Underground: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Ratings

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Underground

Now Playing: Underground

Season Details & Credits

WGN America | Classical TV | Season Premiere Date: March 9, 2016

Summary: A group of slaves from Georgia led by blacksmith Noah (Aldis Hodge) travel with the help of the underground railroad more than 600 miles towards freedom.

Creator: Joe Pokaski and Misha Green

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. The White Whale
Air Date: May 11, 2016
tbd
S1:E9. Black & Blue
Air Date: May 4, 2016
tbd
S1:E8. Graves
Air Date: April 27, 2016

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

Matt Webb Mitovich

Apr 6, 2016

The solid cast, compelling overall storyline and deft twists (Rosalee’s mother is full of surprises) add up to an engrossing, enlightening drama. Read full review

Mark A. Perigard

Mar 9, 2016

With scenes of brutality inflicted on slaves and the casual use of the “n” word, Underground can be difficult to watch. But there’s nothing gratuitous about this story. The series is enhanced by contemporary music from the likes of Legend, Kanye West and The Weeknd. Read full review

Rob Owen

Mar 4, 2016

Underground is a rough watch, but it offers twists and compelling characters worth watching for viewers up to the challenge. Read full review

Caroline Framke

Mar 10, 2016

As of its first four episodes, Underground is in a solid position moving forward, thanks to its breathless momentum and wonderful anchoring performances from Hodge, Smollett-Bell, Vann, and Miller in particular. Read full review

David Wiegand

Mar 6, 2016

The plot is filled with what might be considered melodramatic cliches.... But a funny thing happens after the first episode or two: "Underground" ... loses its melodramatic patina. That’s almost entirely because of the performances. Read full review

Nancy DeWolf Smith

Mar 4, 2016

They [the black characters] are so well drawn and acted and so dramatically compelling that the others--like the casually cruel plantation massah and the kindly abolitionist lawyer and his wife--can seem like stock characters in a movie of the week. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Mar 7, 2016

The result is so-so as both history and drama, a series with moments of power, but also occasional lapses into Civil War-era cliches. Progressing along a serialized path, the WGN drama contains enough suspense to pull viewers through four previewed episodes, without yet demonstrating whether it can stay on track through a 10-episode run. Read full review

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User Score

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User Reviews

sjjrea2016

May 12, 2016

Fantastic series. Can't wait until Season 2. Reminded me of a modern day Roots. The acting was incredible and believeable. The soundtrack on point. The cinematography amazing! You don't want to miss. Great binge-worthy series!

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Thedan

Apr 21, 2016

Having the honor of being the only show I watch live and not on-demand the next day is a testament to how great I think this show is. This show puts you right in the driver seat of a runaway slave. They struggled with not being able to read, not knowing who to trust, not being able toHaving the honor of being the only show I watch live and not on-demand the next day is a testament to how great I think this show is. This show puts you right in the driver seat of a runaway slave. They struggled with not being able to read, not knowing who to trust, not being able to swim and all the while running from people tracking them down. You will get scared for them, sad for them, and angry at their overloads. I'm disappointed in the bad reviews written here that only seems to be upset about the theme of the show. I found the relationship between owner and slave a good balance. They could have made the owner a nice guy in which case the slaves appeared to be unappreciative of getting a roof and food. Or they could have shown him much worst like Tomas Thistlewood who forcing one slave to defecate in the mouth of another and fasten it shut for five hours. All in all the show will stir emotions and should be watched by all. Give this show a few episodes as it takes time for them to start running, but sets up the story nicely to why they feel they need to.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Brigand

May 21, 2016

I love this show! The characters have been very well thought out and there are some nice twists and turns in the story to keep you on your toes. There are some errors but hey this isn't a historical document it's entertainment so i would say just enjoy seeing black people being depicted in aI love this show! The characters have been very well thought out and there are some nice twists and turns in the story to keep you on your toes. There are some errors but hey this isn't a historical document it's entertainment so i would say just enjoy seeing black people being depicted in a way that shows them standing up for themselves (we all know we are hardly ever shown that don't we).

My only critique is this show is very fast paced I think it could be slowed down a bit so we can have a little more atmosphere, but having said that i have to say this show is not frivolous. I love the way they have focused on certain little details such as how the slave masters (and mistresses) were so hypocritical about labeling the slaves as sub human and animals but at the same time they were lusting after the slaves. And then there is the way the slaves motivations are explained, they all have their reasons for behaving in such ways so you can't be too quick to judge them.

Another thing i liked was how they showed the truth about the Bounty Hunters (Slave catchers). Think about all the Westerns you've seen in the past which depict Bounty Hunters just going after 'white criminals' there was obviously a lot of money to be made from catching runaway slaves and so therefore there would have been huge amount of Bounty Hunters going after escaped slaves, but they didn't show us that in those westerns.

I hope this show continues and i hope this show inspires other writers and film makers to make more programs like this. I would love to see The Haitian Revolution given the Spartacus treatment or the story of Samuel Sharp in Jamaica and then there is Robert Smalls story and Harriet Jacobs story. I could go on but I'll leave it there.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Songstress38208

Jun 17, 2017

The Script is little more than writing for shock value with a little sex thrown in here and there so it can be watchable by men. Debauchery. A little more realistic writing would be nice. Every scene does not need to involve abuse or blood.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Bigguy00

Mar 16, 2016

This show had so many historical and logical flaws I had to quit during episode1. Captured slaves attempting to escape are put in a cabin with a nice fire going. Why wouldn't they burn a hole in the cabin. Then one slave has written detailed instructions for another. Since it wasThis show had so many historical and logical flaws I had to quit during episode1. Captured slaves attempting to escape are put in a cabin with a nice fire going. Why wouldn't they burn a hole in the cabin. Then one slave has written detailed instructions for another. Since it was typically a crime to teach a slave to read this seemed highly improbable. Okay subject but inferior treatment.… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

Vejas

Apr 8, 2016

Disgraceful . What a way to further escalate racial hate and keep blacks hating whites in 2016. I bet today's youth will take this for accurate historical account Good cinematography, that's all.

0 of 7 users found this helpful07

dingus48

Apr 14, 2017

Enjoy this show to the max except Se2ep6 that one bored the **** out of me. a speech that went on for the entire show.after 10 min I fw it and when it went on+on I ended up opting out.Looking forward to the next one unless from here on it is a speech every show

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 8 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

75

Series Overview
Season 2

79
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: March 8, 2017
Season 1

74
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 9, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E10. The White Whale
  Air Date: May 11, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E9. Black & Blue
  Air Date: May 4, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E8. Graves
  Air Date: April 27, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E7. Cradle
  Air Date: April 20, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E6. Troubled Water
  Air Date: April 13, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E5. Run & Gun
  Air Date: April 6, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E4. Firefly
  Air Date: March 30, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E3. The Lord's Day
  Air Date: March 23, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E2. War Chest
  Air Date: March 16, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E1. The Macon 7
  Air Date: March 9, 2016