Shanice Harris

The Oprah Winfrey Network’s top-rated show is wrapping its fourth season soon, so now is the perfect time to talk about the underrated genius that is Queen Sugar.

Honestly, the show needs a 3000-word feature piece to highlight its greatness. Queen Sugar, which premiered on OWN in Fall 2016, has been a staple in television for me since its first appearance on the network. The drama stars Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, and Kofi Siriboe, as the Bordelon siblings who take over their family sugar farm in Louisiana after the death of their father.

On Wednesday, I curled up on my couch, clicked on my TV, and settled in to watch episode 11. Let’s start with the aesthetic of Queen. The show looks like it could be a painting. Hit “pause” at any moment and that image could be printed, framed, and hung in a museum anywhere in the world. Director of Photography duties are split between Kira Kelly and Antonio Calvache. The images are rich and filled with so much depth. You feel like you’re there. Whether you’re inside Aunt Violet’s home or standing next to Ralph Angel at the farm, the texture of the show makes it real.

Queen Sugar was originally a book, written by Natalie Baszile, in 2014. Ava DuVernay was brought the idea to adapt the best-selling book into a television show by Oprah Winfrey after she bought the rights for her network. The character development of the lovely Bordelon family very much reads like a book. The characters are complex, flawed, beautiful human beings. Ralph Angel—youngest of the siblings—is the father of his young son, Blue, and trying to make his way in life after serving time in prison. The middle child, Charley, is a recently-divorced mother of a teenage son who moves back to Louisiana after the death of their dad. Nova, the oldest, is a journalist and civil rights activist who believes her work can heal and bring change. I never feel like the script is doing too much. It’s never over-the-top or over-acted. I genuinely believe in each character, their ability to be better, and their love for each other.

The show is phenomenal. When the season is over, I may do a review of season 4. Hands down, this season has had some of the best acting I have ever seen on the show. The storyline has been compelling, and the characters have been dealing with some heavy stuff. Queen Sugar is proof that great, engaging writing will always attract an audience.

Sidenote: It’s an absolute crime that this show hasn’t been recognized by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences...typical.

Until next time…

Shanice