shootout.

Favorite quote:

 "Curió: Go take care of your queen. She's worth the trouble, and then some!"

"Buscape: And that is the story everybody knows, but won't tell out of fear. Do you know why? They're not the forgiving type."