The Good Lord Bird (miniseries)
A miniseries about John Brown's raid on slavery.
Adapted from James McBride’s 2013 novel, this 2020 Showtime miniseries is a historical drama that follows John Brown’s campaign against slavery. Ethan Hawke and Mark Richard created and executive produced the show, with Jason Blum producing through Blumhouse Television. It first aired on October 4, 2020.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Historical drama; Dark comedy
- Creator
- Ethan Hawke; Mark Richard
- Based on
- The Good Lord Bird, James McBride
- Opening theme
- "Come on Children, Let's Sing" by Mahalia Jackson
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Episodes
- 7
- Runtime
- 46–57 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Premise
The series is told from the point of view of Henry "Onion" Shackleford, a fictional enslaved boy who is part of John Brown's motley crew of abolitionist soldiers during Bleeding Kansas. They eventually participate in the 1859 raid on the Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown's raid failed to initiate a slave revolt but was one of the events leading to the American Civil War. According to Hawke, the character challenges why many accept the unacceptable. Author James McBride stated that John Brown is a hero to him and to many Black people who are no longer alive, and that Brown gave his life and two of his sons' lives to the cause of freedom.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a 98% approval rating based on 52 reviews, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The critics consensus states it is an epically irreverent adaptation that does right by its source material. On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 from 25 critics, indicating universal acclaim. A letter to The New Yorker from Marty Brown, a descendant of John Brown, welcomed the effort to bring the story to a wider audience but noted that the characterization does not reflect the work of Brown's historians and biographers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of The Good Lord Bird (miniseries) are there?
The Good Lord Bird has 7 episodes.
When did The Good Lord Bird (miniseries) end?
The Good Lord Bird last aired on 15 November 2020.
More in Television Series by Blumhouse Television
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