The Underground Railroad

Prime Video | Release Date: May 14, 2021

8.1	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 42 Ratings

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User Reviews

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timaoMay 20, 2021

It's brutal and beautifully shot. Thuso Mbedu is nothing short of astonishing. She's given one of the best performances by an actor, male or female, that I've ever seen. I think a lot of the lower scores here are by triggered white people.It's brutal and beautifully shot. Thuso Mbedu is nothing short of astonishing. She's given one of the best performances by an actor, male or female, that I've ever seen. I think a lot of the lower scores here are by triggered white people. Ignore them. This show is absolutely brilliant.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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TVJerryJun 5, 2021

Based on the novel by Colson Whitehead, this journey follows one enslaved girl (Thuso Mbedu) thru her harrowing journey to find freedom. When she sees an actual locomotive in a tunnel, it becomes apparent that this story embraces some aspectsBased on the novel by Colson Whitehead, this journey follows one enslaved girl (Thuso Mbedu) thru her harrowing journey to find freedom. When she sees an actual locomotive in a tunnel, it becomes apparent that this story embraces some aspects of an alternate reality. The horrifying and harrowing brutalism is unquestionably real, but it becomes less physical and more mental after the first 3 chapters (if you stomach it that far). While all of the performances are deeply compelling, Mbedu (a South African in her first US role) is continuously astonishing and profoundly heartbreaking. Director Barry Jenkins has fashioned a masterpiece of filmmaking with grand imagery and stunningly gorgeous, sometimes painterly cinematography by James Laxton (who also shot Jenkins’ Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk). Jenkins’ style also has one flaw and that’s his insistence on running every scene longer than needed…drilling down on the beauty of the visuals and the intense agony of emotions. The music and sound design also contribute to the arty angle of the experience. With intense physical and mental cruelty, this film is often hard to handle, but its power comes from the message of human persistence and the undeniable virtuosity of powerful storytelling.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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bertobellamyJun 5, 2021

The first episode is like '12 Years a Slave,' but then the second one's got a little 'Get Out' vibe in there. This is Barry Jenkins' most ambitious project to date, and I'm quite enjoying it so far. And still better than the other AmazonThe first episode is like '12 Years a Slave,' but then the second one's got a little 'Get Out' vibe in there. This is Barry Jenkins' most ambitious project to date, and I'm quite enjoying it so far. And still better than the other Amazon racial-themed show: 'Them,' which is not awful but kind of failed at the end.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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globalnomadJun 20, 2021

We may not all, or always, be in the mood for yet another lesson in the horrors of the Deep South slavery economy, but in this case it doesn't matter one way or another. You have to stay glued like a binge rat in a wonderful trap due to theWe may not all, or always, be in the mood for yet another lesson in the horrors of the Deep South slavery economy, but in this case it doesn't matter one way or another. You have to stay glued like a binge rat in a wonderful trap due to the sheer quality of this production. Amazing prestige TV.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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JLuis_001May 16, 2021

Barry Jenkins has come to deliver his most ambitious, and at the same time most pretentious work of his career so far. This of course can lend itself to different interpretations, but I think many of them will involve personal interpretationsBarry Jenkins has come to deliver his most ambitious, and at the same time most pretentious work of his career so far. This of course can lend itself to different interpretations, but I think many of them will involve personal interpretations of what a story like this implies, especially for the African American community in general.

My vision and opinion are based on the work I saw, and that opinion is based on what Barry Jenkins did as a filmmaker.

I understand that there are different positions on the material, because the're some who consider it a trivialization of black history, but that's the personal criteria of each viewer who may feel this way. The Underground Railroad is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name.
The show it's divided into 10 episodes that follow the same storyline. It's like a huge movie of just over nine hours long.

Each episode has its own theme, and as I said, they follow the same story, this helps because while they're different experiences portrayed on screen, the strength of the full work comes from the sum of all its parts.

Not everything is penetrating or deep in this show, but The Underground Railroad does have its abrasive moments.
Perhaps it can be considered unnecessary to see the flogging of these characters, but the narrative shows it because that happened, not because it's some sort of crucial moment that the narrative constructs as an emotional punch to manipulate audiences.
That would be too cheap for what this miniseries is trying to manifest.

The repercussions and interpretations will be diverse.
Works like this one don't escape controversy, but as I said, that's your own option, and you will have your own conclusions.

I recommend it because I enjoyed it and more importantly, I recommend it because I urge people to see something to comment on it.
Talking about it without seeing it, only elicits worthless comments.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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medox23Jun 8, 2021

A true masterpiece! All kids in US should watch this in schools. Hail to Barry Jenkins and one of the best TV shows of this year.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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