UNDERGROUND: Powerful Performances from Young Stars

Underground, from WGN America, has been a show that has constantly challenged my expectations of a television show based on historic events so far this season.

In a moment of levity back in August when I met with the cast and creative team, Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Aldis Hodge both praised the work of the younger actors from the show. However as I asked the question, I never imagined just how understated their admiration for their co-stars was.

Specific to last night’s episode, it’s clear that both Smollett-Bell and Hodge were talking about these three different performances.

Brady Permenter, who plays Ben Pullman, had such small but powerful moments as he looked at what has happened to his mother and how much she’s changed and how much the hospital she’s at isn’t what he imagined it was.

However, Brady is not alone in how he tackled a difficult series of scenes.

Darielle Stewart, Boo, captivated the screen as she struggled to talk with Elizabeth (Jessica de Gouw) in Ohio. The young girl made me cry at various points as she erred on the side of caution.

In much the same way, Maceo Smedley (James) and Toby Nichols (T.R. Macon) did the same as they each had to understand and internalize their changed positions.

Underground airs Wednesdays at 10PM Eastern/9PM Central on WGN America.