'Get Millie Black' Reviews: "the production design and cinematography are ace, with the show hopscotching between vibrant daytime settings and disturbingly dark and shadowy nighttime ones that suck you right in (even if the mystery doesn’t)"

         On November 25, 2024, HBO premiered 'Get Millie Black', which has earned predominantly positive reviews from critics. In the series, "Former Scotland Yard detective Millie-Jean Black returns to Kingston to work on missing persons cases." The ensemble cast includes Joe Dempsie, Tamara Lawrance,  Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, and Chyna McQueen. Read the full review round-up below.

        Isabella Soares of Collider notes, "The ghosts from our past often come back to haunt us. HBO's limited series, Get Millie Black, uses this concept as its compass, following a detective returning to her hometown to solve a missing persons case and reconnect with her long-lost sibling. Although this is a British project, it is predominantly set in Jamaica, a Caribbean hot spot known for its paradisal beaches and welcoming atmosphere. Despite the country being idyllic in many ways, renowned novelist Marlon James takes us to Kingston's underbelly in his screenwriting debut, resulting in a visceral noir series. In a matter of five episodes, with only four provided for review, Get Millie Black is a brutal look at rampant crime, racism, and other social constraints." Adding, "Tamara Lawrance's character is burdened by the politics behind her work and her broken relationship with Hibiscus, who prefers to live with other members of the trans community than with her sister. Both actresses playing the siblings bring nuance to the trauma that their characters face. McQueen's Hibiscus still remembers getting whipped by her mother and not having her sister around to help her. In turn, Lawrance's Millie carries the weight of not being there for her sibling when she was needed the most and is restless trying to close the case. Although the series' writing does touch upon heavy subject matter that gives food for thought, the case itself feels hard to follow from a viewer's standpoint. Considering the proportions of Millie's criminal undertaking, there are a lot of moving parts, which many times lead to more loose ends and further efforts to connect all the dots. Since one episode was held back from critics, it's hard to tell if some of the questions left unanswered will be addressed by the finale."

Photo by Karim Ghantous on Unsplash

       Whitney Friedlander of AV Club says, "Working alongside executive producers like Jami O’Brien (Industry) and director Tanya Hamilton (Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty), James & co. have assembled an engaging cast. In addition to star Lawrance, there’s also a standout performance by Shernet Swearine as Janet Fenton, an exceptionally alert young woman who is determined to rise from her predestined station in life. More pragmatic than Machiavellian, Janet is single-minded in what she knows she needs to do, giving a powerful monologue in a later episode that explains her choices. Similar praise should be awarded to Chyna McQueen, whose depiction of trans woman Hibiscus reminds that allies are great, but they will never really understand the fears and frustrations that this minority group encounters daily. Meanwhile, James’ dialogue mostly pops, especially in scenes involving Swearine and McQueen. And the production design and cinematography are ace, with the show hopscotching between vibrant daytime settings and disturbingly dark and shadowy nighttime ones that suck you right in (even if the mystery doesn’t)."