As a movie critic who has spent years traversing the vast expanse of cinematic storytelling, I can confidently say that “Get Millie Black” is a refreshing and riveting addition to HBO’s roster of mystery series. Having traveled extensively across continents, I’ve seen my fair share of Jamaica on the silver screen, but none have captured its raw essence quite like this limited series.
There are plenty of mystery series on TV these days, but HBO has been particularly successful with shows like “Mare of Eastown,” “The Undoing” and the latest season of “True Detective.” However, “Get Millie Black,” a new five-episode limited series from HBO, offers something unique. Set in Kingston, Jamaica, it was created by Marlon James, who also wrote the original short story upon which it’s based. The story starts as a missing persons case but soon expands into a vast network of corruption and violence that extends far beyond Jamaica, reaching even the streets of London.
Initially, the viewers meet Millie Black and her younger brother Orville enjoying the sunshine. Music, confidences, and nail polish become their escape from an abusive mother. Tragically, the carefree childhood of these siblings ends abruptly when Millie is sent to the U.K. as a form of punishment after an argument with their mother. Later on, she learns that Orville has passed away. Approximately twenty years later, following her mother’s demise, Millie (played skillfully by Tamara Lawrance) resigns from her detective position at Scotland Yard in London and goes back to Kingston. It is there that she finds out Orville has transformed into Hibiscus (portrayed by Chyna McQueen). Having felt abandoned by Millie, Hibiscus has also been shaped by past traumas and a society that has outlawed her identity and her occupation: sex work.
Millie, a detective for Jamaica’s police force, is deeply engrossed in her work, particularly the case of missing teenager Janet Fenton, who appears to be associated with an older wealthy man, Freddie Summerville (Peter John Thwaites). As Millie and her partner Curtis (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr) delve deeper into the investigation, they uncover a much larger and intricate criminal network rather than just one missing girl. This vast web of crime catches the eye of Superintendent Luke Holborn (Joe Dempsie), an up-and-coming officer from Scotland Yard, who journeys to Kingston to assist in the investigation.
Following the release of the critically acclaimed film “The Harder They Come” in 1972, representations of Jamaica in films and television have been sparse. While movies like “Bob Marley: One Love” and “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” have offered glimpses of the island, Tanya Hamilton’s “Get Millie Black,” directed by James, stands out for its authenticity and immersion into Jamaican life. The film portrays a Jamaica grappling with colonialism’s heavy burden and the oppressive effects of homophobic laws on its burgeoning LGBTQ+ community. Instead of idyllic beachscapes and turquoise Caribbean waters, viewers are plunged into Millie’s Kingston, where dialogue is predominantly spoken in Jamaican patois, opportunities are scarce, gang violence prevails, and white supremacy remains pervasive.
Beyond offering a gritty, intricate portrayal of the verdant island, James delves deep into the mental drives propelling the main characters within the narrative. Each story segment is narrated by a distinct character (with four chapters receiving critical acclaim). Despite gaining a sister in Hibiscus, Millie has never forgotten the sorrow of losing Orville, which compels her to rescue as many lost children as possible, disregarding work regulations and jeopardizing her own safety. As for Hibiscus, she yearns for freedom and self-determination; however, her mother’s lingering hatred and fury persistently torments her at every step. Luke, driven by a fixation on climbing the ladder at Scotland Yard, finds himself in Jamaica. Lastly, Janet is consumed by a more straightforward desire: the life she believes she deserves.
Millie Black” functions brilliantly as a grisly mystery thriller, offering a shocking surprise at its core. What truly sets this series apart is the exceptional acting and the crimes within an intriguing backdrop. The creator, James, who modeled Millie after his mother and character Detective Inspector Shirley Dillon-James, crafts a compelling world inhabited by characters grappling with their raw instincts and tormented by spirits they can’t free themselves from.
“Get Millie Black” premieres Nov. 25 on HBO, with new episodes dropping weekly on Mondays.
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2024-11-25 17:16