UNDERGROUND: What to Expect

As the title of WGN America’s new show suggests, Underground focuses on slaves, plantations, and plans to escape in a pre-Civil War Georgia.

However, the show is more than just a narrative about those who long for freedom and those who attempt to maintain their way of life, Underground is about strong people who make their best choices when circumstances want to thwart them.

Noah (Aldis Hodge) puts himself at great risk to find a path towards freedom for his fellow slaves, though he is not the only one who puts themselves in physical danger for the sake of knowledge.

Underground doesn’t shy away from the gore and physical brutality of slavery, and nor should it. The slaves put through paces as expected, but it is done in a way that doesn’t startled or jar the audience from the emotional impacts. Brutality is a norm, but given the type of story being told, that can only be expected.

At the end of the premiere, though, there are twists and turns, and a few surprises that set up Underground as more than a simple show about slaves who long for freedom.

Watch Underground tonight at 10 PM Eastern on WGN America.