Amazon Prime Video’s much-anticipated slavery drama The Underground Railroad kicks off
Amazon Prime, Friday 14 May
This ten-episode limited series is one of the TV drama events of the year. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, and directed in its entirety by Barry Jenkins of Oscar-winning movie Moonlight fame, the story follows Cora Randall (newcomer Thuso Mbedu) in her desperate bid for freedom from slavery in the American South during the 19th-century. After escaping a Georgia plantation, Cora discovers the mythical underground railroad operated by engineers and conductors, where a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath Southern soil helps African Americans find freedom. But Cora is pursued by a bounty hunter (Joel Edgerton), fixated on bringing her back to the plantation.
The new, sixth series of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s wonderfully inventive anthology show, in which they give us a totally new 30-minute story each week with a new cast of characters, begins with an absolute joy of an opening episode. Cunningly titled “Wuthering Heist”, the narrative uses the style of classic Italian theatrical “Commedia dell’arte” to show us a crazed robbery plot with various curious characters played by guest stars Paterson Joseph (Peep Show), Kevin Bishop (Star Stories) and Gemma Whelan (Game Of Thrones). It’s silly, funny, and as wildly playful and “meta” as any previous Inside No.9 episode. But at the same time, the stakes are high as well, keeping us gripped from start to finish. ★★★★★