Washington Black

XIXth century. Born in Barbados, Wash is a slave on a sugar cane plantation. His masters named him George Washington Black. The plantation owner, Erasmus Wilde, is a harsh man who shows no mercy to his slaves. He receives a visit from his brother, Christopher, nicknamed Titch, an abolitionist scientist. Titch recognizes Wash’s intelligence and takes him on as his apprentice. His ambition is to fulfill his father’s dream and build a flying machine. Just as his invention is ready to take off, Wash finds himself accused of murdering the third Wilde brother. He and Titch flee aboard the prototype.

Twenty years later, in Nova Scotia, a young man works on the docks. He falls in love with a young white woman who has just arrived. His feelings are reciprocated, but Tanna is promised to a rich man. As she tries to break off her engagement, a bounty hunter arrives, looking for Washington Black. Once again threatened, Wash can this time count on the support of his black friends in Halifax.

A clumsy narrative but a nice subject

I haven’t read Esi Edugyan’s novel, which the series is based on. It is probably better in terms of the quality of its plot. The series is full of false twists and failed suspense. For example, at the end of the first episode, a mentally disturbed man armed with a rifle is alone with 11-year-old Wash. He is then found dead. It is only two episodes later that the explanation, which is obvious, is “revealed.”

The narration is laborious, and the music is frankly heavy and lacking in subtlety. However, the series has the merit of tackling a rare subject: that of slaves who escaped and rebuilt a free life on the Canadian coast. Based on a fictional story told in the form of a tale, the series explores universal questions about freedom, fulfillment, and the search for identity.

The magnificent images and flawless casting make it worth overlooking the flaws in the script and letting yourself be carried away by this journey of discovery.

Miniseries, 8 episodes (50 mn), 2025, on Hulu and Disney +

WITH : Ernest Kingsley Junior as George Washington ‘Wash’ Black (adult), Eddie Karanja as young Wash, Tom Ellis (Lucifer) as Christopher ‘Titch’ Wilde, Iola Evans as Tanna Goff, Rupert Graves (Sherlock) as Mr Goff, Sterling K. Brown as Medwin Harris, Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Miss Angie, Edward Bluemel (My Lady Jane, A discovery of witches) as William McGee, Billy Boyd as Willard, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (The Lincoln lawyer) as Gaius, Shaunette Renée Wilson as Kit, Julian Rhind-Tutt as Erasmus Wilde, Rick Worthy as Drunk John, Sundra Oakley as Theodora, Miles Yekinni as Barrington, Charles Dance (Game of Thrones) as James Wilde, Chris Patrick-Simpson as Phillip Wilde