The Good Lord Bird (miniseries) explained

Opentheme:"Come on Children, Let's Sing" by Mahalia Jackson[1]
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Episodes:7
Runtime:46–57 minutes
Location:Richmond, Virginia
Network:Showtime

The Good Lord Bird is a 2020 American historical drama television miniseries, based on the 2013 novel of the same name by James McBride. Focusing on John Brown's attack on American slavery, the series was created and executive produced by Ethan Hawke and Mark Richard. Produced by Jason Blum, through Blumhouse Television, it premiered on October 4, 2020, on Showtime.[2]

Premise

The series is told from the point of view of Henry "Onion" Shackleford (Joshua Caleb Johnson), a fictional enslaved boy, who is part of John Brown (Ethan Hawke) motley crew of abolitionist soldiers during the time of Bleeding Kansas, eventually participating in the famous 1859 raid on the Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (since 1863, West Virginia). Brown's raid failed to initiate a slave revolt as he intended, but it was one of the events that started the American Civil War.[3]

It is not just the story of Brown but that of those that accompanied him. According to Hawke, "If you really study this character, he asks a lot of you philosophically. He challenges why so many of us accept the unacceptable". Author James McBride was involved in the production and according to him, "John Brown is a real hero to me and to many Black people who are no longer alive. John Brown gave his life and two of his sons' lives to the cause of freedom for Black people, and he started the Civil War. They buried this man's story for a long time....".[4]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest

Music

Music in the miniseries is composed of Black musical genres: gospel, blues, and spirituals. Most is performed by Black artists or groups, with the theme song "Come On Children, Let's Sing", a gospel song, sung by Mahalia Jackson. Songs featured in the series include:

  1. The Zion Travelers, "Am I a Soldier of the Lord?"
  2. Elmore James, "Shake Your Money Maker"
  3. The Zion Travelers, "The Blood"
  4. Mahalia Jackson, "I'm On My Way to Canaan"
  1. Nina Simone, "I Shall Be Released"
  2. Shuggie Otis, "Sweet Thang"
  1. Brother Joe May and the Bye & Bye, "Afterwhile"
  2. Shuggie Otis, "Sweet Thang"
  3. The Redemption Harmonizers, "Amazing Grace"
  1. Elvis Presley, "Where Could I Go but to the Lord"
  2. Taj Mahal, "She Caught the Katy and Left Me the Mule to Ride"
  1. The Ragged Jubilee, "In the Valley II"
  2. Joe and Eddie and the Les Braxter Chorus, "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore"
  1. Mahalia Jackson, "Trouble of the World"
  1. Spirit of Memphis Quartet, "Walking with Jesus"
  2. Cast, "Wayfaring Stranger"

Production

Development

Ethan Hawke and Jason Blum adapted the 2013 novel, The Good Lord Bird, for a limited series that premiered on October 4, 2020, on Showtime.[7] The series was created and executive produced by Hawke and Mark Richard. Jason Blum, via Blumhouse Television, served as a production partner on the miniseries.[8] [9] Albert Hughes, Kevin Hooks, Darnell Martin, and Haifaa al-Mansour, Michael Nankin, and Kate Woods each directed an episode.[10]

Casting

In August 2019, Daveed Diggs and Wyatt Russell signed on to portray Frederick Douglass and First Lieutenant J. E. B. Stuart.[11] [12] [13] In July 2019, Joshua Caleb Johnson and Rafael Casal joined the cast as Henry "Onion" Shackleford and John Cook.[14]

Filming

Principal photography for the series began in July 2019, in Powhatan, Virginia, near Richmond.[15] [16]

Reception

Critical response

For the series, review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 98% based on 52 reviews, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Ethan Hawke dazzles in The Good Lord Bird, an epically irreverent adaptation that does right by its source material's good word."[17] On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 based on reviews from 25 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[18]

In response to John Lahr's profile of Ethan Hawke,[19] The New Yorker published a letter to the editor,[20] written by Marty Brown, a descendant of John Brown. In the letter, Marty Brown welcomes the effort to bring John Brown's story to a wider audience but notes that his characterization in the series does not reflect the work of Brown's historians and biographers.[21]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNomineesResult
2021Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV MovieDaveed Diggs[22]
Joshua Caleb Johnson
Golden Globe AwardsBest Actor – Limited Series or Television FilmEthan Hawke[23]
Gotham AwardsBreakthrough Series – Long FormatThe Good Lord Bird[24] [25]
Outstanding Performance in a New SeriesEthan Hawke
NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Writing in a Drama SeriesErika L. Johnson & Mark Richard (for "A Wicked Plot")[26]
Peabody AwardsEntertainment honoreesShowtime Presents Blumhouse Television, Mark 924 Entertainment, Under the Influence Productions[27]
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Main Title DesignEfrain Montanez, Eduardo Guisandes, and Abigail Fairfax[28]
Satellite AwardsBest Miniseries & Limited SeriesThe Good Lord Bird[29]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV FilmEthan Hawke
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television FilmJoshua Caleb Johnson
Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited SeriesEthan Hawke[30]
Television Critics Association AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and SpecialsThe Good Lord Bird[31]
Individual Achievement in DramaEthan Hawke
Writers Guild of America AwardsLong Form – AdaptedJeff Augustin, Ethan Hawke, Erika L. Johnson, Mark Richard, Kristen SaBerre, and Lauren Signorino; Based on the novel by James McBride[32]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Good Lord Bird (2020) . . Lola . Landekic . October 6, 2020 . April 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210405203602/https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-good-lord-bird/ . April 5, 2021 . live.
  2. Web site: Showtime Pushes Back Abolitionist Miniseries 'The Good Lord Bird', Picks Up British Drama 'We Hunt Together' To Fill Slot . . . Peter . White . June 24, 2020 . June 24, 2020 . October 7, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201007141157/https://deadline.com/2020/06/showtime-the-good-lord-bird-we-hunt-together-1202968735/ . live.
  3. Web site: Ethan Hawke On Playing The Complexities In Showtime's 'The Good Lord Bird' . . . Anthony . D'Alessandro . January 13, 2020 . January 31, 2020 . October 7, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201007141205/https://deadline.com/2020/01/ethan-hawke-the-good-lord-bird-tca-1202829503/ . live.
  4. News: 'Good Lord Bird' recognizes history's unnamed 'others' . St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) . October 2, 2020 . G20 . newspapers.com.
  5. Web site: Diggs, Russell Join Hawke's "Good Lord Bird" . Garth . Franklin . . August 3, 2019 . March 27, 2020 . August 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190804141356/https://www.darkhorizons.com/diggs-russell-join-hawkes-good-lord-bird/ . live.
  6. Onion . Rebecca . What's Fact and What's Fiction in 'The Good Lord Bird' . . October 5, 2020 . . October 5, 2020 . October 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201005100559/https://slate.com/culture/2020/10/good-lord-bird-showtime-accuracy-fact-fiction.html . live.
  7. Sepinwall . Alan . September 25, 2020 . The Gospel According to Ethan Hawke . October 10, 2020 . . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014015412/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/ethan-hawke-interview-good-lord-bird-1065123/ . live.
  8. Web site: Ethan Hawke, Jason Blum Adapting 'The Good Lord Bird' for TV . . Lang . Brent . June 11, 2018 . October 7, 2019 . June 13, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180613041104/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/ethan-hawke-jason-blum-adapting-the-good-lord-bird-for-tv-exclusive-1202841171/ . live.
  9. Web site: Academy Award(R) Nominee Ethan Hawke to Executive Produce and Star in Showtime(R) Limited Series "Good Lord Bird" . . March 11, 2019 . October 7, 2019.
  10. Web site: Daveed Diggs & Wyatt Russell Join 'The Good Lord Bird' For Showtime - TCA . . Denise . Petski . August 2, 2019 . August 3, 2020 . December 5, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191205020431/https://deadline.com/2019/08/daveed-diggs-wyatt-russell-the-good-lord-bird-showtime-tca-1202659889/ . live.
  11. Web site: Showtime Taps Tony Winner Daveed Diggs and Wyatt Russell in "The Good Lord Bird" . . August 2, 2019 . October 7, 2019.
  12. Web site: Daveed Diggs to Play Frederick Douglass in Ethan Hawke's Showtime Limited Series 'The Good Lord Bird' . . Margeaux . Sippell . August 2, 2019 . December 3, 2019 . December 5, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062131/https://www.thewrap.com/daveed-diggs-to-play-frederick-douglass-in-ethan-hawkes-showtime-limited-series-the-good-lord-bird/ . live.
  13. Web site: TV News Roundup: Daveed Diggs, Wyatt Russell Join Ethan Hawke Showtime Series . . . Bell . Breanna . August 2, 2019 . December 3, 2019 . December 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191206072109/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/tv-news-roundup-daveed-diggs-wyatt-russell-the-good-lord-bird-1203290155/ . live.
  14. Web site: 'The Good Lord Bird': Rafael Casal To Recur In Showtime Limited Series . . . Denise . Petski . November 8, 2019 . December 3, 2019 . November 9, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191109120509/https://deadline.com/2019/11/the-good-lord-bird-rafael-casal-recur-showtime-limited-series-1202781637/ . live.
  15. Web site: Showtime's 'The Good Lord Bird' Filming in Virginia . Evans . Chris . . . September 17, 2019 . December 3, 2019 . December 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191203224202/https://www.kftv.com/news/2019/09/17/showtimes-the-good-lord-bird-filming-in-virginia . live.
  16. Web site: On set of 'The Good Lord Bird' with Virginia showrunner Mark Richard and Ethan Hawke . . . Colleen . Curran . September 11, 2019 . December 3, 2019 . December 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191203224155/https://www.richmond.com/entertainment/movies-television/on-set-of-the-good-lord-bird-with-virginia-showrunner/article_20b4c65b-587a-5302-ad3f-7dd9f9c52afe.html . live.
  17. Web site: The Good Lord Bird: Season 1 (2020) . . . February 1, 2021 . December 25, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201225021934/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_good_lord_bird/s01 . live.
  18. Web site: The Good Lord Bird (2020) Reviews . . . December 4, 2020 . December 15, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201215234308/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-good-lord-bird . live.
  19. The Many Faces of Ethan Hawke . . John . Lahr . September 14, 2020 . November 1, 2020 . November 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101014036/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/09/21/the-many-faces-of-ethan-hawke . live.
  20. The Mail October 19, 2020 Issue . . October 12, 2020 . November 1, 2020 . October 20, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201020170633/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/10/19/letters-from-the-october-19-2020-issue . live.
  21. Web site: John Brown: one of the most clear-sighted and courageous patriots our nation has ever produced . Hard Crackers . October 30, 2020 . November 1, 2020 . November 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101094217/https://hardcrackers.com/john-brown-one-clear-sighted-courageous-patriots-nation-ever-produced/ . live.
  22. Web site: 'Ozark,' 'The Crown' and Netflix Lead 26th Annual Critics' Choice Awards TV Nominations . Schneider . Michael . January 18, 2021 . Variety . January 18, 2021 . January 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118230541/https://variety.com/2021/tv/awards/ozark-the-crown-schitts-creek-26th-annual-critics-choice-awards-tv-nominations-2021-1234887254/ . live.
  23. Web site: Golden Globes 2021: The Complete Nominations List . Oganesyan . Natalie . Moreau . Jordan . February 3, 2021 . Variety . February 3, 2021 . February 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210203182501/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/2021-golden-globes-nominations-list-nominees-1234896457/ . live.
  24. News: Lattanzio . Ryan . Gotham Awards: 'The Lost Daughter' Wins Top Prize — See the Full List of Winners . November 30, 2021 . IndieWire . November 30, 2021.
  25. Web site: Gotham Awards 2021 Nominations: 'Pig,' 'Green Knight,' 'Passing' Compete for Best Feature. IndieWire. Zack. Sharf. October 21, 2021. November 27, 2021.
  26. Web site: NAACP Image Awards Nominations: Netflix Tops List With 'Bridgerton', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' & 'Da 5 Bloods' . Del Rosario . Alexandra . February 2, 2021 . . February 3, 2021 . March 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210326223146/https://deadline.com/2021/02/naacp-image-awards-nominations-2021-1234685220/ . live.
  27. Web site: The Good Lord Bird . . June 22, 2021 . June 22, 2021.
  28. Web site: The Good Lord Bird . Emmys.com . . July 18, 2021.
  29. Web site: 25th Satellite Awards Nominees for Motion Pictures and Television Announced . Van Blaricom . Mirjana . February 1, 2021 . . February 1, 2021.
  30. Web site: SAG Awards 2021 nominees . February 4, 2021 . SAG Awards . February 4, 2021 . February 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210204165327/https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards . live.
  31. Web site: Turchiano . Danielle . 'Ted Lasso' Scores the Most 2021 TCA Awards Nominations . July 15, 2021 . . July 18, 2021.
  32. Web site: WGA Awards: 'Better Call Saul' Scores Leading 5 Nominations in TV, New Media, News Categories . Lewis . Hilary . February 3, 2021 . The Hollywood Reporter . February 3, 2021 . February 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210204234929/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wga-awards-tv-new-media-news-nominations-revealed . live.

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