S'Dumo Mtshali is getting the kind of praise actors dream of for his role as Jonasi Gomora in Netflix's new drama The Polygamist. The show dropped on June 12 and Mzansi hasn't stopped talking.

Mtshali plays a wealthy banking magnate and CEO who seems to have it all — a successful career, a respected wife played by Gugu Gumede, and a picture-perfect family. But behind the gates of his fancy home, Jonasi is living a double life. Secret wives, mistresses, hidden relationships. When the truth starts leaking, his whole empire begins to crumble.

So why did Mtshali take the role? He told TV Mzansi he couldn't put the scripts down. "I first read the book and then the scripts started coming in. I couldn't put it down. I thought to myself, this is fun," he said.

But it wasn't just the thrill of a good story. Mtshali saw something deeper. He started thinking about what the character really says about society. "With everything that's happening in our society, what's interesting is that around the time this was happening, there was also the Diddy trial. You start looking at that and you find references everywhere. Even with people we know in this country, people we admire, people who live these grand lives that look so beautiful and sparkling from the outside."

"He's so layered. He's searching for something. There's something he's searching for. I don't think he's a villain. He's definitely lost."

That quote — Mtshali's own take on whether Jonasi is a villain — has given viewers a new lens to watch the series. The actor sees Jonasi not as evil, but as a man who has lost his way.

The Polygamist is based on the bestselling novel by Sue Nyathi. It follows the dramatic downfall of a powerful man and explores themes of power, deception, family, and betrayal. The show has already sparked conversations online about the kinds of secrets powerful people keep.

Mtshali took to Instagram after the release to thank everyone involved. He called his co-star Gugu Gumede "phenomenal" and praised the "God send ensemble cast." He also thanked the directors, crew, wardrobe, and makeup departments. "I'm so fortunate to be part of a project that has opened a very important dialogue about heavy, complex, relevant themes that affect us, families and societies today," he wrote.

Social media has been buzzing. Actress Thembi Seete commented on Mtshali's post: "You murdered that role wow." Another fan, Mampho Brescia, wrote: "I hate Jonas, but I love you! You are absolutely, undeniably Magical! Top notch incredible performance well done and congratulations."

The Polygamist is streaming now on Netflix. If you haven't watched it yet, eish — you're missing out.