• Arts & Culture TV & Film

    An Untold Story, WGN’s ‘Underground’ Provides A New Perspective

    Underground

    Admittedly, when the first few episodes of WGN’s ‘Underground’ arrived in my inbox, I was thinking….not another slave movie! But boy was I wrong. 

    New York winters, and aging parents have helped my Dad make the recent decision to go bi-coastal. After hanging out at the house with him for the day, I decided to give Underground a try with the family and gauge their interest.

    WGN America’s new original scripted drama “Underground,” premieres Wednesday, March 9, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, and tells the tale of a courageous blacksmith Noah (Aldis Hodge) as he covertly organizes a small group of his fellow slaves and pieces together a daring plan of escape across hundreds of miles to freedom.  The odds of success are razor-thin for those who make it off the plantation, while the risks, dangers and obstacles multiply each step of the way.

     

    After the first few minutes of the show opener, and realizing everyone was familiar with a few of the cast – we dove right into watching. Everyone was dead silent, and for good reason. While endearing you through a painful and emotional childbirth, the reality of the period and time the show is depicted in sets in.

    We watched the first episode while struggling between being intrigued, and infuriated – especially in light of our current political climate. But there is a strength in the series, that’s not satire. Finally, there is a story that speaks to the resilience of many during the time. The Underground Railroad deserves to have its story told, and our families deserve the opportunity to champion these stories on screen. I can’t imagine the emotional toil the cast goes through after filming a series such as this, but God bless them for their dedication to their craft.

    The following week, my Dad declared, “Alright I’m ready for the next episode”. There was no way we could watch all four back to back, lol. Each episode drew me in with more intensity, and now I’m playing the waiting game. Pretty excited for everyone else to catch the premiere, but selfishly Im waiting to catch Episode 5.

    UNDERGROUND is a love story. It depicts a rare love, a true love – one without words, one that will take risks, and one that displays a selflessness that is refreshing.

    Tune in, Wednesday, March 9, 10PM on WGN. Find WGN in your area with their channel finder and join the conversation online #UndergroundWGN

    Aldis Hodge with the Holman United Methodist Church youth choir (Los Angeles, CA)

    Aldis Hodge with the Holman United Methodist Church youth choir (Los Angeles, CA)

    From creators and executive producers Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, and executive producer and Academy Award-winner John Legend, the 10-episode, hour-long series follows a group of courageous men and women who use their ingenuity, power and perseverance to attempt the greatest escape in history and break free, despite the dire consequences that awaited them on the other side.

    “Underground” features an acclaimed cast, including Jurnee Smollett-Bell (“True Blood,” “Friday Night Lights”), Aldis Hodge (“Straight Outta Compton”), Christopher Meloni (“Sin City: A Dame to Kill For”), Alano Miller (“Jane The Virgin”), ‎Jessica de Gouw (“Arrow,” “Dracula”), Marc Blucas (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), ‎Adina Porter (“The 100”), Mykelti Williamson (“Justified,” “24”), ‎Amirah Vann (“Girls,” “And So It Goes”), Johnny Ray Gill (“Rectify”), Chris Chalk (“Gotham”), Reed Diamond (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Theodus Crane (“The Walking Dead”), Renwick Scott (“Treme”) and Jussie Smollett (“Empire”).

    Jurnee-Smollett-Bell-as-Rosalee-and-Aldis-Hodge-as-Noah-in-WGN-Americas-Underground

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