Get Millie Black – Series Review | HBO

GET MILLIE BLACK on Max is a new HBO Noir Crime Thriller series with 5 episodes. Made as a co-production with Channel 4, the trailer didn’t do much for me, but I was hooked within the first few minutes. It’s absolutely brilliant! Read our full Get Millie Black series review here!

GET MILLIE BLACK is a new HBO and Channel 4 Noir Crime Thriller series set in Jamaica. The series has just five episodes – each around 45 minutes long – and they’re released weekly. We were given the first four episodes as screeners and I binge-watched them in one sitting.

Oh yeah, this new co-production from HBO and Channel 4 is that good. The only problem is that now I have to wait until December 23, 2024, for the fifth and final episode. You have a real treat in store, so even if the trailer didn’t speak to you (as it didn’t to me), you simply must check it out. Trust me!

Continue reading our Get Millie Black series review below. Find it on HBO and Max from November 25, 2024.

Millie Black never backs down

The title character in Get Millie Black is an ex-Scotland Yard detective with the full name Millie-Jean Black. After spending nearly two decades in the UK, she returns to Kingston to work on a missing person’s case with the police there.

After having seen her childhood, we understand why she stayed away so long and what made her return. She is on a quest to save her sister who really does not want to be saved. Instead, she wants to be recognized and understood.

When trying to save her sister, who won’t be saved, she finds a boy who can’t be found. This, in turn, leads to her struggling to solve a case that will truly stir the waters of high society in Jamaica. And even has strings to the UK, leading to a Scotland Yard detective being sent to Kingston.

It’s a big and tough case, but not as tough as Millie Black, who does not back down.

Tamara Lawrance is perfect as Millie Black

Tamara Lawrance (Kindred) portrays Millie Black, and I adore how she presents this multi-layered character to us. Millie has a distinct savior complex that stems from her childhood. As a child, she was sent away from Jamaica to live in the UK because she refused not to help someone in need.

Each episode is narrated by a new character with Millie Black, very appropriately, as the narrator of episode 1. Episode 2 is narrated by her sister, Hibiscus (or just “Bis”), taking over. Hibiscus is portrayed by Chyna McQueen in an amazing debut.

I don’t want to reveal who narrated the next two episodes (I still couldn’t tell you who the narrator of episode 5 is), as it could be a little spoiler. It’s better not to know, I think. I certainly enjoyed starting a new episode and finding out who narrated it. The narrator sets the tone of the episode, I’d say.

I do want to mention that we see Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones, Pieces of Her) as the Scotland Yard detective Luke Holborn, who is sent to retrieve a Jamaican informant. Joe Dempsie also works magnificently in this role.

Finally, I have to mention Gershwyn Eustache Jnr (I May Destroy You) as Millie’s partner, Curtis. He might be the only person who truly understands her, and how she cannot back down from a case. Neither can Curtis, but he isn’t quite as willing to put everything on the line.

Except for when Millie asks him. Much to his boyfriend’s regret. Especially as they cannot be out and official in Jamaica, he wants Curtis to stay safe and Millie often leads him astray.

Didn’t love the trailer, but I adore the series

After watching the full trailer for Get Millie Black, I was not sure this would be for me. I mean, sure, it’s a crime thriller featuring fierce characters (and a great cast), which was enough to get me intrigued. I just didn’t love the vibe in the trailer.

That’s why I’ve included the teaser trailer at the bottom of this review, as that one is better than the full trailer.

Well, you can imagine my almost child-like joy when within the first few minutes, I was absolutely hooked. Millie Black is an amazing character and with her narrating the opening sequence, I was intrigued.

Before the opening credits, I was smitten.

By the end of episode 1, I was amazed and could not wait to continue.

Of course, I was lucky that I had screeners for the first four episodes, so I didn’t have to wait. And you’re fortunate that I can now tell you that the quality and brilliance of episode 1 continue throughout the series.

Or rather, I still have to wait for episode 5 alongside everyone else, but I expect great things. Not sure what I expect as this series continues to surprise, but I’m confident it will deliver!

Watch Get Millie Black on HBO and Max

The only reason we get to know Mille Black in this HBO & Channel 4 co-production is because of Marlon James. He is the creator of this series based on a short story by himself. This is the screenwriting debut of the Booker Prizewinning author, and I hope it won’t be his last.

Also, Mille-Jean Black is inspired by Marlon James’ own mother, Detective Inspector Shirley Dillon-James. I have to include the words of Marlon James himself because I found them so poignant: “You could spend most of your life figuring out such a person, and I failed while trying—but I did find inspiration for our lead.”

Much like Millie, Shirley was able to use street smarts and pick up on clues that others never noticed. And also, I think you can gather from Marlon James’ own words that they also both kept people at a distance. Perhaps to better do their job – or maybe a fear of getting hurt?!

Please, do not miss out on this five-episode series, which is a “dark as night noir set in Jamaican technicolor” (oh yes, I borrowed the words of the series creator yet again). I cannot wait to see what Marlon James does next, but I know I’ll be watching (or reading) whatever he produces!

Get Millie Black premieres on HBO and Max on November 25, 2024. Episodes are released weekly with the series finale coming out on December 23, 2024, as an early Christmas present!

Details

Creator: Marlon James
Directors: Lead director/co-executive producer, Tanya Hamilton; director (two episodes), Annetta Laufer; director (two episodes) Jean Luc Herbulot
Writers: Writer/co-executive producer (one episode), Joshua St. Johnston; writer, Theresa Ikoko; writer, Lydia Adetunji
Cast: Tamara Lawrance, Joe Dempsie, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Chyna McQueen