15 Best TV Shows Of 2021 (So Far)
2. The Underground Railroad
A daring adaptation of Colson Whitehead's immaculate, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Underground Railroad tells the fictional but nonetheless historically relevant tale of slaves Cora and Caesar (Thuso Mbedu and Aaron Pierre), who attempt to escape enslavement by using the titular network to find freedom.
Directed over its ten-episode run by Barry Jenkins, the Amazon-produced drama is equal parts historical fiction, magical realism and fantasy, complete with imagery, character and plot twists that are as challenging as they are important, as beautiful as they are heartbreaking, and as hopeful as they are tragic.
Grounded by its remarkable cast and Jenkins' singular vision of a space and time we should never let ourselves forget, The Underground Railroad is a perfect adaptation of its source material, and is as vital as anything else you're likely to find on TV this year.