The prospect of a new crime drama always makes our heart sing and there’s one we've been counting down the days for. Having made major waves when it aired in the US at the end of last year, Get Millie Black has just arrived on Channel 4 in the UK - and it's too good to miss.
The five-part drama follows the inimitable Millie-Jean Black, a superstar police detective who's forced to quit Scotland Yard and return home to Jamaica, where she finds herself pursuing a missing persons. That is, until one particular case threatens to upend her life.
Exploring slavery, sexuality and cycles of trauma in the post-colonial landscape of Britain and Jamaica, it’s a thoroughly gripping – and eye-opening watch – and it's worth all the air time it gets. Here's everything you need to know about the new series, otherwise known as our new favourite crime drama…
What is Get Millie Black about?
It’s about time we had a crime that offered something slightly different, which this trailblazing series certainly does. Penned by acclaimed Jamaican novelist Marlon James, who won the Man Booker prize for A Brief History Of Seven Killings, the five-part female-led series introduces us to Detective Inspector Millie Black who was once the star of Scotland Yard and now finds herself back in her hometown of Kingston, Jamaica investigating missing persons with her partner, Curtis.
As James explains, the Jamaica we enter "is not sand, sea and sex, but a bolder, darker version of the country never seen on screen." Across the first season, “a single case leads our heroine on a rollercoaster ride into the centre of an international human trafficking ring. It’s about the long legacy of slavery, and colonialism, but also childhood trauma, cycles of abuse, and what happens when the demons of your past gang up to make a last stand against you.”
Not only is the series a gripping international mystery that features a compelling manhunt, it's also told in six parts through the eyes of six people. Each has their own bias and beef, all of whom believe they know the true Millie Black, which might just be the deepest mystery of all.
Tamara Lawrance, who plays Millie has described the show as "tense and surprising – so many unexpected twists of fate and of character". But it's also a deeply personal story, with James putting her home country centre stage, as well as world-class Jamaican talent both in front and behind the camera.
Is Get Millie Black any good?
Yes! The series first aired on HBO in the US at the end of last year to rave reviews, and Rotten Tomatoes has given the series an approval rating of 100%. Variety said it "works well as a gory whodunnit" and "the outstanding performances and the crimes make the show unique". We wholeheartedly agree. If you're yet to tune in, we implore you to do so immediately.
Who's starring in Get Millie Black?
The cast of Get Millie Black includes:
- Tamara Lawrance as Millie-Jean Black
- Joe Dempsie as Luke Holborn
- Gershwyn Eustache Jnr as Curtis
- Chyna McQueen as Hibiscus
- Nestor Aaron Absera as Corsica
- Peter John Thwaites as Freddie Somerville
How can I watch Get Millie Black?
The first episode of Get Millie Black airs on Channel 4 on Wednesday 5th March at 9pm. The first two episodes (of five) will air on consecutive days, with the second airing on Thursday 6th March. You can also stream it on Channel 4.
