The Underground Railroad
Parents say
Based on 1 review
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The Underground Railroad
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Underground Railroad is a drama series about slavery based on Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The series takes place in an alternate version of American history, where the underground railroad (which was in real life a system of travel routes and safe houses that helped slaves escape to freedom) is an actual, literal subterranean train system. The series graphically depicts the violence perpetrated by slave owners and overseers, including physical abuse, rape, and other cruelty. Characters are shown being whipped, beaten, and killed, and the blood and wounds are a point of emphasis. There are rape scenes, in which overseers force slaves to procreate, that feature simulated sex and female nudity. Though it takes place during slavery, The Underground Railroad draws from events throughout American history to illustrate the ways in which Black Americans have been systematically discriminated against, abused, taken advantage of, and dehumanized.
Community Reviews
Creative, important and brutal
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What's the Story?
The Underground Railroad follows Cora (Thuso Mbedu) and Caesar (Aaron Pierre) as they escape the Georgia plantation where they've been enslaved and begin a treacherous journey to freedom. In this alternate version of American history, the Underground Railroad is literally a train run by abolitionists that delivers enslaved people to free states through an elaborate series of tunnels. Cora and Caesar make their way North to begin a new, free life, without knowing they are being hunted by Ridgeway (Joel Edgerton), a slavecatcher who has taken a special interest in Cora.
Is It Any Good?
Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) directs this intense, compelling drama with a sense of visual storytelling that's rarely seen on television. Jenkins helms every episode of The Underground Railroad, and his touch elevates every minute of it. The series requires commitment from its viewers, because both the aesthetics and the content can be tough to grapple with. The Underground Railroad takes an unflinching look at slavery and other atrocities perpetrated against Black Americans, and it consistently dares viewers to wrestle with those things as they watch. It also moves slowly and deliberately, and there are touches of Westworld-style puzzlebox dramas and horror (not unlike Jordan Peele's Us) that may never fully pay off. But throughout the series, Jenkins creates elliptical, powerful, and challenging images that are unlike anything else on television.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about slavery. How does The Underground Railroad's depiction of slavery compare to your own understanding of the subject? What aspects of slavery does the show emphasize? Why?
What was the actual underground railroad in American history? What is the titular underground railroad in the show? Why does the show choose to use symbols like the tunnels and the train to depict the escape from slavery? What could the symbols mean?
What other parts of history does The Underground Railroad change? What parts are taken from real life? Why do you think the show takes place in an alternate version of history? What does it allow the storytellers to do that they wouldn't be able to with a straightforward historical drama?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 14, 2021
- Cast: Thuso Mbedu, Aaron Pierre, Joel Edgerton
- Network: Amazon Prime Video
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Award: Golden Globe
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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