Fans have hailed Michaela Coel's Black Earth Rising as 'perfection' and the 'best war drama in recent years' as the acclaimed 2018 political thriller arrives on BBC iPlayer. The eight-episode mini-series, which first aired in 2018, has garnered widespread praise from viewers on IMDB.
Plot and Themes
The series follows Kate Ashby, played by Coel, who was born in Rwanda but raised in Britain by her adoptive mother, Eve. Kate follows in her mother's footsteps as Eve works as a prominent British prosecutor specializing in international criminal law. Working for Michael Ennis, portrayed by John Goodman, Eve is compelled to confront her traumatic early childhood during the Rwandan genocide when she takes on a case prosecuting an African militia leader at the International Criminal Court.
The series tackles complex themes including race, justice, personal integrity, and self-determination on a global stage, as reported by Wales Online.
Viewer Reactions
One IMDB reviewer described it as the 'best' war drama they had witnessed in recent years. They wrote: 'I can't pretend to understand or ever really know the pain of the survivors of the Rwanda genocide but this drama has such strength in not only Michaela Coel's performance but in its script, its twists and turns, its depth and sensitivity to a painful and ultimately so desperately human tragedy.'
Another fan described the experience as witnessing 'perfection at last'. They added: 'I have been writing reviews for this site for 17 years. Mostly films but also TV. Some great films, some very bad ones. Even the best ones had flaws - the acting was great but the direction was so-so etc. But in Black Earth Rising, I think that I may at last have seen perfection - and I don't say that lightly.'
The same reviewer praised the stunning visuals, perfect sound, and the animated sections as a stroke of genius. They concluded: 'There might be better made TV drama, but I have yet to see it. I have come away from episode 5 absolutely mesmerized. Compelling, beautiful, powerful - stunning in every way.'
Black Earth Rising is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
