\tThe Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock), 2022<\/p>\n
\t\t\t![\"The](\"https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/themes\/pmc-variety-2020\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Peacock\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\tNearly 25 years after \u201cThe Best Man\u201d debuted in 1999 and almost a decade after \u201cThe Best Man Holiday,\u201d which came out in 2013, Malcolm D. Lee said goodbye to his beloved franchise in Peacock\u2019s \u201cThe Best Man: The Final Chapters.\u201d The 2022 limited series picks up just following the events of \u201cThe Best Man Holiday\u201d and Mia\u2019s (Monica Calhoun) death due to cancer. Harper (Taye Diggs), Robyn (Sanaa Lathan), Jordan (Nia Long), Lance (Morris Chestnut), Quentin (Terrence Howard), Shelby (Melissa De Sousa), Candace (Regina Hall) and Murch (Harold Perrineau) are nowhere near as close as they once were. In a brand-new era of their lives, the eight-episode limited series follows the friends as they navigate relationships, past grievances, midlife revelations, and crossroads. It\u2019s a series that showcases how wisdom can shift perspectives.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\tBlack Cake (Hulu), 2023<\/p>\n
\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Hulu\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\tBased on Charmaine Wilkerson\u2019s New York Times best-selling novel from 2022 and adapted for television by Marissa Jo Cerar, Hulu\u2019s \u201cBlack Cake\u201d is one woman\u2019s story of survival and perseverance. The series follows Covey (Mia Issac), a 17-year-old girl who flees her motherland of Jamaica on the night of her wedding to an older, abusive man. In the present day, the estranged children of Eleanor Bennett (Chipo Chung) are summoned by attorney Charles Mitch (Glynn Turman) to go over their mother\u2019s estate. Through a flash drive containing seven recordings, Eleanor tells her children her true origin story: She began her life as a young girl named Covey, made her way from Jamaica to the U.K., and settled on the West Coast in California. The series was unfortunately canceled despite fantastic reviews<\/a> and having Oprah on board as an executive producer. While Covey\u2019s tale is mesmerizing, it beautifully illustrates how one woman\u2019s secrets and choices can reverberate across time, thundering into her children\u2019s lives a generation later.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tBoarders (Tubi), 2024-present<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tTubi\u2019s very first scripted series, which they acquired from BBC Three, is a moving and hilarious portrait of Black students<\/a> trying their best to navigate white spaces. Created by BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Daniel Lawrence Taylor, \u201cBoarders,\u201d which premiered in 2024 follows five Black teens from London\u2019s inner city who are recruited to attend the prestigious St. Gilbert\u2019s College. Jaheim (Josh Tedeku), Leah (Jodie Campbell),\u00a0 Omar (Myles Kamwendo), Toby (Sekou Diaby) and Femi (Aruna Jalloh) arrive on campus for new opportunities and immediately stick out among the sea of white faces. The series, which will air its final season in March 2026, depicts how they navigate being simultaneously ostracized and objectified with humor and a bit of vengeance. Confronting racism and inequity in the U.K. head-on, the witty and sharply written show unpacks the emotional turmoil of navigating an institution that was never meant for you.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tChurchy (BET+) 2024-present<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tFrom creator Kevin Fredericks, aka KevOnStage, BET+\u2019s \u201cChurchy\u201d is a hilarious sitcom set inside a church. After he\u2019s passed over for a leadership position at his father\u2019s megachurch, a disenchanted Corey Carr Jr. (Fredericks) moves to a small Texas town to start a ministry of his own. However, Corey quickly learns that putting together a church, especially with his hodgepodge crew, isn\u2019t as seamless as he would\u2019ve hoped. From funerals to marital counseling, Corey navigates his new role with humor and a great deal of heart.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tDemascus (Tubi), 2025<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tCreated by playwright Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, \u201cDemascus\u201d is a genre-bending sci-fi comedy. Set in an alternate reality, the 2025 limited series follows 33-year-old Demascus (Okieriete Onaodowan), who decides to use his Jesus year to begin therapy. When his therapist, Dr. Bonnetville (Janet Hubert), suggests he try DIRT (Digital Immersive Reality Therapy), which essentially throws the graphic artist into alternate timelines and versions of himself, he decides to go for it. From there, the audience finds Demascus everywhere, from the office to Thanksgiving dinner, in numerous code-switch-like vignettes. It\u2019s a brilliant, fun and totally bizarre show which was rescued by Tubi after AMC ordered the series<\/a> and then chose not to air it.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tDiarra From Detroit\u00a0 (BET+), 2024-<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tFrom creator Diarra Kilpatrick, BET+\u2019s \u201cDiarra From Detroit\u201d is a hilarious and twisty detective mystery. The series follows Diarra (Kilpatrick), a Detroit-based schoolteacher, as she flounders amid her impending divorce. Amid bouts of insomnia and nursing her broken heart, Diarra becomes fixated on an infamous case of a missing young boy from 1995. The series uniquely highlights socioeconomic inequities, the crushing weight of divorce and the epidemic of missing Black children across this country. The show delights<\/a> not just because of the intriguing whodunit at its center, but also because of its humor and Black cultural specificity. The show has been picked up for a second season, which will undoubtedly offer audiences more mystery and charm.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tFight Night (Peacock), 2024<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tBased on Jeff Keating\u2019s true-crime podcast of the same name, Peacock\u2019s \u201cFight Night,\u201d created by Shaye Ogbonna, tells the story of the real-life heist that followed Muhammad Ali\u2019s triumphant return to the boxing ring in 1970. The 2024 limited series chronicles the heist and the lives of Atlanta hustler Chicken Man (Kevin Hart) and Atlanta\u2019s first Black detective, J.D. Hudson (Don Cheadle), who becomes caught up in the chaos. More than just a flashback to a defining moment in Atlanta\u2019s history that helped propel it to greatness, the series is also full of joyous characters<\/a> portrayed by Taraji P. Henson, Samuel L. Jackson and Terrance Howard. So many Black stories have been buried or long forgotten, but \u201cFight Night\u201d unearths how amazing, fascinating and nuanced Black history continues to be.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tForever (Netflix), 2025-<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tInspired by Judy Blume\u2019s groundbreaking 1975 novel, Mara Brock Akil\u2019s stunning teen love story is gorgeous television<\/a>. Set in Los Angeles in 2018, the 2025 Netflix series follows Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.), a track star and basketball player from opposite sides of the city. The show focuses on their blossoming romance as they navigate their intense feelings and magnetic chemistry in their final years of high school. Immensely touching and nuanced, Brock Akil offers a decadent buffet of young Black love never seen on television. A magical viewing experience, \u201cForever\u201d guides audiences through euphoric love, shattering pain, and all those vulnerable, glittering first times. Though fans initially saw the show as a limited series, it did so well that Netflix renewed it for Season 2.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tFor Life (ABC), 2020-2021<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tFrom producer Curtis \u201c50 Cent\u201d Jackson and based on the real life story of Isaac Wright Jr., ABC\u2019s \u201cFor Life\u201d chronicles the life of Aaron (Nicholas Pinnock), an incarcerated man who has dedicated his time behind bars to study the law so that he can defend others and work toward appealing his own conviction for a crime he did not commit. Driven by compelling narratives and outstanding performances, \u201cFor Life\u201d goes beyond the typical courtroom procedural to examine the United States\u2019 broken legal system and an increasingly sinister and inhumane penal code. The series aired in 2020, ran for two seasons and is available to stream on Hulu.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tFound (NBC), 2023-2025<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tSet in Washington, D.C., with showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll at the helm, \u201cFound\u201d ran for two seasons on NBC<\/a>. The series follows public relations specialist Gabi Mosely (Shanola Hampton), who runs a crisis management firm, Mosley & Associates. However, Gabi is no Olivia Pope. Instead, she is focused on finding missing persons, namely people of color, who have been ignored and have fallen through the system\u2019s cracks. The narrative highlights racial disparities in public attention to and resources for the missing, while illustrating who is deemed \u201cvaluable\u201d in society. Moreover, \u201cFound\u201d also examines Gabi\u2019s personal past. The show infuses Gabi\u2019s current cases with flashbacks of 16-year-old Gabi (Azaria Carter), who was kidnapped and held captive by Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) for over a year. It\u2019s a thought-provoking and twisted series about trauma and the line between justice and vengeance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tGenius: MLK\/X (Nat Geo), 2024<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tCivil Rights icons Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X have been depicted endlessly in popular culture. However, Nat Geo\u2019s 2024 limited series \u201cGenius: MLK\/X\u201d<\/a> gives audiences a unique perspective on the men behind the iconic imagery. The series chronicles the lives of both men from childhood and adolescence through the teen years and into adulthood. It highlights the moments that radicalized them, and the events that propelled them to press forward amid insurmountable odds. Still, the show stands apart by focusing on the women who stood beside Dr. King (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre). Coretta Scott King (Weruche Opia) and Betty Shabazz (Jayme Lawson) sacrificed greatly for their husbands and the Black cause. The widows\u2019 respective work in the aftermath of their husbands\u2019 deaths has allowed the icons\u2019 legacies to echo across generations.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tGet Millie Black (HBO), 2024<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tCreated by Booker Prize-winning novelist Marlon James, HBO\u2019s Jamaica-set mystery drama is an astonishing missing-persons case that untangles a vast web of corruption and violence stretching from Jamaica to London. The limited series follows Millie (Tamara Lawrance), a detective who leaves her role at Scotland Yard in London and returns to her hometown of Kingston in the wake of her estranged mother\u2019s death. Though she has long been told her younger brother has died, she learns Orville is now Hibiscus (Chyna McQueen), who lives on the streets of Kingston, supporting herself through sex work. When a teenage girl, Janet Fenton (Shernet Swearine), goes missing, Millie is assigned to the case, but what she finds is a massive, complex criminal web, all the while she desperately tries to reconnect with Hibiscus. A gritty and raw portrait of Jamaica<\/a> with an unnerving whodunit at the center, the series is an outstanding crime drama with profound performances.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tGodfather of Harlem (MGM+), 2019- Present<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tSet in Harlem in the 1960s, MGM+\u2019s \u201cGodfather of Harlem\u201d follows real-life drug kingpin, Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker), who returns home to the Upper Manhattan neighborhood after serving a decade-long prison sentence. With the Italian mob encroaching on his once thriving drug business and the Civil Rights Movement taking shape across the country, Bumpy tries to control his volatile temper while keeping the Italians at bay, managing his family and considering the cost of going legitimate. It beautifully depicts the life of a Black crime boss of that era, but it also showcases a rapidly changing Harlem struggling to sustain its status as the\u00a0Black mecca amid gentrification. A brilliant historical show, \u201cGodfather of Harlem\u201d also explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, family and legacy. The series, which debuted in 2019 and ran for four seasons, is currently in limbo.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tHow to Die Alone (Hulu) 2024<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\t\u201cInsecure\u201d star Natasha Rothwell\u2019s witty and brutally honest dramedy \u201cHow to Die Alone\u201d ran for only one season, but it remains one of the best in the genre<\/a>. Set in New York City, the series follows Mel (Rothwell), a transportation assistant at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Though Mel is always cheerful and upbeat at work, she is, in truth, floundering from a lifetime of disappointment and insecurity. After an abysmal 35th birthday, Mel decides to reclaim her time, taking charge of her life (no matter the legal ramifications) while reflecting on her role in her own stagnation. Honest and deeply reflective, the show explores how frustrating it is to be human and what it costs to truly face yourself and your faults.\u00a0 Considering the show\u2019s ratings and reviews, Rothwell was \u201cbaffled\u201d by its cancellation<\/a> and told Variety last year that she wanted shop the series elsewhere.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tI\u2019m a Virgo (Prime Video), 2023<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tFrom eclectic creator Boots Riley, Prime Video\u2019s \u201cI\u2019m a Virgo\u201d is a surrealist critique of American capitalism<\/a> told through a coming-of-age story. Set in Oakland, California, the limited series follows 19-year-old Cootie (Jharrel Jerome), a 13-foot-tall Black man raised by his Aunt Lafrancine (Carmen Ejogo) and Uncle Martisse (Mike Epps). Deeply fearful for their nephew due to his size, Cootie\u2019s aunt and uncle have kept him indoors for his entire life \u2014 sequestered away from the racism, prejudice and gentrification that is rocking his community. However, longing for friends and connections, he ventures outside. Riley\u2019s stunningly saturated show focuses on the displacement of underprivileged people and communities by the highly privileged and what it means to survive the unsurvivable.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tKindred (FX), 2022<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tA mesmerizing and truly haunting adaptation of Octavia Butler\u2019s iconic sci-fi novel, playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins\u2019s \u201cKindred\u201d deserved way more than one season<\/a>. The series is set in Los Angeles in 2018, and follows aspiring TV writer Dana James (Mallori Johnson) as she settles into her new L.A. home after the death of her beloved grandmother. However, strange things begin to happen to Dana, and she finds herself violently ripped from the present and thrust into the past, to a Southern plantation in 1815. A sharp indictment of the horrors of American enslavement and its ties to our personal history, the show is a vividly disturbing, profound watch.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tLovecraft Country (HBO), 2020<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\t \tThe Ms. Pat Show (BET+), 2021-present<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\t\u200bLoosely based on Patricia \u201cMs. Pat\u201d Williams\u2019 memoir, \u201cRabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat,\u201d BET+\u2019s hilarious sitcom, \u201cThe Ms. Pat Show\u201d follows working comedian Pat (Williams) trying to grapple with her move to conservative Indiana from her hometown of Atlanta. The show also focuses on Pat\u2019s husband, Terry (J. Bernard Calloway), her sister, Denise (Tami Roman) and her four children. Vulgar, hilarious and witty, the series has a grit and authenticity that are rarely found in contemporary situational comedies. Moreover, instead of skirting surface-level plots and themes, the series dives deep, especially into Black culture and Pat and Denise\u2019s sisterhood.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tThe Other Black Girl (Hulu), 2023<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tBased on Zakiya Dalila\u2019s best-selling novel of the same name, Hulu\u2019s \u201cThe Other Black Girl\u201d is a deliciously unhinged comedic thriller<\/a>. The series follows two Black women living in different eras. In 1988, Kendra Rae Phillips (Cassi Maddox) is the sole Black editor at the prestigious Wagner Books in Manhattan. In the present day, editorial assistant Nella Rogers (Sinclair Daniel) is the sole Black employee at Wagner until Hazel-May McCall (Ashleigh Murray) is hired as a new editorial assistant. Though Nella is initially thrilled to connect with Hazel, admiring her boldness, their camaraderie and sisterhood begin to crumble almost as soon as it forms. Though the mystery of Hazel\u2019s true intentions and what happened to Kendra Rae stand at the center of the series, the show also examines feelings of othering, powerlessness, microaggressions and kinship. Amid the show\u2019s genre-bending whimsy, \u201cThe Other Black Girl\u201d cleverly showcases the human desire to belong. It was canceled after its first season despite the shocking season finale cliffhanger.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tPower Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz), 2021-<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tSet in the 1990s, \u201cPower Book III: Raising Kanan\u201d chronicles the rise of Kanan Stark (Mekai Curtis), the diabolical gangster made famous by Curtis \u201c50 Cent\u201d Jackson in \u201cPower.\u201d The mesmerizing crime drama follows Kanan through his teen years, while highlighting his tumultuous relationship with his drug queenpin mother, Raquel \u201cRaq\u201d Thomas (an imposing Patina Miller). \u201cRaising Kanan\u201d is a family drama featuring Raq\u2019s brothers, Marvin (London Brown) and Lou-Lou (Malcolm Mays), who act as muscle and minions for Raq, as well as Kanan\u2019s cousin Jukebox (Hailey Kilgore). The show reveals how Kanan is transformed from a carefree mama\u2019s boy to an enraged young man who\u2019s even willing to take his own mother out. The series, created by Sascha Penn, is a fascinating, gritty origin story <\/a>that spotlights the drug game while exploring the complexities of familial dynamics. Starz has renewed the series for a fifth and final season.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tP-Valley (Starz), 2020-<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tA thrilling display of Black femininity and womanhood, there is nothing on television quite like Starz\u2019s \u201cP-Valley.\u201d Created by Katori Hall, the series is set in the fictionalized Chucalissa, Mississippi, and follows the lives of the midnight ballerinas who work at The Pynk, a gritty but thriving strip club run by Uncle Clifford (Nicco Annan), the club\u2019s warm, cutthroat non-gender-conforming owner. The series focuses mostly on the lives of Mercedes (Brandee Evans), The Pynk\u2019s long-time headliner, and her rivalry with newcomer Autumn (Elarica Johnson). However, the show goes beyond the surface, unpacking sisterhood, past traumas and sexuality, shining a spotlight on the scars and triumphs of Black women and femmes who are often shamed and thrust toward the edges of society. The third season of \u201cP-Valley\u201d has already been shot, but Starz has not yet announced a premiere date.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tQueenie (Hulu), 2024<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tBased on Candice Carty-Williams\u2019 bestselling debut novel of the same name, Hulu\u2019s \u201cQueenie\u201d follows 25-year-old Queenie Jenkins (Dionne Brown) as she grapples with a quarter-life crisis. Set in present-day London, Queenie is floundering as her long-term relationship comes to an end. The limited series puts a spotlight on Gen Z Black women living in the U.K. and the trails of covert racism and colorism they face. What\u2019s more, Queenie is reeling from a fractured relationship she has with her estranged mother, which has deeply affected the way she views herself, Black men and romantic partnerships. One of the few series that captures the pains and joys of being a twentysomething today, \u201cQueenie\u201d is one of a kind<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tRap Sh*t (HBO Max), 2022-2023<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tCreated by Issa Rae, HBO Max\u2019s \u201cRap Sh*t\u201d follows unlikely rap duo Shawna (Aida Osman) and Mia (KaMillion) from their viral single \u201cSeduce & Scheme\u201d to the perilous, treacherous state of the modern-day music industry and what it means to be young Black women looking to break through. Mia and Shawna use everything from TikTok to OnlyFans to Google Maps, presenting themselves to outsiders and showcasing how regular people can thrive, elevate and even fall amid their own myth-making and self-promotion. A textured and raw series<\/a>, \u201cRap Sh*t\u201d spotlights fame and notoriety, which don\u2019t change origin stories or past traumas. The series ran for two seasons before being canceled.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tReasonable Doubt (Hulu), 2022-present<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tRaamla Mohamed\u2019s Hulu drama \u201cReasonable Doubt\u201d follows defense attorney Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi), whose personal and professional lives begin to collide amid her strained marriage, the trauma of her teen years \u2014 and the sinister clients she represents. The soapy, engaging series showcases what\u2019s at stake for defendants and prosecutors in high-profile criminal trials. Moreover, with its electric hip-hop soundtrack and thrilling guest stars, the show revolves around a flawed but earnest woman<\/a> doing her best to ensure that every aspect of her life flows in harmony.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tSolo Traveling With Tracee Ellis Ross (Roku), 2025-<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tA dazzling travel series that puts the audience up close and personal with actor\/producer Tracee Ellis Ross, \u201cSolo Traveling\u201d showcases gasp-worth locations in Morocco, Spain and Mexico. However, it stands apart because of Ross\u2019 vulnerability as a single Black woman traveling alone. A deeply reflective and vulnerable series<\/a> about the intimacy and thrills of solo traveling, the \u201cBlackish\u201d star also gets candid about joy, loneliness and singleness while navigating it all on a public platform. In addition to Ross\u2019 more emotional moments, she invites audiences to enjoy her fashion and style while presenting truly decadent cuisine, shopping experiences and landscapes. The series, which debuted in 2025, is the most-watched unscripted series in Roku history and has already been renewed for Season 2.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tSupacell (Netflix), 2024-<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tA bold and daring drama about Black superheroes<\/a>, Netflix\u2019s \u201cSupacell\u201d follows five ordinary Black Londoners who suddenly develop superpowers. Created by Rapman, the series follows Michael (Tosin Cole), who is set to propose to his long-time girlfriend, Dionne (Adelayo Adedayo). Elsewhere, Andre (Eric Kofi Abrefa) is struggling to reconnect with his son after a stint in prison, Tazer (Josh Tedeku), a small-time gang leader, is plotting revenge, Sabrina (Nadine Mills), an empathic nurse, is determined to get a promotion and\u00a0Rodney (Calvin Demba), a weed dealer, is struggling to make a living. The five strangers inadvertently activate their superpowers amid everyday stressors and anxieties. \u201cSupacell\u201d examines how differently each person chooses to use their newfound powers as they reluctantly come together. What\u2019s most profound about the show is its examination of the cost of our collective dependence on technology. Moreover, it depicts how individualism has caused fractures in Western societies, specifically in Black communities that were built on and thrived amid collectivity and community.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tSwagger (Apple TV), 2021-2023<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tInspired by NBA superstar Kevin Durant\u2019s boyhood, \u201cSwagger\u201d follows Jace (Isaiah Hill), a young basketball prospect who is coached by Ike (O\u2019Shea Jackson Jr.), a former star who feels stagnant working at a home repair store, and is determined to find a real path forward for his family. Unlike the usual rags-to-riches stories that center on megastars and ballers, \u201cSwagger\u201d is detailed and beautifully nuanced<\/a>, examining the sensitive nature and importance of mentorship, especially for Black boys as they navigate a world determined to snuff them out. \u201cSwagger\u201d debuted in 2021 and ran for two seasons before it was canceled.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tSwarm (Prime Video), 2023<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tCreated and co-directed by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, Prime Video\u2019s limited series \u201cSwarm\u201d is an intense psychological thriller about the perils of fandom and our collective co-dependence on social media and internet culture. The seven-part series follows Dre (Dominique Fishback), a socially awkward young woman who has two obsessions: her sister, Marissa (Chloe Bailey), and pop icon Ni\u2019Jah (a fictional stand-in for Beyonc\u00e9). A mega Ni\u2019Jah fan and a member of her intense fanbase, The Swarm, Dre maxes out her credit cards to attend the songstress\u2019 latest concert. To get to the event, she embarks on a hauntingly violent and psychologically unnerving journey. Genre and tone-bending, the series is a sobering critique of celebrity fandom.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tUnderground (WGN), 2016-2017<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tCreated by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, \u201cUnderground\u201d is one of the most compelling depictions of the antebellum South on television. When it premiered in 2016, it was one of the first shows to feature a modern soundtrack, despite its historical subject matter.\u00a0The show opens on a Georgia plantation in 1857 and follows Noah (Aldis Hodge), an enslaved man who is captured and returned to the plantation after a failed attempt to run away. Undeterred despite his punishment, he begins crafting a plan for himself and six others at the Macon Plantation to escape to freedom. A thrilling story that shines a light on American history, the complex inner workings of the Underground Railroad and the abolitionist movement, the series is full of heart-wrenching stories and historical figures. \u201cUndergound\u201d was canceled after two seasons when WGN was purchased by the conservative corporation, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, but it\u2019s available to stream on Hulu.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tThe Vince Staples Show (Netflix), 2024-2025<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tA surrealist and satirical look at the Black American experience, Netflix\u2019s \u201cThe Vince Staples Show\u201d dives into the singer-rapper\u2019s psyche. The show pulls directly from Staples\u2019 real-life experience as a young Black man navigating fame, family, racism and everything in between. The comedy, which follows a fictional version of Vince, is not a linear story with a traditional narrative at the center. Its two seasons are filled with both laugh-out-loud and sobering moments<\/a>, memorable characters and thoroughly engrossing writing. It\u2019s a series full of great ideas that will leave audiences thinking long after the episodes end. It was canceled after two seasons.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tWinning Time (HBO) 2022-2023<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tA dazzling spectacle about the rise of the Los Angeles Lakers and the star power of megastar Earvin \u201cMagic\u201d Johnson (Quincy Isaiah), HBO\u2019s \u201cWinning Time\u201d ran for just two seasons before being prematurely canceled<\/a>. \u201cWinning Time\u201d focuses on Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) as he begins to build a dynasty at a time when the NBA seemed to be in decline. Not only does the show examine Buss\u2019 unconventional approach, but it also depicts the heated rivalry between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics, as well as Magic\u2019s dazzling charisma and unbridled sexual escapades. Though the real-life figures depicted in the series were less than pleased<\/a> with how they were portrayed, \u201cWinning Time\u201d is much more than just a basketball show<\/a>. It\u2019s a dizzying ride that pays homage to an era and a franchise that helped shape the world of professional basketball as we know it today.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \tThe 1619 Project (Hulu) 2023<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tBased on Nikole Hannah-Jones\u2019 extensive research for the New York Times published in 2019 and her subsequent book published in 2021, Hulu\u2019s \u201cThe 1619 Project\u201d reframes the Black American experience in this country from the 17th Century to the present. The six-part docuseries takes on Hannah-Jones\u2019 thesis that the founding of the United States began in 1619, when the first Africans set foot on American soil. A deeply profound and thorough series, \u201cThe 1619 Project\u201d dives into every facet of the American experience, from government to popular culture, while highlighting how Black culture is deeply intertwined with it. The show has never been more timely, especially as anti-Blackness, racism and xenophobia continually run rampant in this country, bolstered by the White House and our current administration. The original project was so powerful that it sparked an entire anti-DEI movement. Hannah-Jones\u2019 crash course in American history highlights why we keep repeating our past mistakes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Television has always been more than an escape for me. Growing up in the 1990s and early 2000s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":348266,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[265],"tags":[154883,18,117,19,17,163879,163880,163881,128],"class_list":["post-348265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-black-history-month","tag-eire","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-kindred","tag-lovecraft-country","tag-supacell","tag-tv"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116106324667949271","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=348265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/348266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=348265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=348265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=348265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: BBC \/ Studio Lambert Media Ltd\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: BET+\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Courtesy of Jace Downs\/AMC\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Kyle Terboss\/BET+\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Courtesy of Peacock\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Courtesy of Netflix\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: ABC\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Matt Miller\/NBC\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: National Geographic\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: HBO\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Scott McDermott\/MGM+\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Courtesy of Hulu\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: FX\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Courtesy of Eli Joshua Ade\/HBO\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Though it only lasted for one season, HBO\u2019s Emmy-award-winning \u201cLovecraft Country\u201d remains one of the most compelling series ever to debut on television. Created by Misha Green, the show, which aired in 2020, follows Atticus \u201cTic\u201d Freeman (Jonathan Majors), who returns to his hometown of Chicago after receiving a strange letter from his father, Montrose (the late Michael K. Williams), about their family\u2019s hidden legacy. Emboldened by the letter and determined to find his now-missing father, Tic, along with his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) and an old high-school friend, Letitia \u201cLeti\u201d Lewis (Jurnee Smollett), set out on a journey across Jim Crow-era America. A mesmerizing and genre-bending series about the horrors of racism, that debuted amid the George Floyd protests, the show infuses everything from magic to body horror as a new way to examine American history through a distinctly Black lens.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: BET+\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Courtesy of Hulu\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Starz\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Jessica Miglio\/Starz\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Lionsgate\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Alicia Vera\/HBO Max\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Disney\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Emily Varagones\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Netflix\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Courtesy of Apple\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Quantrell D. Colbert\/Prime Video\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Courtesy of WGN\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Ed Araquel\/Netflix\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: HBO\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Courtesy of Hulu\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n