Washington Black
This series aims to blend light moments with serious themes. It follows the protagonist’s journey from the brutal slavery of Barbados to the hopeful freedom found in Nova Scotia.
Opening shot: “Halifax, Nova Scotia. 1837.” The camera captures the port of Halifax, where Medwin Harris (Sterling K. Brown) welcomes viewers, saying, “Welcome to Halifax, the final stop on the Underground Railroad. Everyone has their own story. The boy has it for you.”
Key Points: In Halifax, 19-year-old Washington “Wash” Black (Ernest Kingsley Jr.) resides at Harris’ boarding house. Having known Wash since he arrived in Halifax a few years back, they share a close bond. Wash adopts the alias Jack Crawford to evade bounty hunters searching for him since his escape from a sugar plantation in Barbados eight years ago at the tender age of 11.
Wash possesses a curious scientific mind, spending time modeling a flying machine he dreams of building. Flashbacks reveal the eight years he spent on a sugar farm, where young Wash (Eddicalanja) and other enslaved workers endure harsh treatment from Erasmus Wild (Julian Leindotat), the plantation owner. An intriguing figure appears in a vehicle resembling a steam-powered tractor—Christopher “Titch” Wild (Tom Ellis), Erasmus’ brother, who believes the technology is a crucial step towards creating the flying machine he envisions.
Abolitionist Tic recruits one worker enslaved by his brother to assist him. Erasmus acknowledges the irony but reluctantly acquiesces. Tic selects young Wash, recognizing his spark and interest in science. While Tic treats Wash as an equal, tensions rise when another brother, Philip (Chris Patrick Simpson), shows up.
In Halifax, Tanna Goff (Iola Evans) arrives from London with her father (Rupert Graves). Raised in the Solomon Islands, Tanna lost her mother at age 10. As an interracial woman, she yearns to embrace her heritage, but her father pressures her to conform to social expectations, including an arranged marriage to Billy McGee (Edward Bloomel). Yet, there’s a clear chemistry between her and Wash.
What shows does it remind you of? Created by Selwyn Seyfu Hinds and based on Esi Edugyan’s novel, Washington Black captures a global adventure similar to the recent series Nautilus.
Our View: The Story is split between the 19-year-old Wash trying to realize Tich’s ideas in Nova Scotia and his 11-year-old self embarking on a journey from Barbados to Canada. He flees from the plantation after a tragedy, but the identity struggle continues throughout the first episode.
Performances by Kingsley and Karanja as the older and younger Wash are exceptional. The way Karanja embodies young Wash is striking; he mirrors Kingsley, both physically and in mannerisms.
The narrative explores Wash’s adventures and his growing affection for Tanna, yet the theme of slavery looms heavily. This juxtaposes how Titch interacts with Wash and how Erasmus and Philip view him. It’s critical for Wash to navigate Halifax while constantly wary of the bounty hunters who pursued him since he was just 11.
Anticipation builds around Wash’s escape and the journey to freedom in Halifax. If you know the original story, you might already guess the outcome. However, it’s the journey itself that lies at the heart of this series.
Sex and Skin: No notable content in the first episode.
Farewell shot: Philip confronts Wash in the forest, gun raised.
Sleeper Star: Though Sterling K. Brown delivers solid performances, he plays a supporting role here as Medwin. His presence subtly reinforces just how talented he is, while Iola Evans shines as Tanna.
Most Pilot Y-line: Erasmus chillingly states that taking one’s own life is a crime against him, highlighting the brutality of his character.
Our Call: Stream Washington Black. Despite its serious themes on slavery, the series carries a sense of swashbuckling adventure.
