Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Ratings

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5.9

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5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Ratings

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Self Made: Inspired By The Life Of Madam C.J. Walker

Now Playing: Self Made: Inspired By The Life Of Madam C.J. Walker

Season Details & Credits

Netflix | Season Premiere Date: March 20, 2020

Summary: Octavia Spencer stars as Madam C.J. Walker, the first self-made African-American woman millionaire in this four-part limited series based on Walker's great-great-grandaughter's book On Her Own Ground.

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E4. A Credit to the Race
Air Date: March 20, 2020
tbd
S1:E3. The Walker Girl
Air Date: March 20, 2020
tbd
S1:E2. Bootstraps
Air Date: March 20, 2020

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Critic Reviews

Lorraine Ali

Mar 19, 2020

Fresh, lively and fast-paced period drama. ... Spencer’s performance is dazzling. ... “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” isn’t just a wonderful tribute to yet another unsung hero — it’s an engrossing and uplifting series that shines light in otherwise dark times. Read full review

Aaron Barnhart

Mar 20, 2020

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker is a highly watchable bit of what I call rock-and-roll history. It’s a subgenre that tries to bring the past alive with modern dialogue and a ripping soundtrack. ... Spencer delivers the goods. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Mar 19, 2020

A solid and enlightening four-part limited series debuting Friday on Netflix. Octavia Spencer carries the series every step of the way in a magnificent performance. Read full review

Collider Gregory Lawrence

Mar 20, 2020

Self Made, despite its incredible cast and incredible source material, feels too trapped within the “greatest hits biopic film” template, content to rush through every plot point of Walker’s life without slowing and settling to figure out who Walker is. Read full review

Joelle Monique

Mar 20, 2020

The show explores how Black men have told Black women to wait their turn in line, and takes a big swing at one Black leader’s history. The mapping of these issues is so blatant, they can be seen coming a mile away, but they’re managed with such enthusiasm that it’s almost endearing. Read full review

Rafer Guzmán

Mar 18, 2020

A compelling if clunky drama about an important figure. Read full review

Judy Berman

Mar 19, 2020

The talented cast can’t overcome dialogue that can be painfully stiff (“Your impeccable reputation precedes you”) or anachronistic (“on the regular,” “lying-ass liar”) but is uniformly painful. ... Normally, a show this bad would at least be amusing to watch. But when you consider the richness of the subject and the larger issues it raises—the politics of black hair, Walker’s anti-lynching work, sexism and colorism in the black community—its incompetence is just depressing. Read full review

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User Reviews

pedroassugeni

Apr 9, 2020

A série é muito divertida e interessante, só que muito corrida, mas eu gostei bastante e vale a pena assistir

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Pan_Krytyk

Nov 24, 2021

Dobry serial,który można ogarnąć w jeden wieczór. Uważam że po serialu warto doczytać w internecie o Madam C.J. Walker

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Pitbulllover

Mar 24, 2020

It's nice to see diversity in the director's chair, but this is a weird mix of modern flourishes in a period-piece. The filmmakers didn't seem confident enough in their story to tell it straight. There's a really weird creative choice involving quick cuts of Octavia in the boxing rinkIt's nice to see diversity in the director's chair, but this is a weird mix of modern flourishes in a period-piece. The filmmakers didn't seem confident enough in their story to tell it straight. There's a really weird creative choice involving quick cuts of Octavia in the boxing rink fighting the people that oppose her. It's really stupid and on the nose. Some of the characters are also way over the top. I was really disappointed.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01