I was very skeptical about this new drama series, but after just two episodes I’m obsessed

It’s not often that a series gives you pause because the plot is so different than anything else currently out there in entertainment. There’s no question that this year has been enlightening when it comes to learning more about the meaning of black cowboys and cowgirls (thanks to the help of Beyoncé, of course). The growing interest makes this the perfect time for a show like this Beyond Black BeautyIt’s about a young equestrian named Jolie Dumont whose Olympic dreams are ruined when her mother moves the family from Belgium to her family’s urban ranch in Baltimore.

Prime Video

The 11-episode series, created and executive produced by Pilar Golden, is already receiving great reviews from critics who praise the innovative plot, and if you like drama, there’s plenty of it in the form of family secrets, double lives and revenge. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical at first when I started this as I’m not a big fan of modern western films and series. In my opinion, many of today’s westerns (Yellowstone Other than that of course) they haven’t gone beyond bars, outlaws and gangs looking for revenge. But I have to say Beyond Black Beauty convinced me.

The show also gives you a deeper insight into what it takes to operate in equestrian sports—particularly as a person of color, a conscious decision Golden tells me.

“I want to speak from an honest perspective. “I had no idea black cowboys even existed,” she tells me. “It didn’t take until Concrete cowboy It came out that I really understood, and Amazon told me they wanted to do a modern version of it. The question became how to bring this subset of black culture to life. It was important to me to highlight a black family that we don’t get to see as often – a family that is complicated but grows together. It is also important to note that this is a family that has owned their land for 100 years, which was the intention.”

Prime Video

Kaya Coleman, who plays Jolie, also adds: “I’m Canadian, born and raised, but my roots are in Florida. Learning about my roots through this show was very important to me and it’s interesting because during the Civil War the plantation owners went away to fight and it was the slaves who took care of the horses and farms and brought them into the West brought. There were a lot of black people learning to ride during this time – it’s always been here.

What I like most about this series is Jolie’s relationship with her horse, Black Beauty. Riding can offer you many different elements that help you grow as a person (along with the overall relationship you build with the horses), and that idea is reflected in this series. I’m also glad that Jolie’s Olympic dreams aren’t completely abandoned, as it creates another dynamic that adds to the emotional depth and complexity of this show.

The unique plot and willingness to stray from the “traditional” in Black storytelling is just one of the things that makes this show so compelling and I definitely recommend anyone interested in the world of equestrian sports to check it out .

You can stream Beyond Black Beauty via Prime Video.

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