Underground

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.

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.

Underground is a classic escape drama with an historical look at the U.S. in the pre-Civil War period. There is a wealth of interesting characters on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line, including a pair of brothers, one of whom is a slave owner (Reed Diamond) and the other who is a new-born abolitionist (Marc Blucas). The focus of the drama is on seven slaves who escape and try to go 600 miles from Georgia to Kentucky.

The series has all sorts of twists and turns, and the action switches back and forth from the slaves on the run, to the plantation, to the abolitionists. Along the way we get a good picture of life at the time.

The music and photography are superior, and the acting is very good. It's really hard to single out any one of the many wonderful actors who contribute to the story, some of whom play minor roles (Johnny Ray Gill, Mykelti Williamson) and others who are featured throughout (Christopher Meloni, Amirah Vann).

This is an excellent mini-series and I'm looking forward to the next season.

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 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! :)