Underground
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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 Underground is an intense drama about slaves hoping to find freedom. It has many scenes of brutality, including whippings, stabbings, shootings, and deaths. The show is rated for mature audiences for good reason, as it captures the desperation of slave life and features some of the worst of human behavior. On the other hand, it applauds the triumph of the human spirit over despair and shows the courage of those who endured the perilous journey to freedom and those who helped them. Expect to hear many instances of the "N" word, as well as some other strong language and the harsh abuse and degradation of slaves. Other mature themes such as infanticide, rape, and betrayal exist as well. This is not an easy show to watch, but it's gripping, well-produced, and ably acted.
Community Reviews
Sex scenes are uncomfortable
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What's the Story?
UNDERGROUND is a drama series that follows a group of slaves on their courageous journey away from a Georgia plantation and toward freedom. At the center is Noah, a determined leader who yearns to be free from slave master Tom Macon (Reed Diamond) and is willing to sacrifice anything for it. A chance encounter with a dying runaway gifts him with a map to the north via the Underground Railroad, so he gathers a band of men and women including Rosalee (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Cato (Alano Miller), Sam (Johnny Ray Gill), Moses (Mykelti Williamson), and Zeke (Theodus Crane). The story also follows the efforts of white abolitionists -- among them John Hawkes (Marc Blucas) and his wife, Elizabeth (Jessica De Gouw) -- to facilitate freedom for those who defy the yoke of slavery.
Is It Any Good?
This gripping drama series does well by not shying away from the realities of the time. There's the daily life-and-death plight of the slaves, the stomach-turning callousness of the master and his wife toward their human chattel, and the self-sacrifice on the part of the white sympathizers who put themselves in the crosshairs to help the cause of freedom. Every character represents not only a personal cause but also the cause of an entire group of people from America circa 1860s, reflecting the complexities of human interaction and the implications of certain behavior at that time. In that regard, Cato and Rosalee stand out for their precarious positions between the races because of their loftier stations as overseer and house slave, respectively.
As true as it attempts to stay to the drama of the time, though, Underground's use of modern cinematography and music (courtesy of Kanye West, among others, and influenced by producer John Legend) sometimes interrupts the historical flow. Even so, this impressive drama delivers some good performances, including that of Christopher Meloni as the somewhat perplexing opportunist August Pullman; it's a story that makes you want to come back for more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violent and abusive treatment of slaves as shown in Underground. From what you know about the conditions of the time, is it fairly accurate? Where should the line be drawn for graphic content like this?
Does anyone show this kind of courage and perseverance nowadays? What would drive you to overcome challenges the way these characters -- and their real-life counterparts -- did?
Is racism still a concern? Given that America's history includes slavery and the relatively recent civil rights movement, can we ever expect full equality not only in the courts but in people's actions? What does racial equality entail exactly?
Were you offended by the prevalence of the "N" word in this production? How, if at all, has its connotation changed between the show's era and now? Are there any appropriate uses of it (or of similarly offensive terms) today?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 9, 2016
- Cast: Marc Blucas, Aldis Hodge, Jurnee Smollett-Bell
- Network: WGN
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: History
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 26, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Roots
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12 Years a Slave
Imperfect but must-see epic drama with major cruelty.
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The Color Purple
Powerful tale of survival with wrenching scenes of abuse.
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Glory
Excellent Civil War movie has graphic violence, profanity.
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