American Soul

:

Season 1
  • Network: BET
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 5, 2019
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4

Critic Reviews

  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    Feb 5, 2019
    70
    Corny in its broad strokes, with narrative twists that will shock no viewer familiar with television, it is often appealing in its particulars; the dialogue has a natural, twisty flow when it's not bent under the weight of exposition or stretching too far toward profundity.
  2. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Feb 5, 2019
    67
    The scenes from the set of Soul Train are well-captured and choreographed. But BET’s still limited production budgets are reflected in recurrent Vietnam War sequences involving the Clark kids’ father. They’re phony-looking to say the least, and really not needed at all. Walls, formerly of Starz’s Power series, is effective as Cornelius, although not to the point of blowing anyone away.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Leah Greenblatt
    Jan 28, 2019
    83
    Glossy but heartfelt high-soap style; not quite the hippest, but it's still a trip. [1/8 Feb 2019, p.87]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
3.0

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 5 out of 9
  1. dkeller52
    Mar 7, 2019
    0
    I watch this show every week. I lived through these times but from a totally different perspective as I'm a Caucasian.

    I had a hard time    I watch this show every week. I lived through these times but from a totally different perspective as I'm a Caucasian.

    I had a hard time keeping on watching but kept on trying. There were distinct stories but I couldn't keep them straight. There was the singing group looking for a chance, Don Cornelius, Don's assistant who had aspirations of her own, the deceased war vet family, a guy working at a restaurant and his mom's addiction, sometimes the police showed up corrupt (as I know was accurate). In other words, too many things for me to track. I wish they could have spent the first two episodes defining the families to make us care about them. By episode 6, yes, I cared but I still wasn't sure where everyone fit in with everyone else. Most liked: The singers from the time period.    … Full Review »
  2. kirkeekirk
    Apr 10, 2019
    0
    I loved the show and hope there is a season 2. There is still much I don't know about the makings of Soul Train! All I know is that I watchedI loved the show and hope there is a season 2. There is still much I don't know about the makings of Soul Train! All I know is that I watched Soul Train after my Saturday morning cartoons. Moms always hit that station in the afternoons on Saturdays!… Full Review »
  3. coriiced
    Apr 7, 2019
    0
    Very disappointing, to see Soul Train, its positive impact on Urban culture, from teaching America to dance, to perpetuating the newestVery disappointing, to see Soul Train, its positive impact on Urban culture, from teaching America to dance, to perpetuating the newest fashion, and hair styles, to popularizing a new era in television history, relegated to a storyline that cast its legacy in violence, sex, & drugs. Antithetical to Mr Cornelius vision, quote "I want black folks to be seen the way black folks should be seen, strong, powerful, and beautiful". I find it very degrading to the uplift, preservation and positive impact of AA culture. In the midst of positive story lines like Black Panther, why are we still writing New Jack City and Boyz In The Hood for every other story line?… Full Review »
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