‘Get Millie Black’ Is Not Your Typical Detective Show

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As a lover of gripping, character-driven dramas that delve deep into complex societal issues, I find Marlon James’ “Get Millie Black” to be a truly captivating series. With his unique storytelling approach and knack for creating multi-dimensional characters, he’s managed to breathe life into the often underrepresented narratives of Jamaica.

Millie-Jean Black isn’t your typical television detective, as she doesn’t fit the mold of being male, white, or working in cities like New York City or London.

Instead, it’s Kingston. In the five-episode limited series titled “Get Millie Black“, a collaboration between HBO and Channel 4 Television of the U.K., we get an unprecedented look at her life as well as Jamaica, the land of her birth and heritage, which has remained largely hidden from public view until now.

Produced and executive-produced by Marlon James, a renowned author who received the Man Booker Prize for his 2014 novel “A Brief History of Seven Killings”, marking a significant achievement for a Jamaican writer, Get Millie Black doesn’t stop at merely resolving crimes. Instead, the series delves into the reasons behind Millie’s drive to solve crimes and the importance of addressing those criminal issues in the first place.

As a fan, I’d rephrase that as: “Initially, the official summary presents ‘Millie-Jean Black,’ an ex-Scotland Yard detective, returning to Kingston to tackle missing persons cases, embarking on a perilous journey to save a loved one who seems impossible to save, find a child thought to be lost forever, and solve a mystery that could shatter her world and prove as challenging to unravel as Millie Black herself. However, this series, with its unique approach of shifting voices and perspectives in each episode starting with Millie Black, offers much more than meets the eye.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Tamara Lawrance, a British Jamaican actress, expresses her profound connection to the character she portrays, Millie Black. She finds it deeply meaningful to delve into all the intricacies and complexities of this role, while simultaneously using it as a vehicle to discuss the ongoing dialogue between Britain and Jamaica regarding their colonial past. Specifically, the character is anti-colonial and serves to shed light on the lingering effects of the slave trade, demonstrating how these impacts are still prevalent in modern times.

When Simon Maxwell, CEO of Motives and a former Channel 4 executive who produces the series, suggested James create his own TV show, it was an idea James hadn’t given much thought before. However, as he delved deeper into the opportunity, he discovered that the detective genre seemed perfectly suited. “I’ve always viewed writing as a form of detective work,” he explained with a smile. “So it was only natural that I’d write about a detective — and since my mom is a detective, she can certainly claim some credit for this show!” he added humorously.

Prior to the series’ premiere, James penned a letter to the media, delving deeper into his mother’s impact on the show. He wrote, “Before Millie Black, there was Detective Inspector Shirley Dillon-James, carving a path where none existed and earning her reputation by deciphering clues not about what had transpired, but what was yet to come.” James went on to describe his mother as someone who gained fame for using both literary knowledge and street smarts to prevent crimes before they happened, by recognizing the subtle hints that made a future event inevitable. He admitted that understanding such an individual proved challenging, and he ultimately fell short, but he found motivation for our main character from this experience.

In contrast to the carefree and joyful vibe portrayed in “Feel Alright” commercials featuring Bob Marley’s “One Love” and scenes of picturesque beaches and happy tourists, Millie Black’s Jamaica presents a starkly different reality. This side of the island reveals deep-rooted issues such as homophobia, transphobia, and poverty that are so severe they foster desperation. Lawrence links these hardships to the historical legacies of slavery and colonialism.

Occasionally, there’s an issue where we assume simplicity from what’s often labeled as entertainment from developing countries, whether it’s simple or comical, and everyone enjoys a beer before disappearing into the sunset, and the problem with this is that it gives the impression that complex art can’t emerge from such narratives. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth, James points out about shows and films not originating from the U.K. or the U.S. “If I’m going to tell a story set in Jamaica, it will be intricate, as Millie’s character says in the first episode, and it may not make perfect sense.

Millie Black’s childhood was fraught with complications. Her mother, who was abusive and intent on severing Millie’s bond with her brother Orville, used various methods to achieve this. One pivotal moment occurred when Millie intervened to protect Orville from their mother’s physical abuse regarding his sexuality. This act led to Millie being sent to England, where she was deliberately isolated from Orville. Her mother even went as far as lying about Orville’s death, claiming he had ended up in hell rather than heaven. However, upon her mother’s demise, Millie discovered that Orville was indeed alive. The fact that she never managed to find him still lingers as a haunting truth. Moreover, Millie struggles with the strained relationship she maintains with her transgender sister Hibiscus (Chyna McQueen).

Certainly, there are Jamaicans who disagree with the depiction of their island through a narrative highlighting an abusive mother, poverty, and anti-queerness on prominent platforms. However, this criticism doesn’t discourage James, who understands the numerous stereotypes that film and television often perpetuate about his island as a land filled with dreadlocked marijuana smokers. Nevertheless, James has always approached his portrayals of his country with great seriousness, and this carries over into his first TV series, where he broadens the perspective in his novels.

As a gamer immersed in crafting tales about Jamaica, I’ve come to realize that oversimplified portrayals – be they overly positive or negative – do it a disservice. The truth lies somewhere in between. An idealized version of Jamaica or an exaggerated negative depiction is still just a skewed representation.

Millie is a complex character, shaped by her past experiences. Losing Orville and growing up without Hibiscus have driven Millie to be supportive of others, yet she struggles with expressing this effectively. To those unfamiliar with Millie, her affection for her police partner Curtis (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr) might not stand out. We often encounter emotionally guarded individuals in this profession. However, Millie’s detachment is frequently criticized. As James was developing the show, he kept in mind the sexism that exists not just in Jamaica, but globally.

When crafting my story, I aimed to showcase the complexity of male characters. It’s acceptable for a male protagonist to commit despicable acts and yet maintain his leading role in the narrative. For instance, he might be portrayed as ‘exceptional,’ but also as someone who has betrayed his wife, and we as readers are still expected to accompany him on this journey. However, when women do the same, it’s often seen as unforgivable, with reactions such as, ‘I can’t look past that.’ I wanted to question this double standard through some of Millie’s experiences in my narrative. The concept is that there are still expectations about how a woman or female character should act, whereas there are no such restrictions for male characters.

Referencing a comment James made during discussions before the series premiere, Lawrence remarks about Millie, “she has many flaws, but she performs actions often seen in male characters. However, there seems to be a greater tolerance or understanding of her mistakes because male detectives are perceived as figures who can exert control and do whatever is necessary to succeed.

Despite societal expectations for women to be more caring and nurturing, Millie deviates from these norms due to her assertive nature and focus on getting work done effectively. This ruthlessness and at times reckless behavior might seem harsh, but I believe it masks a deep sense of kindness and courage within Millie. She is driven by a strong belief in justice and fairness, which causes her to fiercely oppose anything she perceives as unjust. Unfortunately, many institutions have corruption that allows injustices to go unchecked, but Millie refuses to turn a blind eye. I hope people can understand Millie’s well-intentioned actions, despite the controversial choices she makes.

Millie’s bond with Hibiscus (also known as Bis) significantly contributes to showcasing the courageous and loving aspects of Millie, as noted by Lawrance. In this role, Chyna McQueen offers a unique depth to Hibiscus that enhances our understanding of Millie. McQueen’s performance alongside Lawrance reveals the harsh reality of growing up uncared for and unvalued, which both characters have experienced. Although Hibiscus herself has faced rejection in her home and country due to being a trans woman, her portrayal by McQueen is authentic and natural, as she shared during a press conference with the cast.

In James’ work, you can find a genuine, inclusive style that extends to characters like Curtis and his companion Daniel (Chyna McQueen). It’s striking how we’re able to connect with Hibiscus, a character new to our screens, and follow her story through an episode. As Lawrance notes, it’s heartwarming that Marlon not only focuses on Hibiscus but also highlights the queer romantic relationship between Daniel and Curtis. This portrayal of healthy, supportive love helps dispel misconceptions about queer relationships and offers a more humanizing perspective. Some people may hold outdated, prejudiced views about what it means to be queer or in a same-sex relationship. The charm of Get Millie Black lies in its character-driven narrative, where we witness these interpersonal dynamics unfold.

Lawrence is particularly pleased that this program is available on a platform which not only exposes the ongoing issues such as struggles, violence, homophobia, and transphobia in Jamaica, but also highlights the resilience, community, unity, and love that thrive there,” says Lawrance.

For artist James, crafting various accounts of his native country is essential, and he’s carried this approach into his latest work. “There isn’t just one Jamaica story,” James explains about his collection. “There isn’t just one Millie story.” He believes that storytelling should be demanding, a struggle, or it’s not worth the effort.

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I’ve been eagerly waiting for it, but finally, the premiere of “Millie Black” was on November 25! Every Monday, you can catch the latest episodes on HBO at 9 pm, or if you prefer, you can stream them on Max. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

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2024-12-04 01:25