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Themes
Trigger Warning: bigotry, racism, slavery, homophobia, physical abuse of Black individuals, psychological abuse of Black women, substance abuse
From a science fiction point-of-view, Kindred is about time travel, but on a more serious note, it is also about family drama. The writers and the actors depict this through different families: Dana and her aunt Denise (Eisa Davis) and uncle Alan (Charles Parnell); Dana and other relatives; Kevin and his sister, Penny (Elizabeth Stanley); Rufus Weylin (David Alexander Kaplan) with his parents Thomas “Tom” (Ryan Kwanten) and Margaret (Gayle Rankin); Luke (Austin Smith) and his son Nigel (Christopher Farrar); et cetera.
You might see the series as badass and cute in its pilot. However, as the series progresses, the show takes a dark, depressing turn, one that is all too familiar for those who have read Butler’s Kindred or any of her other literary pieces.
Why Fantasy?
For instance, we see Dana trying to prove her and Kevin’s innocence in the future as more and more people around them begin to grow suspicious about what occurs in her home. Episode 4 (“The Waiter from Two Nights Ago”) and the finale (“Alice”) commit to this bit perfectly, whereas in the novel, the investigation and interrogation of these matters are actually minor and nearly non-existent.
This part of the show’s narrative provides a layer of the real-life issue that Black women (their voices) are not heard or believed, whether it is in a domestic setting, in public, or in a medical and/or judicial setting. The writers’ vivisection of the various milieus is noteworthy. I would love to see that explored more in the future.
Episode 6 (“Celeste”) involves an event that further corroborates the idea that Black women are not treated properly in a medical setting. It depicts something that affects not just the individual but those who are close to them. I would not suggest going into that episode with a grain of salt, as it ends on a melancholic and poignant note.
The following episode (“Jane”), then, involves a racist, sexist, thoughtless, and reckless act that I can only say is reminiscent of a scene from executive producer Darren Aronofsky’s A Requiem for a Dream featuring Jennifer Connelly’s character, Marion Silver.
The Crew of Kindred Season 1
Kindred is developed for television by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Watchmen).
Jacobs-Jenkins, Joe Weisberg & Joel Fields, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, Courtney Lee-Mitchell, Jules Jackson, and Maisha Closson serve as the executive producers of the adaptation. Janicza Bravo (Atlanta Season 1 Episode 9—“Juneteenth”; Zola) serves as an EP for the pilot.
Caroline Moore, Elizabeth Gesas, Matthew Shire, Joy Kecken, and Amanda Marsalis serve as the co-executive producers. Ebony P. Jones is the co-producer of the show.
Katherine C. Landsberg serves as the producer for the series, with Alonzo Nevarez producing the pilot and Alexander A. Motlagh producing the finale.
Bobak Esfarjani serves as the supervising producer, with Eliza Clark as the consulting producer.
Zenzele Price serves as the story editor, with Noah Rubenstein as the staff writer.
Shannon Baker Davis and Joe Giganti serve as the editors of the Kindred pilot and Episode 4. Libya El-Amin is the editor for Episodes 2 & 6. Jin Lee edits Episode 7, while Giganti edits the finale.
Reid Zarker does additional editing for Episode 6.
Isaiah Smith and Zarker are the assistant editors for the pilot. Kurt Nakanishi assists in the editing for Episode 2, while Zarker assists in the editing for Episode 4. Nakanishi, PJ Germain, and A’Sia Horne assist in the editing for Episodes 6. Michael Boord and Horne assist in the editing for Episode 7, while Zarker and Germain assist in the editing for the finale.
Dr. Leslie King Hammond and Michael Twitty are historical consultants for the show.
Cinematographers and Casting
Adam Newport-Berra serves as the director of photography for the pilot. Cybel Martin is the cinematographer for Episodes 2, 6, and 7. Anka Malatynska shoots Episode 4, while William Wages shoots the finale.
Teodoro Maniaci and Cybel Martin are the additional DPs for the pilot. Malatynska, Maniaci, and Wages are the additional DPs for Episode 2, with Martin and Wages for Episode 4.
Wages DPs Episode 6; Maniaci and Wages DP Episode 7; and Martin DPs the finale.
Victoria Thomas (Insecure, Watchmen) and Bonnie Grisan are the casting directors of Kindred. Tara Feldstein Bennett and Chase Paris are the Atlanta casting directors.
Ethan Golub and Lauren Parker are the extras casting directors for the pilot and Episode 4. Shayne Hartigan (Westworld) and Amy Duarte are the extras casting directors for Episodes 2, 6, 7, and the finale.
Music and Aesthetics
Twin Shadow scores the music for the series. Maggie Phillips (Moonlight, The Gifted, Altered Carbon, Legion The Umbrella Academy, We Can Be Heroes, Our Flag Means Death) serves as the music supervisor, while Steve Griffen is the music editor.
Nora Mendis is the production designer for the pilot, while Jerry Fleming serves as the production designer for Episodes 2, 4, 6, 7, and the finale.
Mary Florence Brown serves as the art director for the pilot. Danny Cistone, Kristen Jenkins, and Julian Scalia are the art directors for Episodes 2, 4, 6, 7, and the finale.
Arri Caviness is the set designer for the series. Adrienne Garcia is the set decorator for the pilot, while Michelle Ashley is the set decorator for Episodes 2, 4, 6, 7, and the finale.
Nicky Smith serves as the costume designer for the pilot, while Jaclyn Banner is the costume designer for Episodes 2, 4, 6, 7, and the finale.
Jennifer “JQ” Quinteros (Preacher, Outer Range) serves as the head of the make-up department for the pilot. Geno Freeman is the make-up department head for Episodes 2, 4, 6, 7, and the finale.
Jamie Amadio serves as the head of the hair department for the pilot. Elizabeth Robinson is the hair department head for Episodes 2, 4, 6, 7, and the finale.
Eric Grenaudier (Heroes, The Mandalorian) serves as the visual effects supervisor.
Kindred Season 1 Review Part Three…
On the following and final page, I dive into the cast of Kindred Season 1 and write about several of their character developments. I also provide my final/overall thoughts on the matter.
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