Unprisoned Season 1 Review – A below-average drama-comedy

Episode Guide

Episode 1 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 2 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 3 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 4 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 5 – | Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 6 – | Review Score – 2/5
Episode 7 – | Review Score – 2/5
Episode 8 – | Review Score – 2/5

Dramedy UnPrisoned on Hulu centers on Paige Alexander, a psychotherapist and single parent. Her life is turned upside down the moment her jailed father, Edwin Alexander, is released from prison.

Paige’s father has spent the previous seventeen years behind bars, and as a result of the changes in his life, Paige experienced a turbulent life that continues to influence her decisions today. She is pressured by his return to address the issues she has been putting off for so long.

The comedy series tries to shine some light on certain concerns, such as the correctional system and the manner in which it frequently impacts family dynamics, though it does so with a bucket full of humor. The specific focus here though is on the father-daughter relationship.

The true story of creator and writer Tracy McMillan served as the basis for the drama series. The fundamental idea behind the show, which centers on the strained bond between Paige and Edwin, was inspired by the writer’s own experiences. Writing the essence of Paige in her own likeness, McMillan—a relationship therapist, influencer on social media, as well as a self-help blogger—gave the Protagonist the very same upbringing and, consequently, the very same challenges that she experienced herself.

Initially, the show’s premise is rather intriguing, as it is centers on a man who has been to prison and how, when he returns, he faces challenges in reacquainting himself with society and trying to make things right by his family. But eventually, the show abandons this idea in favor of other subjects.

A cast of skilled performers, such as Kerry Washington, Delroy Lindo, Faly Rakotohavana, Jee Young Han, Jordyn McIntosh, and Marque Richardson, deliver witty performances that enhance the humorous tale but even with all that considered, our protagonist is difficult to empathize with, and this is something the final episode embodies in all its ugly glory. Sure, Paige has been through a lot as a child, but her constant complaining, blaming, and even cheating while pretending to have the moral high ground, is off-putting.

Knowing history and making people aware of the past is not only good but fantastic; however, using the past to fuel hatred towards a specific group of people, in this case Caucasians, is problematic. At one point Edwin is seen telling Paige that ‘he’s: “proud of her for finally not dating a Caucasian.” but as we’ve said before, if the roles were reversed, it would be seen as racism.

Beyond that though, UnPrisoned attempts to romanticize the blame game, which becomes tiresome after a while. Paige blames her father, Edwin blames others and so on. In the midst of all of this, Finn, the child, is dealing with the consequences of his mother’s questionable parenting, which is heartbreaking to watch.

The show falls short of providing a realistic depiction of how therapy works too. It’s particularly telling because Paige, a therapist herself, can’t seem to separate her professional and personal life, dragging her own problems into sessions regularly.

UnPrisoned may have begun with an intriguing subject – felons attempting to reintegrate into society – but ends as a blame game whimper, which is truly disappointing.

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