Underground

:

Season 1
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 33
  3. Negative: 10 out of 33
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  1. Thirdrail
    Apr 8, 2017
    6
    This show has a lot to like, and a lot to dislike, frankly. Both the subject matter and the time period are compelling, but the story suffers a little bit from uneven characters. The white couple in the process of joining the underground railroad are by far the most interesting characters on the show (their scenes are very fresh, not reminiscent anything you've watched before), followed byThis show has a lot to like, and a lot to dislike, frankly. Both the subject matter and the time period are compelling, but the story suffers a little bit from uneven characters. The white couple in the process of joining the underground railroad are by far the most interesting characters on the show (their scenes are very fresh, not reminiscent anything you've watched before), followed by the slave women who work directly for the master (and his mustache twisting wife) in the "big house", followed by the slave hunter/single dad guy who has a slave that doubles as his own father figure (played by the wonderful Clarke Peters from Treme and The Wire), and then the plantation owner has interesting scenes revolving around a run for political office, and his affair with one of the house slaves. Then, in distant last place, as the least interesting group of people on the show, you have the central characters - the male slaves who are planning and executing the escape. Their sections of the show are mostly boring, refurbished versions of scenes we've all watched a million times, in every prison movie and tv show ever made, only now those scenes take places in fields and next to trees instead of the cells and broom closets around a prison. The soundtrack is my other big sticking point. It slides directly into cringe worthy whenever they try to weave in modern music, which is fairly often. Despite these flaws, the show remains pretty watchable, and anyone with a personal investment in the subject matter is likely to find these foibles easy to overlook. If metacritic allowed half points, I'd rate the show 6.5/10, rather than the flat 6, because Underground is SO CLOSE to hitting enough right marks to actually be good, instead of almost there. I'm a little nervous about the second season, too, simply because this is not set up like an ongoing or indefinite scenario, it's one of those stories with a very clear cut mission, where you should either succeed or fail and then have reached the ending, one way or the other.

    Edit: I've never had to add an addendum to a review before, but this series takes such a hard drift, it only seems fair. As the story progresses, what started as a historical drama slowly turns into pulp fiction. By the time Underground reaches the end of the first season, it borders on being a super hero comic. This transformation actually improves it a little bit as a tv show, as it's clearly more in the comfort zone of the writers, but also completely tosses aside whatever sense of historical realism it had in the beginning in favor of sheer comic book opera. In the end, as weird as it may seem, Underground has far more in common with shows like the Walking Dead, Outcast, or Black Sails than it does more serious fare like Roots. Also, they completely squander Clarke Peters, which is extremely disappointing, to say the least.    … Expand
  2. Songstress38208
    Jun 17, 2017
    2
    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.
  3. Thedan
    Apr 21, 2016
    9
    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 to swim and all the while running from people tracking them down. You will get scared for them, sad forHaving 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
  4. sjjrea2016
    May 12, 2016
    10
    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!
  5. Brigand
    May 21, 2016
    8
    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 a way that shows them standing up for themselves (we all know we are hardly ever shown that don'tI 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
  6. Bigguy00
    Mar 16, 2016
    1
    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 was typically a crime to teach a slave to read this seemed highly improbable. Okay subject but inferior treatment.
  7. Vejas
    Apr 8, 2016
    1
    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.
  8. dingus48
    Apr 14, 2017
    0
    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

Awards & Rankings

61
#61 Best TV Season of 2016
17
#17 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. TVLine
    Reviewed by: Matt Webb Mitovich
    Apr 6, 2016
    91
    The solid cast, compelling overall storyline and deft twists (Rosalee’s mother is full of surprises) add up to an engrossing, enlightening drama.
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  2. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Caroline Framke
    Mar 10, 2016
    80
    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.
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  3. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Mekeisha Madden Toby
    Mar 9, 2016
    80
    Underground celebrates the small, exceptional group of black and white heroes who risked it all for the sake of freedom. And it’s that story, the amazing cast and the historically accurate writing behind the drama that make this series worth the investment.
    Read full review
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