Queen Sugar: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 30 Ratings

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5.5

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Queen Sugar

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Season Details & Credits

OWN | Season Premiere Date: September 6, 2016

Summary: Based on the novel by Natalie Baszile, the Ava DuVernay & Oprah Winfrey drama finds estranged siblings: New Orleans activist/journalist Nova Bordelon (Rutina Wesley); Charley Bordelon (Dawn-Lyen Gardner), the wife of a Los Angeles basketball player; and fresh out of jail Ralph Angel Bordelon (Kofi Siriboe), are brought together after theBased on the novel by Natalie Baszile, the Ava DuVernay & Oprah Winfrey drama finds estranged siblings: New Orleans activist/journalist Nova Bordelon (Rutina Wesley); Charley Bordelon (Dawn-Lyen Gardner), the wife of a Los Angeles basketball player; and fresh out of jail Ralph Angel Bordelon (Kofi Siriboe), are brought together after the death of their father to help run the family's 800-acre sugar cane farm.… Expand

Creator: Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay

Genre(s): Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E13. Give Us This Day
Air Date: November 30, 2016
tbd
S1:E12. Far Too Long
Air Date: November 23, 2016
tbd
S1:E11. All Good
Air Date: November 16, 2016

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Caroline Framke

Sep 7, 2016

The show draws you close physically and emotionally, letting you witness its characters’ most vulnerable moments--the better to help you understand exactly what’s going on in their heads even when they try desperately to keep their thoughts to themselves. Read full review

Alan Sepinwall

Sep 6, 2016

Queen Sugar feels like a show built to last--albeit the sort that will frequently inspire its viewers to get choked up, shake their fists at the sky, and wonder why they keep letting Ava DuVernay and friends so expertly control their emotions like this. Read full review

Rob Owen

Sep 6, 2016

A languidly-paced hour that ultimately comes together in a satisfying manner. But have patience because it takes a while to get there. Read full review

Tom Long

Sep 2, 2016

It could all be so cheesy, but somehow it’s not. Credit DuVernay for giving us a sense of Louisiana--and black--life that rises above mere plot manipulations. You believe these people; you care for them. And that’s sweet enough. Read full review

Gail Pennington

Sep 6, 2016

There is a lot to admire about Queen Sugar. But the premiere, which airs without commercials, is as slow as, well, molasses. Read full review

Ken Tucker

Sep 6, 2016

It’s a great-looking show, and one that doles out its drama at a stately pace that is unusual at a time when Shonda Rhimes and Lee Daniels have amped up the pace of family-strife storytelling in shows such as Scandal and Empire. Read full review

IndieWire Ben Travers

Sep 6, 2016

Queen Sugar, at its best, finds quiet moments to contemplate the demands of having siblings as well as being someone’s son or daughter. Those fleeting scenes are few and far between in the first three episodes, and they’re often overwhelmed by unbelievable, exaggerated moments of crises. Read full review

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User Reviews

titiaheel1

Nov 4, 2016

this show is incredible! my week drags coming and going until i can see the bordelon's each wednesday night. yes, it is slow as molasses, but equally sweet, thick and tasty! if you want something fast, dry and salty (oh, add cheesy) watch something like "the wives of any rich usa county"this show is incredible! my week drags coming and going until i can see the bordelon's each wednesday night. yes, it is slow as molasses, but equally sweet, thick and tasty! if you want something fast, dry and salty (oh, add cheesy) watch something like "the wives of any rich usa county" tv!...and they are real people. queen sugar is one of the best shows which happens to have a black cast since HBO's "the wire"...both could go on forever, meaning with good writing, it never has to end. the characters are so rich and deep, yet we as viewers have only seen the tip of the iceberg. i was drawn in immediately by how each character, is perfectly flawed and entertaining. that little "blue" is a darling actor with such endearing qualities, kinda like shirley temple in her day, with less cheese, if you know what i mean. my favorites are the siblings...they rip each other's heads off, but if anyone else steps in, you got a threesome ready to rip you to shreds!!! i hope this show becomes a household classic like "law and order"...always on, always catches your attention that you stop whatever you are doing to watch it. i can't wait for charley's mom to come on the scene...(i can see debbie allen playing her). thanks ava and oprah!… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

MisterReal

Oct 13, 2016

I did not expect this level of quality drama from the same network that brought us Tyler Perry's "The Haves and the Have Nots". However, this is an intriguingly subtle and understated story. I'm on episode 7 of the first season, and it's definitely found it's stride. I echo the sentiment ofI did not expect this level of quality drama from the same network that brought us Tyler Perry's "The Haves and the Have Nots". However, this is an intriguingly subtle and understated story. I'm on episode 7 of the first season, and it's definitely found it's stride. I echo the sentiment of other reviews that patience is necessary but well rewarded.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Hafsa

Oct 26, 2016

This show is amazing. The acting, the writing, the cinematography. All of it is just beautifully done. Truly one of my favorite shows on TV. Thank you Oprah and Ava Duvernay and whoever else is behind this magic.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Bluebaby

Apr 5, 2018

I like the sugar cane story line and the struggles of farming and running a business. Nova’s character is annoying and I fast forward thru her black woman rants. Why can’t they hey just write a successful black woman reporter role? A lot of prejudice scenes which will just encourage AfricanI like the sugar cane story line and the struggles of farming and running a business. Nova’s character is annoying and I fast forward thru her black woman rants. Why can’t they hey just write a successful black woman reporter role? A lot of prejudice scenes which will just encourage African Americans to keep blaming Caucasians for all their problems. Don’t waste your time… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MphsTom

Jun 29, 2017

Overly dramatic and predictable storylines. Really, driving while black? Writers couldn't come up with anything better? Micah is way to feminine, Blue and that lisp , and that grandmother is non-stop angry. Nova is definitely the best thing going in the show and Ralph Angel is hot. TheOverly dramatic and predictable storylines. Really, driving while black? Writers couldn't come up with anything better? Micah is way to feminine, Blue and that lisp , and that grandmother is non-stop angry. Nova is definitely the best thing going in the show and Ralph Angel is hot. The background music, omg.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Qldgamer

Sep 9, 2016

The first 5 minutes is someone getting dressed! After that the excitement never stops. Very drawn out dull show. The overuse of music in every scene actual drowns out the voices...

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

Dddebra

Mar 6, 2019

Why does Ralph Angel whisper in just about every scene he is in? Hate that! The only line Darla has is “Blue is asleep”. The constant music is filler...like commercials. I too ff thru Novas scenes; her character is a big zero. Everyone in this show constantly has advice for everyone else.Why does Ralph Angel whisper in just about every scene he is in? Hate that! The only line Darla has is “Blue is asleep”. The constant music is filler...like commercials. I too ff thru Novas scenes; her character is a big zero. Everyone in this show constantly has advice for everyone else. Pretty bad show.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 9 REVIEWS

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SEE ALL TRAILERS

Seasons & Episodes

75

Series Overview
Season 7

tbd
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: September 6, 2022
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: September 7, 2021
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: February 16, 2021
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: June 12, 2019
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: May 29, 2018
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: June 20, 2017
Season 1

75
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 6, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E13. Give Us This Day
  Air Date: November 30, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E12. Far Too Long
  Air Date: November 23, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E11. All Good
  Air Date: November 16, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E10. So Far
  Air Date: November 9, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E9. Next to Nothing
  Air Date: October 26, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E8. Where With All
  Air Date: October 19, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E7. In No Uncertain Terms
  Air Date: October 12, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E6. As Promised
  Air Date: October 5, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E5. By Any Chance
  Air Date: September 28, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E4. The Darker Sooner
  Air Date: September 21, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E3. Thy Will Be Done
  Air Date: September 14, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E2. Evergreen
  Air Date: September 7, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E1. First Things First
  Air Date: September 6, 2016