The journey to this show started with an interest in the upcoming film Nickel Boys. It was the opening night selection at the 62nd New York Film Festival, which I was unbelievably lucky to attend for a short period of time, but didn’t catch Nickel Boys as it wasn’t part of my pass nor was I in town when it was screened. However, having heard about it and gained such an interest, I committed to reading the book before its wide release in theaters with the few months I had between that NYFF premiere and a December wide release. In getting a copy of that book, I discovered that its author, Colson Whitehead, also penned The Underground Railroad. Until then, I never knew Barry Jenkins’ TV series was based on a novel, let alone that one, and so I simultaneously committed to read that book too to introduce myself to Colson Whitehead and his cinematic adaptations in my excitement for Nickel Boys. Given this, I was beyond excited when I finished reading The Underground Railroad. It was book I throughly enjoyed and was surprised at how riveting yet passively brutalistic it felt with its seemingly nonchalant yet equally horrific imagining of one of the darkest period in human history. Additionally, I was eager to finally watch this TV series. Having just come fresh off a binge of Barry Jenkins’ previous films up until this show, I’ve come to this series with such a deep level of pre-contextual appreciation for so many of the creatives involved. As a result, perhaps with some bias, I loved this show and found so much of it to be quite brilliant. Barry Jenkins has an eye for beauty in his atmosphere and cinematography (collaborating with cinematographer James Laxton). This show is absolutely gorgeous and has some of the most unique cinematography choices for certain scenes; those choices cultivate such an atmosphere and style that makes this show feel visceral and beautiful despite the horrific subject matter and scenes. The show is really heavy; it doesn’t shy away from the evil that is slavery and the unspeakable actions of slave owners and racists of the time. This show often had me feeling pretty sick, but it was incredibly effective because of that. There are so many brilliant performances with a cast full of incredibly talented actors. The music is perfect and emotionally affecting. The development and journey is harrowing and riveting. And again, the show oozes with style and personality. It’s so motivated, intentional, and just spectacular. Barry Jenkins is one of the most interesting voices in film today; at the same time, I find myself torn and uncertain with his work on the new Lion King film. I don’t love what that movie represents, but my admiration for Barry Jenkins has me tempted to give it a try just for him. Regardless, I think he’s one of the most amazing and exciting filmmakers today, and this TV show was yet another example of his visionary talent. I loved and admired Colson Whitehead’s book, and it’s clear Barry Jenkins did too, as he has created a masterful adaptation in a world full of lackluster ones.