Unprisoned

"Unprisoned" (S01, 8 eps, 30-min, Hulu) stars cute Kerry Washington as an instagramming therapist raising her 16yo boy in Minneapolis when her father (played by cool cat Delroy Lindo) comes to see her after being released after serving a 17yr prison sentence for crime(s) unknown, maybe that'll be a season two reveal. The show is a dramedy and though it's a racially diverse cast, the writers don't beat you up with divisive social messaging. At its core it's really about a broken family and how prison release isn't as freeing as it would seem. There's an interesting plot device they use when Kerry's character talks to her inner child and that features young Jordyn McIntosh who's a firecracker and actually uses hard-swears in her dialogue which I thought was a Hollywood no-no. In any case, it's a really good show that we were disappointed in its short 8-ep run, having to wait another year for a second season if it even happens. These streamers' 8-10 ep seasons are plain $@#% at this point. We need solid 22-ep commitments that made tv entertainment great.

So far, I'm a few episodes in and I'm falling in love hard with Unprisoned.

There's quite a bit of one liners and a bit of comedic situational set up, however ther is a strong drama through line, especially if you've experienced a distanced/estranged relationship with a parent. The comedy is there to lighten it, which is paced well and fitting in a cultural aspect.

Kerri Washington & Delroy Lindo do a fantastic job at making this father-daughter dynamic feel believable and there is a suspense on how it will resolve for all characters. I know these characters, these personalities are people I've known in my life, so the writing is on point. A special shout out to Jordyn McIntosh as Little Paige, the inner child whose monologues are an insight to Paige's issues in her dynamic with her father, delivered with such sass and comedic timing...I can't wait to see more of her!

Based off of the life of Terry McMillan. I do see work and vulnerability to put this out there. The realness of struggles piking on all at once, microagressions, the love and humor to get you through. This is no laugh track Chuck Lorre, and I for one am glad for the reprieve. It feels like a modern mix of The Cosby Show and Everybody Hates Chris: smart, silly, heartfelt, and most of all real.

9* because I'm in the middle of the season.

Finally, a show with black folks that's not just stupid comedy and gag jokes, or living a hard life growing up in the ghetto in poverty, or people suffering inhuman treatment in slavery, or drug gangsters. A show that shows the beauty in blackness. I love it. I am so tired of the stereotypical portrayals of black folks, because all black folks are not poor, all black folks are not gangsters, all black folks are not into drugs. Kerry Washington is a bright light and Delroy Lindo is a treasure. No formulaic gag jokes here. Kudos to the creatives on this project. Love and family is always messy and this shows we should never give up on either.

I'll admit at the beginning you get a whole bunch of characters who have a lot of flaws, that might feel annoying. But keep watching! By the end of the show you really get a chance to watch these people grow.

These people make a lot of mistakes that many of us do in the real world but the show does a great job of showing the behavior without encouraging it. Even exemplifies the harm of dare I say, "too much therapy," or overthinking to the point you self sabotage.

It's more than just a comedy. It has a lot of heart in touches on the inter-generational trauma that Black Americans go through on a daily basis. Once you've entered the cycle of the system, how do you get out?

Also the performances, are amazing!

I have just started this one but I already have a question- I realize the chance might be slim- but did anyone else notice the house where her dad's ex lives is the same place where Kerry Washington's 'Scandal' dad lived?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Delroy and will pretty much watch anything he is in. I was not a big fan of 'Scandal' but ended up watching every season thru repeats. Got hooked obviously. So I do like Kerry too.

As others have mentioned, the first thing I did notice was that once again Kerry is playing a character that refers Caucasian men. At this point seeing her with a Black man would seem almost weird I think. But then again- The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants. Does not matter to me one way or the other.

Also I so wish this site would allow you to post a comment without requiring it to be the length of a short story!