The Scene staff
If you’re looking for a TV show that will cause you to experience a wide range of emotions while also shedding light on the extreme atrocities this country was founded on, well, I’ve got just the series for you. But I will warn you, it’s not for those with weak stomachs nor weak minds.
Created by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, “Underground” premiered on WGTV on March 9, 2016, a time of ever-growing racial tension in America. Its message is only reapplying now in 2020.
The plot of Season 1 centers around a group of seven slaves who become known as the “Macon Seven” when they run away from a Georgia plantation that was owned by a man named Tom Macon.
Episodes document the difficult and treacherous journeys of slaves making their way to the North, including environmental struggles (being exposed to leeches and snakes), starvation, sexual assault and the ever-present danger of being hunted by “slave catchers” seeking rewards.
The series simultaneously tells the stories of the slave catchers and abolitionists who the Macon Seven encounter along the way.
The second season of “Underground” premiered in March of 2017, picking up where the devastating losses of the first season left off. The storyline continues as the country inches closer to the American Civil War.
A key character that gives life and meaning to the series title also appears in Season 2: Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad.
I’ll admit that I was unsure how I felt about this at first because I actually enjoyed the little-known story of the Macon Seven all by themselves. I thought I could relate more because those slaves didn’t get a chance to tell their own stories. And well, of course, we’ve all heard of Tubman.
However, I was sorely mistaken. Having Tubnam interwoven into the storyline only caused me to become further attached to the series. I was exposed to historical information that I’d never heard about Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
For example, I learned that Tubman’s father was a lumberjack who taught her skills that she used to bring herself and others to freedom. “Underground” also shows that even Tubman, who motivated slaves and abolitionists alike, understood that the fight wasn’t over just because people made it “safely” to the North.
Activists such as Fredrick Douglass and William Still also are featured in the series as the movement to abolish slavery continues to blossom. However, the abolitionists, both former slaves and whites, are far from safe. A major theme of “Underground” is the length to which people are willing to go for the freedom of others.
I guess this is a good time to let you know that this series ends after only two seasons. As tragic as it may seem, “Underground” didn’t get renewed for a third season, despite the fact that many cast members and producers fought for it.
That included John Legend, who played Douglass and served as an executive producer. Many fans, including me, were devastated by the news.
I still recommend this series to anyone who desires to understand more about America today, because history certainly shapes the present. As a viewer, you will battle alongside the Macon Seven as they fight to get to the Ohio River Valley.
I watched “Underground” with my sister. We found ourselves furious or mourning one minute and rejoicing with the characters the next. I have one more episode to watch, but I’m holding off because I know the ending won’t suffice.
Regardless, I have grown so fond of this series and its profound yet heartbreaking episodes. I’ve grown accustomed to the process of getting attached to characters, not knowing how long they will be around, which mirrors life.
I understand that some people aren’t fans of seemingly unstable character development, but it’s realistic, and to me, that’s more effective than painting a world of make-believe in a series.
“Underground” has helped me tremendously to draw parallels between the horrific mindset of the 1800s and the society we live in today. Slave catching played a role in the evolution of the police system and its training, so it’s no wonder that people of color are still being ostracized and harmed.
Sure, it’s nice to watch TV shows that are based on scenarios that you’d likely never see. But for me, personally, I like to dig deeper. I want to “get underground” if you will.