As winter sets in, this 2020 western miniseries offers the ideal binge-watch for those craving action-filled, gripping drama.
The Good Lord Bird chronicles the true story of abolitionist John Brown (played by Ethan Hawke), who is accompanied by an enslaved youth, Onion (Joshua Caleb Johnson), who joins Brown’s band of abolitionist fighters. Compelled to pose as a girl, Onion gets caught up in Brown’s brutal campaign to dismantle the system that ignited the Civil War.
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The seven-episode miniseries tracks the group’s journey on horseback through the 1850s in this bold and unflinching portrayal of 19th-century American frontier life. The show draws from James McBride’s acclaimed novel of the same title.
Across the episodes, audiences witnessed all the explosive gunfights and emotional turmoil characteristic of the action-driven genre. With every episode now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, enthusiasts have expressed their admiration for The Good Lord Bird.
The show holds an impressive 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where both reviewers and audiences commended the narrative, performances, and even declared it the “greatest TV series of all time”, reports the Express.
One audience member commented: “This a very good TV, not only showing history that’s often missed, but funny and very entertaining. I continue to look forward to the next episodes.” Another lauded the lead performer: “Ethan Hawke at his finest. Best thing I’ve watched this year.
“Good quality production, with a great story good characterisation and great acting. I like that its not afraid to confront some challenging issues,” said a third. Another fan added: “This is an awesome mini series. With a great cast to follow a crazy, well-written story, this will entertain anyone. No need for an essay here. This is an awesome period piece…….period.”
One impressed viewer stated: “The Good Lord Bird is a genuine masterpiece and it ultimately will go down as one of the greatest TV series of all time.”
Another urged: “The story is very entertaining, makes you laugh and cry, while Ethan Hawke’s performance grips you through and through. And the topic is as relevant now as it was in 1859. A MUST SEE.”
The show received nominations for a Golden Globe, a SAG award, and two Critics’ Choice Awards, while taking home a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Design.
Beyond portraying Brown, Hollywood star Hawke also served as a writer and producer on the project.
Alongside Johnson, the cast featured Jack Alcott, Steve Zahn, Nick Eversman, Moses Brings Plenty and Orlando Jones.