THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD [AMAZON Prime Video]

Diane, Patrick, and I watched the first of 10 episodes of The Underground Railroad on AMAZON Prime video and plan to compete the series soon. The Underground Railroad is an Alternative Reality series where two slaves escape from their cruel Master and his cotton planation in Georgia. They ride the Underground Railroad (in this TV series the Underground Railroad is presented as a railroad that runs underground) while bounty hunters are in hot pursuit.

The Underground Railroad is directed by Barry Jenkins (best known for Moonlight). The series is based on the novel of the same name by Colson Whitehead (which won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction). I liked Thuso Mbedu as Cora Randall and Aaron Pierre as Caesar. Be prepared for violence and cruelty if you watch The Underground Railroad. GRADE: Incomplete

21 thoughts on “THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD [AMAZON Prime Video]

  1. Michael Padgett

    No idea why this is, but I haven’t watched a streaming series, limited or otherwise, since THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT more than six months ago, but I definitely plan to watch this one.

    Reply
  2. Steve Oerkfitz

    On my soon to be viewed list. A couple of one stars on Amazon because the reviewer thought it wasn’t factual. I guess they just missed the point.

    Reply
  3. Rick Robinson

    An actual railroad that “runs underground”? A train, engine, coal car, carriages, caboose, in a very, very, very long tunnel crossing states? You have got to be kidding. With a premise like that I’m amazed you or anyone would watch it. I saw an ad for it, and thought it was a 2 hour movie about the actual thing, not a sci-fi story, and since that’s what it seems to be (sci-fi) why would it be like Roots? I was interested, but not:

    if it’s hours of streaming
    if it’s SF
    if it’s ultra violent
    if it’s about bounty hunters

    Pfui.

    Reply
    1. Todd Mason

      I’m surprised it being a metaphorical science-fantasy is problem for you, Rick, in itself, or that ten hours is all that big a deal in a miniseries, or that the nature of the setting seems utterly unlike ROOTS to you. Bounty hunters being the major opponents of the actual Underground Railroad.

      And 10 hours not being a big deal in terms of a novel adaptation for tv is what I referred to, George.

      Reply
      1. george Post author

        Todd, THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD on AMAZON Prime Video is being advertised as “Season One.” So depending on the ratings, there may be more seasons.

  4. Cap'n Bob Napier

    As Rick said, pfui! Despite the lure of violence and brutality, the idea of a real train of escaping slaves running under the ground is asinine! Why not give them instruments and call it TAKE THE A TRAIN?

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Bob, I plan to watch the other nine episodes of THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD and then I’ll be able to express an opinion about the entire series.

      Reply

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