Underground
Underground is an American historical period drama and thriller television series that dramatically portrays the harrowing experiences of enslaved people in Antebellum Georgia as they plot a daring escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad. The series, co-created by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, blends historical narratives with modern cinematic techniques and a contemporary soundtrack, offering a unique and intense viewing experience. It focuses on a diverse group of characters, known as the 'Macon 7,' highlighting their struggles, resilience, and complex moral choices in the face of immense brutality and injustice. The show is intended for mature audiences due to its graphic depictions of violence, sexual content, and thematic intensity, which are inherent to its subject matter.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe series contains frequent and graphic depictions of violence, integral to portraying the brutal realities of slavery. This includes whippings, beatings, executions, and murders, often shown with visible injuries and significant emotional distress.
In a harrowing scene from the pilot, Rosalee (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) begs a slave driver to whip her instead of her younger brother, resulting in her being repeatedly lashed on the forearm, tearing 'bloody strips off her skin.' Rosalee’s mother, Ernestine (Amirah Vann), murders another woman to protect her family. The character Cato is depicted with a half-burned face, a result of prior punishment for attempting to run away.
Romance and Sexual Content
HighThe show includes explicit sexual content and addresses the sexual exploitation inherent in slavery. This involves scenes of implied sexual acts, prostitution, and discussions around leveraging sexual relationships for survival or gain.
In one instance, Noah devises a plan that involves him pretending to have sex with the mistress of the plantation to distract Cato, though the mistress ultimately has sex with Cato, allowing Noah to steal a gun. Ernestine maintains a sexual relationship with her owner, Tom Macon, the father of her children, leveraging it to secure protection for them, as seen when she has sex with him after he promises James will not work in the fields. The bounty hunter August Pullman is shown having sex with a prostitute.
Substance Use
HighThe series prominently features substance use, particularly in Season 2, where a main character struggles with addiction as a coping mechanism for severe trauma and loss. Alcohol consumption is also present in social settings.
In Season 2, Ernestine develops an addiction to 'huffing' and uses laudanum (tincture of opium) to cope with the profound grief of losing her children and the ongoing trauma of her life. She is depicted 'sniffing the drug off of her handkerchief' while hallucinating. August Pullman is mentioned to have sex with a prostitute, after which substance use is mentioned.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe series is consistently high in intensity and suspense, immersing viewers in the constant fear and danger inherent to escaping slavery. It includes graphic violence, psychological torment, and life-threatening situations that create a pervasive sense of dread and horror.
The show is described as a 'violent melodrama full of jeopardy and plot twists'. Reviewers noted that 'several scenes in the pilot are unwatchable in the best way,' referring to the brutal whipping of Rosalee. The overarching narrative of the 'Macon 7' planning a perilous 600-mile journey to freedom ensures continuous high-stakes tension and fright, as capture means severe punishment or death.
Disrespect & Rebellion
HighDisrespect is a core theme, highlighted by the systemic dehumanization of enslaved people by their owners. The central plot is driven by acts of rebellion and defiance by the enslaved characters who risk everything to escape, directly challenging the established unjust authority.
The entire premise centers on Noah and the 'Macon 7' orchestrating a 'daring escape' from the Macon plantation, a monumental act of rebellion against their enslavers. Slave owners, such as Tom Macon, display extreme disrespect by treating enslaved individuals as property, as exemplified when he calmly reads his newspaper during Rosalee's whipping, only concerned that her hands remain functional for serving.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumWhile there is no overt on-screen LGBTQ representation across the twenty episodes, actress Jasika Nicole, who plays the abolitionist character Georgia, stated in an interview that her character is gay. However, this aspect of her sexuality is not explicitly indicated or explored within the series itself.
According to an interview with Jasika Nicole, the actress who portrays abolitionist Georgia, her character is gay, but no overt indication of her sexuality is shown in the series. The show generally lacks overt representation of LGBTQ characters across its two seasons.
Profanity
MediumThe series incorporates strong language, reflecting the intense and desperate situations faced by the characters. Co-creators aimed to push boundaries regarding dialogue and language to accurately convey the historical period.
Co-creator Joe Pokaski mentioned that there were 'arguments about the language we' used, indicating intentional inclusion of strong dialogue to reflect the harsh realities. While specific profanity is not detailed in available reviews, the overall intensity of the series implies its presence.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe series does not overtly promote anti-Christian themes. However, it implicitly critiques the hypocrisy of slave owners who claim Christian faith while perpetrating immense cruelty. Some enslaved characters grapple with their faith in the face of suffering, questioning God's role in their plight.
The character Moses, a field hand, explicitly questions whether 'slavery is God's will,' reflecting the spiritual dilemma faced by many enslaved people. Ernestine, overwhelmed by despair, utters, 'oh god don't worry ain't neither of us is going to have to answer to him for our sins. we both going to hell,' indicating a profound spiritual crisis rather than a direct rejection of God.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere are no explicit depictions of witchcraft, sorcery, or occult rituals within the series. However, one character experiences what appear to be hallucinations of a deceased loved one, which is linked to her grief and substance abuse rather than genuine supernatural phenomena.
In Season 2, Ernestine, reeling from loss and addiction, speaks to the 'ghost of her dead son Sam' while under the influence of drugs. This is portrayed as a manifestation of her psychological state rather than an actual occult encounter.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
TV-MA. The series features pervasive graphic violence, including whippings and murders, explicit sexual content, and mature themes related to slavery, psychological trauma, and substance abuse. It is designed for adult audiences capable of processing disturbing historical realities.
Additional Notes
The series ran for two seasons on WGN America (2016-2017) before its cancellation, with rebroadcast rights later acquired by the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). A notable stylistic choice is the incorporation of contemporary music, such as Kanye West's 'Black Skinhead' in the opening scene, into the historical drama, which some viewers found enhances the modern feel while others felt it disrupted the period authenticity.
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