Other critics have touched on the shortcomings of this production. I have only seen the first episode but find the series to be engaging and atmospheric. I don't think July's trickster ways were uncommon for enslaved people. She becomes a lady's maid under painful circumstances. There's an act or two that are somewhat comic. Then comes the cruelty and violence that are certainly omnipresent in the lives of the enslaved. Nevertheless, the first episode ends on an intriguing note. I am here for the rest of this program, and feel viewers of Masterpiece will not be disappointed. Historically accurate? It might fall short, but so does Downton Abbey and there are no complaints. Allow yourself to enter July's world for a spell and let's find out what she does next.
24 Reviews
The Long Song (2018)
robfollower15 February 2021
Period dramas are extremely common in the UK. There are gritty adaptations to more romanticize tales. The Long Song's is told from a slave's perspective. And the series succeeds on this point. Most audiences, even a British one, are more aware of America's experience of abolishing slavery. The Long Song shows what happens in the Caribbean - it was a time where slaves were rebelling more frequently, making it more dangerous for slave owners.
The series shows that slavery ended for two reasons in the British Empire. The slaves were rebelling and becoming harder to control.There was also a moral campaign in Britain to abolish slavery. The wit that goes along with the heroine's hardships makes this a surprisingly funny but dark look at the end of slavery in Jamaica.
Miss July (Tamara Lawrance) has known nothing except life on a sugar plantation in Jamaica. Taken from her mother at seven years old because Caroline (Hayley Atwell) took a fancy to her as a house slave, July fetches and carries for her mistress, endures her frequent temper tantrums. Tamara Lawrance is wonderful as Miss July.
Despite the heavy subject matter The Long Song was also fairly humorous. Most of this was concentration on Hayley Atwell's character. Caroline is shown to be spoiled and child-like who becomes irate when she doesn't get her way. The character was similar to Queen Anne in The Favourite - a mentally unstable woman in a position of power. The humor helps prevents the series from being too heavy.
The series had cinematic quality even though it was set in the confines of the plantation. The show was shot on location and like any costume drama the production values were of the highest order. There were great looking costumes, scenery, and cinematography. The slave rebellion and Richard's war with the workers added to cinematic quality because of the scale of the scenes and chaos that was happening.
The Long Song was an excellent mini-series that looked at a fascinating period of history and gives audiences an alternative perspective.
The series shows that slavery ended for two reasons in the British Empire. The slaves were rebelling and becoming harder to control.There was also a moral campaign in Britain to abolish slavery. The wit that goes along with the heroine's hardships makes this a surprisingly funny but dark look at the end of slavery in Jamaica.
Miss July (Tamara Lawrance) has known nothing except life on a sugar plantation in Jamaica. Taken from her mother at seven years old because Caroline (Hayley Atwell) took a fancy to her as a house slave, July fetches and carries for her mistress, endures her frequent temper tantrums. Tamara Lawrance is wonderful as Miss July.
Despite the heavy subject matter The Long Song was also fairly humorous. Most of this was concentration on Hayley Atwell's character. Caroline is shown to be spoiled and child-like who becomes irate when she doesn't get her way. The character was similar to Queen Anne in The Favourite - a mentally unstable woman in a position of power. The humor helps prevents the series from being too heavy.
The series had cinematic quality even though it was set in the confines of the plantation. The show was shot on location and like any costume drama the production values were of the highest order. There were great looking costumes, scenery, and cinematography. The slave rebellion and Richard's war with the workers added to cinematic quality because of the scale of the scenes and chaos that was happening.
The Long Song was an excellent mini-series that looked at a fascinating period of history and gives audiences an alternative perspective.
Frustrating at times, but a good story
rtbradford5 February 2021
Just finished the series and while it was frustrating, painful and heartbreaking at times, it is well worth watching. It touches on so many issues that remain relevant today - colorist, the arrogance of privilege, the desire to escape racial boundaries, yet the risks that can come when things go wrong. I felt the series did a good job of showing the casual brutality and sadism of the slave system and the utter immorality of the whites who owned slaves. The story of July was frustrating because she was clearly clever, yet seemed utterly unaware of the duplicity of the whites around her, including her "husband" and master.
Despite these shortcomings I found it compelling and well acted. Several commuters have claimed the actress who played July was too dark to be of mixed race or be a house slave. Neither is true. It is not the case that all mixed race people are fair skinned or that all house slaves were fair skinned.
Despite these shortcomings I found it compelling and well acted. Several commuters have claimed the actress who played July was too dark to be of mixed race or be a house slave. Neither is true. It is not the case that all mixed race people are fair skinned or that all house slaves were fair skinned.
Great Sunday Drama
martimusross9 January 2019
Adapted from a fictional novel about the before, during and after the abolition of slavery.
This lengthy saga was very successfully realised in this BBC drama. You sensed the author had conglomerated several lives to raise situations and issues that would sustain a long novel.
This sense of expanse played well and there was fine acting throughout. This was great Sunday night viewing and with the entertainment we learnt a great deal about some difficult truths about sugar production.
This lengthy saga was very successfully realised in this BBC drama. You sensed the author had conglomerated several lives to raise situations and issues that would sustain a long novel.
This sense of expanse played well and there was fine acting throughout. This was great Sunday night viewing and with the entertainment we learnt a great deal about some difficult truths about sugar production.
A Story Needing to be Told
wheatley-2023021 December 2018
Not because it is true, as it isn't. Nor because such stories have not been told before, which they have. But because to forget the evils depicted would be to diminish ourselves.
A powerful and moving drama, which shows both the horrors of slavery, with casual cruelty borne of disregard for the human-ness of people of a different colour, and more unusually the on going torment faced by those newly freed. Highly recommended.
A powerful and moving drama, which shows both the horrors of slavery, with casual cruelty borne of disregard for the human-ness of people of a different colour, and more unusually the on going torment faced by those newly freed. Highly recommended.
Rewriting history?
terjon-0105322 February 2021
I think this production is trying to rewrite history. Slaves calling "Overseers" husband and then in return them saying they are "In love," or calling a slave girl his"wife "
Is sugar coating scenarios that were nothing but rape! The Overseer asking the slave to sit down at the table with his white wife unbelievable and the only one who was truthful was the wife when she screamed "No!"Someone needs to get their history books out or just watch "Roots." Having slaves smiling as the overseer disrespects their wives and them by having sex with them the night before his marriage is insulting. Having slaves smirk at another as one hops in the front seat of the overseer cart is ridiculous because we all know what part of a buggy a slave would be in. Trying to rewrite history to make slavery more humane will not work. You are pulling the wool over no one's eyes.
When they thought of television, this is why it was invented
sanjsrik22 December 2018
At times frustrating. At times infuriating. At times scary. At all times, incredibly breathtaking. You'll never guess the ending. The story isn't so hard to conceive, but the characters, some a caricature of what they could be, at times, so deep that you are amazed at how much could come from just three episodes. I wanted so much more to know about the characters that were off-screen and perhaps that's the point. It's told first-person but other characters who were taken out of the story and had their own to tell could probably fill volumes. The ending left me wanting to know what happened next.
It's not a long investment to watch the three episodes in this series. You won't regret the time spent.
It's not a long investment to watch the three episodes in this series. You won't regret the time spent.
So much condensed in three episodes
irorittai27 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
That I was surprised its three episodes and double checked it online; great story line, but still, was surprised how Miss. July was actually mixed person in the series I thought literally that she was joking to get Mr. Robert's attention, but got to know later on that the character is actually mixed! She's too dark for a mixed house servant back in those times! Recruiting agents, PAY ATTENTION!
💜💜💜
Jamie_mccombs20 April 2019
Beautiful adaptation but Tamara is the wrong choice for July
sushindumplin22 February 2021
I really enjoyed this mini series especially given that the Black cast spoke the Jamaican patois so well and hearing the original Jamaican folk songs added to the authenticity. Although Tamara Lawrence gave a great performance, I don't think she was the right person to play the role of July. In the book July is biracial. Tamara Lawrence is not a mixed race Black woman. Tamara Lawrence is a dark skinned Black woman with typically west African features and hair texture. As a Jamaican of mixed heritage I find this casting of Tamara problematic especially when we see that July is given an elevated status to the rest of the slaves. The casting of Tamara as July doesn't allow the audience to see colorism at play as it is more clear in the book. July is a mixed woman with typical "Eurocentric" features and for that reason she was favored by the mistress to be her house maid. History tells us that mixed race slaves were typically house slaves.
A Fictional view of Slavery
jonoau19 December 2018
Many people see a show like this and immediately pick on small details about the times or actual history. Well this is fiction, most historical shows are because we don't what actually happened.
If you want a story close to the truth watch the History Channel and as far as black and white goes watch something made in the 1950s.
Something not quit right!!
shaista-2867319 December 2018
I know how I should like July but somehow I just could not get right behind her. Plus all the acting was so over the top I thought they would burst out laughing any minute I don't think I will watch past the first episode. Waste of time and I was looking forward to Lenny Henry !
This was just what it was supposed to be
elizrug6 January 2019
This was a book adaption, which doesn't mean it needs to be exactly straight from the book. If it were longer it would have been better, to see what happened between her youth and when she was older, but I just didn't want this to end.
Anyone babbling on about this being politically correct needs to go read a book and get off the internet. This wasn't made to please you. It was made to show one of the horrible realities of slave women.
Anyone babbling on about this being politically correct needs to go read a book and get off the internet. This wasn't made to please you. It was made to show one of the horrible realities of slave women.
If You Were Miss July, Know the Deck is Stacked Against You No Matter What
blpkst15 February 2021
A beautiful adaptation of life on a plantation In the lives of the inhabitants during and after slavery. For the slave, freedom means nothing even after being elevated to a "freed slave" they remained slaves.
I was drawn to the main character, July. She is clever in being able to manipulate her mistress because she recognizes weakness in her mistress. The white mistress dresses are so ridiculously ugly even July, as a mere slave can recognize her bad dress sense. I enjoyed the humor of that fact. July's cleverness does not give her the upper hand but it does give her hand. July knows her place in society will never be truly elevated. She sees how the world works, but when opportunity presents itself she grabs for it but does not step on others ruthlessly as some might. Still this is not a happy tale. The subject is slavery and the cruelty that comes with it. White people told themselves many lies regarding their cruel inhumane behavior to soothe their conscious. They are still doing that to this day. The owner of the plantation changes rules and causes extreme hardship for the "slaves own good." People can tell themselves many lies and believe them to stay on top.
Wonderful cast, beautifully filmed and a solid script. Tamara Lawrence, as July, is exceptional.
I was drawn to the main character, July. She is clever in being able to manipulate her mistress because she recognizes weakness in her mistress. The white mistress dresses are so ridiculously ugly even July, as a mere slave can recognize her bad dress sense. I enjoyed the humor of that fact. July's cleverness does not give her the upper hand but it does give her hand. July knows her place in society will never be truly elevated. She sees how the world works, but when opportunity presents itself she grabs for it but does not step on others ruthlessly as some might. Still this is not a happy tale. The subject is slavery and the cruelty that comes with it. White people told themselves many lies regarding their cruel inhumane behavior to soothe their conscious. They are still doing that to this day. The owner of the plantation changes rules and causes extreme hardship for the "slaves own good." People can tell themselves many lies and believe them to stay on top.
Wonderful cast, beautifully filmed and a solid script. Tamara Lawrence, as July, is exceptional.
Pretty good. Not an entire waste of time.
annaadams-7959124 December 2018
I don't think this deserves the bad reviews that it's gotten. It's a dramatisation of a historical events, so I think it should just be taken with a pinch of salt. But, it's still relatable (especially to a Jamaican person). This appeals to popular culture, the first episode ends pretty well, the second episode is pretty fluffy but it sets up the third episode that rounds the series off pretty well. Slavery was a thing and I think people need to be reminded of that, especially when you have people like Kanye spouting that "slavery was a choice" in the media.
No Hollywood ending for a change!
billsoccer16 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Another slave story? I think not. This was set in Jamaica, which was more influenced by Englands views of slavery than the US. The story is narrated by an elderly July, who was produced via rape, then taken from her mother who had little contact after that. July is fortunate to become a maid (indoor, not working in the fields, etc), but unfortunately serves a vain, clueless woman/widow. July has a baby but gives it up to a missionary organization because she can't support it. A new overseer with 'progressive' views about blacks arrives, beds July - who has his child - but weds the widow. We watch him try to manipulate the now-free blacks to work for his good, without fully considering their desires. He descends into Roots-like savagery and steals July's baby.
At the end, July's first child arrives back from England where he prospered, and takes her in. However, she continues to mourn her second child, wondering about her fate. Well done
Another slave fairy tale
taiwoogunnaike21 December 2018
I was sorely disappointed, but what did I suspect from the BBC?
Another fairy tale story of an enslaved Black woman, shown unrealistically.
If the history of enslavement is going to be shown, show the reality, but I guess this would mar the.notion of the 'white saviour'. In "The Long Story", this trope was seen in the guise of Mr Goodwin and the freely enslaved woman. It gave the expression that she was "free" to enjoy a relationship with her Master, and he was also painted in a very sympathetic light. I cringed while watching this drama unfold, as the nuances of slavery and the agencies of Black women's bodies and how they were exploited was not even touched upon. Because of this, I abandoned watching the drama.
If the history of enslavement is going to be shown, show the reality, but I guess this would mar the.notion of the 'white saviour'. In "The Long Story", this trope was seen in the guise of Mr Goodwin and the freely enslaved woman. It gave the expression that she was "free" to enjoy a relationship with her Master, and he was also painted in a very sympathetic light. I cringed while watching this drama unfold, as the nuances of slavery and the agencies of Black women's bodies and how they were exploited was not even touched upon. Because of this, I abandoned watching the drama.
Incredible! Interesting! Important!
samoht_175 August 2021
Not what I expected!
I was flicking through the channels and I put this on just by chance for some casual viewing and was pleasantly surprised.
Beautiful filming!
Witty, powerful narration by the protagonist, sassy at times which gave me some chuckles.
Highly recommend.
I was flicking through the channels and I put this on just by chance for some casual viewing and was pleasantly surprised.
Beautiful filming!
Witty, powerful narration by the protagonist, sassy at times which gave me some chuckles.
Highly recommend.
A very very good drama.
MsCateArcher29 March 2021
I have just finished watching this amazing series, and I must say it was a real journey. This is a very good drama, about the evil in human nature, about slavery, and terrible,horrible injustice, but also about love, kindness, hope, deception, cowardness, about good and bad, and about endings and new beginnings. Don't miss this gem.
Stupid, Silly Show
ShJ408198526 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Can we get a serious show about slavery? This one was pure comedy (if you consider slavery funny). Also I like to be able to connect with the main character, and I couldn't because she was happily sleeping with someone else's husband. Once she conceived and bore her "Massa's" child, and they started playing happy family, I turned it off.
Can't watch past EP 1
susi-233-6873888 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is such a gross piece of fiction! There are zippers on dresses (not invented yet) and the blackness of the main character changes with each generational switch... I feel that this show is an insult to the terrible history that they are trying to depict. Also I know that only "lighter coloured" Peoples were used in the houses of the oppressors as domestic slaves.
Stereotypes Don't Work
westsideschl9 March 2021
Jamaican plantation slave story. The problem is every white (except one at end) was portrayed as arrogant, selfish, cruel, murderous. Every Afro-Jamaican was kindly, considerate, loving. Even today what percentage of whites would be active in that cruel racist subcategory? What percentage in don't care either way? What percentage have a helpful positive behavior toward others? History is not as one sided as this convenient storytelling would represent.
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