Skemergrond: Ayden October – ‘Vulnerable young men are susceptible to negative influence’
In Skemergrond, one of the most relevant storylines to date unfolds as Junior, played by Ayden October, undergoes a profound transformation. What begins as a subtle shift quickly develops into a complete change in his identity, behaviour and worldview – all fuelled by his involvement in an online community, the Willem Wolf Group, which promotes rigid, polarising ideas about masculinity and power.
According to Ayden, Junior’s physical and emotional transformation was deliberately constructed.
“It involves a combination of newly found traits, such as presenting himself in a far neater, more meticulous and purposeful way,” he explains. “His posture is upright, almost as if he stands above the women, and even his pace – the way he speaks and moves – is deliberately slower.”
These changes stem from Junior’s new belief that he is his own boss, free to do what he wants, when he wants – a mindset directly linked to his redefinition of masculinity and his outlook on women.
The storyline touches on themes that dominate global conversations about power relations and identity.
“On the one hand, there’s a return to conventional roles where the man is seen as the head of the household; on the other, a growing pursuit of equal power dynamics between men and women,” Ayden explains.
Junior’s psychological shift, however, is driven by deeply personal motivations.
His bitterness towards female authority figures stems from a traumatic past: the day his mother, Hazel, shot his father, Ronnie. Through Junior’s lens, his mother – whom he viewed as the embodiment of femininity – acted incompetently and carelessly.
“Ultimately, a woman removed his male role model from his life,” says Ayden. “And for that, he blames her bitterly.”
As his beliefs harden, Junior begins to increasingly isolate himself from his family. He deliberately creates a barrier between himself and those closest to him – going as far as changing his name. The decision is not merely symbolic, but also an attempt to distance himself from his grandfather JP.
“Junior feels that his grandfather, who is supposed to be the purposeful authority figure in the household, is failing in that role. His grandfather appears incompetent to him, making inadequate decisions.”
Junior sees it as his own calling to correct every “wrong” decision – even if it costs him his identity and his family relationships.
For Ayden, the emotional load of this storyline was a lot to carry.
“It’s fascinating how your body sometimes forgets that it’s fiction,” he admits. “The tension settles physically in you. Junior carries a great deal of sorrow, and his anger becomes an outlet – unfortunately directed at the wrong people. The scenes in which Junior lashes out at his mother and grandfather with harsh language were particularly challenging to play, as they show how pain, when left unprocessed, causes further damage.”
Despite his rejection of his family, Junior finds a sense of belonging in his online “brotherhood”. He believes his actions are value-driven, even if they are controversial, and aligns himself with young men who think and feel the same way.
“This is a storyline that shows how susceptible vulnerable young men are to the wrong influences. They become part of groups that feel healthy to them, but joining such a community ultimately leads to ominous consequences.”
Ayden hopes the storyline will be more than mere riveting entertainment.
“We need to create a safe haven at home for young people – a space where they can talk about their struggles without fear or guilt,” he says. “Listening and trying to understand is a small but essential step forward.”
As for Junior’s future, Ayden deliberately leaves it open-ended. What is certain, however, is that Junior is radically transforming and that this storyline challenges viewers not only to observe, but to think critically and engage in conversations about identity, masculinity and dangerous influences in a digital era.
Skemergrond airs every Monday to Thursday at 19:30 on kykNET & kie (DStv Channel 145) and is also available on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
