The Big Cigar: La gran fuga

It's a really good show and more importantly, it's a perfect example of how inclusion SHOULD be done in Hollywood. You want more African American actors in the market; you don't do it lazily by (for example) turning Snow White or Cleopatra into a black person, no, you create a completely new character or make a movie about a famous/important real black person. It's not that complicated! "The Burial" is another good example of how the audience is not rejecting inclusion; the audience is rejecting FORCED and LAZY inclusion. Back to this series though, it was a great history class about the life of Huey Newton and his party. I knew nothing about the man or the party and can't pretend that I've been too curious about it in the past so the fact that it managed to make me binge watch it is impressive. On top of it all, I'm a professional hater! I'm hard to impress when it comes to TV shows! Chapeau!

One of the things I love most about the various series created by Apple TV+ is uncovering gems like The Big Cigar that you might not normally see on other streaming services. This series is entertaining from start to finish. Even if you don't know anything about the Black Panther movement, the story of Huey P. Newton is fascinating. From the opening disclaimer, the viewer knows that this is basically Newton's version of the story, so if you're a stickler for 100% accuracy, you might not appreciate the liberties that have been taken. Nonetheless, this doesn't detract in any way from what is a great series. The acting is stellar from top to bottom, starting with Andrew Holland's standout performance as Newton. Despite the character's many flaws and often unlikeable attributes, Holland still manages to create empathy for Newton. Although the subject matter is mostly serious, The Big Cigar is often very humorous and there is enough action to keep the series moving along. Like me, even if this isn't a series you think would interest you, try watching it and you'll likely be hooked. This is great entertainment.

I'm not sure how we're watching the same show - this series was brilliantly written and brilliantly shot. Could it have been a movie? Sure, but I don't think anything is lost in the series format. Personally, I can't stop watching and I have recommended this series to everyone I know.

The series does a great job of humanizing Newtown, we see the complexity of a man who ultimately wanted to do the right thing for his people. The story development is superb, it really sheds light on a little known historical figure in a way that is honest. The actors brought the characters to life in such a way that you forget you're watching a show, you feel like you were there and part of the story. They did an excellent job with the series.

Apple is getting good at making historical miniseries: Franklin, Manhunt and now The Big Cigar. You can think of each as a snapshot of the overall American saga of the search for freedom, in the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries.

The Big Cigar is the most cogent of the trio, focused just on one aspect of Huey P. Newton's life: fleeing trumped up murder charges with the help of some Hollywood admirers.

André Holland and Alessandro Nivola lead a very accomplished cast. They should have gotten some Emmys attention. The story has many "oh come on" moments but apparently is largely true, even the part about the underwater Jesus who had it in for the Black Panthers.

The one fault of the miniseries is the over-reliance on jarring flashbacks, with several flashbacks per episode that makes the whole thing jump around like a jack in the box on meth. It's only six episodes long, can't we just have one episode be the flashback and the rest normal?

A brilliant performance by Andre Holland. This is one of the best true stories I'd never heard before. Highly entertaining. Fast paced. Thought provoking. Don Cheadle brings all the 70s style and flair. The soundtrack is 10/10. It's an in depth, nuanced, unique portrayal of a revolutionary in crisis, at a crossroads, a complicated often misunderstood man grappling with his choices, his direction. Something we rarely see. The love story between Gwen and Huey is deep and emotional, highlighting the impact of women in the party. And if nothing else, it's an incredibly fun thing to binge. Strongly recommend. Don't miss out!