--- title: "The Underground Railroad: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-underground-railroad/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-underground-railroad" critics_score: 90 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Underground Railroad (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 90 from 12 reviews: 12 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are unanimous. All twelve critics are positive, and most treat Barry Jenkins’s adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel as a major piece of television rather than merely a good one. The praise clusters on Jenkins’s direction and on James Laxton’s photography, which several reviews describe as painterly and closely attentive to faces. Thuso Mbedu’s performance as Cora is singled out again and again, with Aaron Pierre also named. Many critics note that the series shows the violence of slavery without turning it into spectacle, and that it makes room for joy and connection alongside the brutality. The spread is narrow, from good to exceptional, and nobody dissents outright. Where reservations exist they concern pace: The Hollywood Reporter finds the series favours atmosphere over forward momentum and calls it a demanding watch, and Variety says it can feel too large to take in at one sitting. Several reviews warn that it is hard viewing, but none offers that as a reason to skip it. ## The AV Club — Stephen Robinson Rating A. 5 May 2021. The review praises Jenkins for outdoing himself with a transcendent adaptation that stretches cinematic language in powerful ways to convey the horrors and humanity of the story. It singles out the searing visuals, strong performances (especially Thuso Mbedu as Cora), and refusal to offer moral relativism as standout elements. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/barry-jenkins-outdoes-himself-in-the-transcendent-under-1846804108) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 13 May 2021. It is a towering achievement and one of the most powerful pieces of television ever seen, with staggering beauty in Jenkins’s film-making and stellar performances. The critic singles out the visual wonder and sense of the will to survive. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2021/05/13/underground-railroad-review-quite-simply-one-powerful-pieces/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 May 2021. Jenkins’ adaptation is a staggering achievement that proves he is one of the most gifted filmmakers working today. The critic singles out the painterly visuals, haunting score and standout performances by Thuso Mbedu and Aaron Pierre. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/the-underground-railroad-amazon-barry-jenkins-review-b933372.html) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 2021. The critic hails Barry Jenkins' limited series as an American masterpiece that remains faithful to the spirit of Colson Whitehead's novel while offering a spellbinding vision of America's past with searing ties to its present. The review singles out Jenkins' direction and visuals for creating an immersive, emotionally resonant experience. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/the-underground-railroad-review-amazon-barry-jenkins-masterpiece-1234636227/) ## The Guardian — Lucy Mangan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 May 2021. Barry Jenkins’ adaptation is as bleak, brutal and brilliant as the book, hallucinatory and heartbreaking. The critic singles out Thuso Mbedu’s extraordinary performance and the series’ pursuit of historical truths. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/may/14/the-underground-railroad-review-barry-jenkins) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2021. The critic calls the series the cinematic event of the year, a masterwork that excavates the wound of slavery through visual storytelling that is felt rather than merely witnessed. It singles out Jenkins and cinematographer James Laxton's textured camerawork and empathetic framing for bringing characters and settings to vivid life. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2021/05/the-underground-railroad-is-the-cinematic-event-of-the-year.html) ## Empire — Kambole Campbell Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 May 2021. The critic praises the sensitive and respectful adaptation of the novel that avoids sensationalism or treating violence as spectacle. They highlight the visual beauty from Jenkins and cinematographer James Laxton, the emotional depth of Mbedu's performance as Cora, and how the series explores themes of anti-Blackness and humanity beyond mere trauma. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/the-underground-railroad-1/) ## Variety — Caroline Framke Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 May 2021. The critic describes the series as a harrowing, emotional, and sprawling American epic that feels almost too big to take in at once, with every frame haunted by ghosts of the past. They praise its compassionate approach to suffering that makes it three-dimensional rather than merely shocking. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/tv/reviews/underground-railroad-review-barry-jenkins-amazon-1234965586/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 May 2021. The critic finds the series a challenging but rapturous watch with breathtaking visuals and immersive mood that often prioritize atmosphere over plot momentum. They single out the remarkable ninth episode for its blend of horror, hope, dialogue, and action, while noting Jenkins has successfully captured the difficult source material. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-underground-railroad-tv-review-4176789/) ## NME — Paul Bradshaw Rating 5/5. 14 May 2021. The critic calls it a heart-breaking masterpiece that's hard to watch but shouldn’t be missed, praising Jenkins' handling of perspective through the story of Cora's flight and the vast portrait of American racism. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/the-underground-railroad-review-barry-jenkins-2940983) ## Paste — Radhika Menon Rating 9.6/10. 4 May 2021. The critic praises the series as a tense, atmospheric exploration of hope amid trauma, highlighting its lush visuals, deliberate worldbuilding across episodes, strong lead performance by Thuso Mbedu, and nuanced depiction of perseverance. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-underground-railroad/the-underground-railroad-review) ## The Ringer — Lex Pryor Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 May 2021. The critic praises the series for centering the minds, emotions, and desires of its characters in depicting life under slavery, rather than relying on mystery or horror tropes. Jenkins is lauded for using intimate close-ups and blending brutality with moments of joy and human connection to recapture the full essence of Black life. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2021/05/19/tv/underground-railroad-review-barry-jenkins-amazon-colson-whitehead) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-underground-railroad.md