Underground

The premise is great. The underground railway, the people that escaped slavery and those that helped and hindered them. This is an era and perspective little explored on tv. Unfortunately, it is treated too much like a teen drama (even some of the cast is familiar as such). Over loud and nonsensical music choices have you reaching for the volume every few minutes. It is sanitised and silly rather than gritty and engaging. The shame is that tv drama is many people's only exposure to history - and this is not teaching the viewer anything. It is moderately entertaining though and well acted for the most part - just watch with the sound down!

Although there are things about the show that are hard to watch, I recommend this show to all races, colors, and creeds. But because I am black, I implore other black people to take notice of this show. Yes, the black people of the show are slaves, but the characters and the writing make me proud of where we came from (in this country). They show the skills, craftsmanship, and innovation that black people have always possessed. They also show the compassion that some white people had toward the plight of slaves. What I like most about the show is how it makes me feel about black people. Looking at the news today, it's getting harder and harder to imagine that we were once a great people. Books can be and are written on the how, why, where, when, and what state black people are in today, but for an hour I get to imagine an uprising of "NO MORE!" and watch respectable black characters---and that is rarely seen on TV. Keep up the good work and congratulations on being picked up for next season!!

This show is a must see, the acting the storyline the music is all 10s across the board. This is not your typical slave TV show. It shows the strength and the courage that both the slaves had and those that helped along the railroad. The show makes you rally for the slaves and leaves you on the edge of your seat when you think they may get caught. It shows how intelligent the slaves had to be to run and find ways to communicate with each other without writing or having the current forms of communication. The only downside I have seen with this show is that there are only 10 episodes although for a first season that is good but I would have liked there to be at least 15 or more. I truly hope it gets picked up for a second season.

This series is, by far, the most historically accurate depiction of this topic shown on prime time television--I'd dare to say--ever! What I appreciate most is that it explores the complexity of the institution of slavery, specifically encompassing the interpersonal relationship dynamics that existed between everyone involved in the atrocities of slavery in America--master/slave/overseer/mistress/slave hunter/advocates, the list goes on!

I recommend this show to EVERYONE! It angers, empowers, explains, and opens the doors to conversation about SOOOOO much. If you care anything about TRUE American History, watch this series...and READ! :)

The music, some of the editing and language are all wrong. This is a historical piece but the music and sound statements are thoroughly modern and therefore out of place and time. The same can be said for the modern quick jump editing in some of the scenes. These are completely at home in a modern drama but only distract in this period piece. Language is another problem. Would someone in the 1850s really say "it doesn't look like there was any forced entry"? I think not. This is a modern Law & Order appropriate statement that does not fit. These inconsistencies don't ruin the series for me, they just make it harder to concentrate and enjoy the story.