Underground is an American television period drama series created by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski about the Underground Railroad in Antebellum Georgia. The show debuted March 9, 2016, on WGN America. On April 25, 2016, WGN America renewed the show for a 10-episode second season, that premiered on March 8, 2017.
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Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Rosalee, a young, shy, and sheltered house slave on the Macon plantation. She is one of the Macon 7.
Aldis Hodge as Noah, a driven, perceptive, and restless slave on the Macon plantation. He is one of the Macon 7.
Jessica De Gouw as Elizabeth Hawkes, a socialite with abolitionist ideals.
Alano Miller as Cato, a cunning and charismatic slave. He is one of the Macon 7.
Christopher Meloni as August Pullman, a secretive bounty hunter who walks a tightrope between morality and survival.
Amirah Vann as Ernestine, the head house slave of the Macon plantation, who is fiercely protective of her children. She is also Tom Macon's lover, and they have two children, Rosalee and James. (recurring season 1, main cast season 2-)
Christopher Backus as Jeremiah Johnson, an ex-con and slave catcher.
Marc Blucas as John Hawkes, an abolitionist lawyer.
Reed Diamond as Tom Macon (ne Hawkes), John Hawkes' brother and the owner of the Macon plantation.
James Lafferty as Kyle Risdin, a US Marshall and Elizabeth's ex-fiancé.
Renwick Scott as Henry, a teenaged slave with a rebellious streak and a heart of gold. He is one of the Macon 7.
Chris Chalk as William Still.
Adina Porter as Pearly Mae, a strong-willed wife, mother, and slave who first gives voice to the song in which the runners will find clues to help guide them to freedom. Pearly Mae is literate and reads the Bible to her husband Moses, which makes the other slaves believe he is the one who can read, although it is only Pearly Mae who can read.
Mykelti Williamson as Moses, a fiery preacher for the Macon plantation's field slaves. Many of the slaves believe that he can read the Bible; however, Moses is illiterate. It is his wife Pearly Mae who secretly reads for him. He is one of the Macon 7.
Theodus Crane as Zeke, a formidable slave in both strength and stature. He is one of the Macon 7.
Andrea Frankle as Suzanna Macon, Tom Macon's wife and Pearly Mae's half-sister, who frequently expresses her disdain for Ernestine, her husband's mistress and mother of two of his slave children.
Johnny Ray Gill as Sam, a talented carpenter and Rosalee and James's older half-brother.
PJ Marshall as Bill Meekes, the Macon plantation overseer.
Darielle Stewart as Boo, Moses and Pearly Mae's daughter. Although she is quiet and shy, she is one of the Macon 7.
Maceo Smedley as James, Ernestine's youngest child. He is the younger brother of Sam and Rosalee.
Michelle Elaine as Corra.
Aisha Hinds as Harriet Tubman (season 2-)
Bokeem Woodbine as Daniel (season 2-)
Jasika Nicole as Georgia (season 2-)
On February 27, 2015, WGN America gave a 10-episode straight-to-series order for the series which is created by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski. Season one was filmed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Season two was filmed in Savannah, Georgia.
In Canada, the show was broadcast on Bravo. Season one was made available on the Australian streaming platform, Stan, in January 2017. in United Kingdom, the show was broadcast on Sky1.
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the first season of Underground an approval rating of 93% with an average score of 7.29 out of 10 based on 29 reviews. The site's critical consensus is, "Underground blends credible terror with enough compelling thrills to overcome the storyline's occasional cliches." The first season received a score of 74 out of 100 based on 28 critics, for "generally favorable" reviews from Metacritic.
