- Network: Netflix
- Series Premiere Date: Oct 29, 2021
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Critic Reviews
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DuVernay and Kaepernick have crafted a hybrid docudrama limited series that is both personal and universal, educational and raw. It gets at the heart of how the general and the specific, family and country, obstacles and accomplishments all work together as the soil in which a person grows into themselves.
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Both the traditional fictional narrative and the real-world messages are often delivered with wicked-smart comedic touches — an especially effective means of providing social commentary without making us feel as if we’re sitting in on a lecture. My only complaint about “Colin in Black and White” is that six episodes aren’t enough.
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It’s a little uneven, with some of these elements proving more successful than others, but the ambition and creativity should be commended and it is hard not to be moved by Kaepernick reliving the moments that defined him.
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["Colin in Black & White"] tackles the depressing truth of discrimination inside and outside the world of sports. And it does so with a clever balance of YA humor, strategically deployed data — in a league that’s more than 70% Black, less than a third of the quarterbacks are — and an emotional authenticity that sheds light on who Kaepernick is today, and why he was willing to risk his career in the name of justice.
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Colin In Black & White is a biographical story with a social message to tell, but it’s also a genuinely entertaining series, and it’s worth your time.
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There are moments when these different modes interrupt the flow to no greater end, but for the most part they work. Overall, they create a jaggedly compelling viewing experience whose form as well as content keeps us uncomfortable enough to stay alert without being alienated.
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A fresh, entertaining take on the genre that emphasizes character and story as much as message.
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It's a show that's educational, thought-provoking and entertaining, not easy to accomplish all at once.
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An uneven but ultimately edifying portrayal of the young athlete's coming of age as a biracial boy growing up in a predominantly white world. ... Michael's captivating performance as Colin is a consistent joy.
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It occasionally sometimes stumbles in trying to do too much. Yet the moments when the story and the sociopolitical commentary blend perfectly are fantastic — and suggest just as much possibility as Kaepernick’s QB play at his best.
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When the dramatic scenes work, especially in the opening episode directed by Duvernay, there’s a real family feel. But later episodes can come off too earnest and scripted, veering toward the afterschool special feel of yore. ... But this series is about spirit and perseverance and cultural chasms and race. It’s the sort of thing that should be shown in schools and probably will be, to the benefit of all.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 7 out of 18
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Mixed: 0 out of 18
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Negative: 11 out of 18
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Oct 31, 2021
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Nov 3, 2021
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Nov 1, 2021