Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mature series deeply explores human relationships, family.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Queen Sugar
What's the Story?
Based on the book by Natalie Baszile and co-executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, QUEEN SUGAR is a dramatic series about the estranged Bordelon siblings, who unexpectedly find themselves coming together in their fictitious hometown of Saint Josephine, Louisiana. After a family tragedy, activist and journalist Nova (Rutina Wesley); Charley (Dawn-Lyen Garner), the wife and manager of pro basketball star Davis West (Timon Kyle Durrett); and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe), a young father who was recently released from prison, are looking for a way build up their father's (Glynn Turman) struggling sugarcane farm. Although they receive some guidance from their Aunt Violet (Tina Lifford), the three must find a way to strengthen their relationships with each other and manage the land while simultaneously coping with their own individual struggles.
Is It Any Good?
Queen Sugar is an engaging series that displays the complexity of human relationships through the story of a family working to hold on to their family's farming heritage. The well-crafted narratives capture their complicated and often flawed relationships and how these relationships affect the way they see their place in the world.
The all-female list of episode directors, starting with notable Selma filmmaker Ava DuVernay, uses the New Orleans backdrop to create a viewing experience that feels more like a film than a TV show. This, combined with the richness of the overall story, offers an entertainingly substantial viewing experience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about adapting books into movies or TV series. What are some of the challenges that come with doing this? Can any book be adapted into something for the screen?
Families can talk about sibling relationships. Why are they sometimes complicated?
For more resources and lessons based on the series, check out the official learning guide.
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 6, 2016
- Cast : Rutina Wesley , Dawn-Lyen Gardner , Kofi Siriboe
- Network : OWN
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
- Last updated : July 31, 2025
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