Genius

The series follows the lives of influential historical figures from their young adult years through later life, showing how personal choices, intimate relationships and public commitments shaped their legacies. Episodes mix pivotal public moments with quieter domestic scenes to give weight to both the ideas and the people behind them. Rather than a single-thread biography, the show moves between conversations, speeches and private encounters to reveal how ambition, conviction and human flaws intersect. This iteration casts Aaron Pierre as Malcolm X and Kelvin Harrison, Jr. as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with Jayme Lawson, Weruche Opia and Gary Carr in supporting roles.

Genius was created by Kenneth Biller, Noah Pink and Suzan-Lori Parks and first premiered in 2017. The series uses an episodic dramatized biography format that blends scripted scenes with historical context and archival references to reframe well-known lives.

It holds a vote average of 7.48/10 from 292 votes, reflecting generally positive audience response. Critics and viewers note recurring themes of leadership, faith, rivalry, moral complexity and the cost of activism. Reviewers often pointed to the show's episodic structure and its attempt to balance public events with intimate moments, praising the ambition while sometimes questioning pacing and depth across episodes.

The dramatized portraits helped renew public interest in the civil rights era, prompting conversations about how to portray iconic leaders on screen. Lead performances by Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison, Jr. became focal points for discussion, and the series sparked debates on historical accuracy, casting choices and the role of biography in popular media.

There is no widely reported record of major awards for this particular iteration, coverage tended to focus on performances and historical interpretation rather than trophy recognition. The show did generate attention in academic and media circles for its casting and storytelling approach, even if that attention did not translate into prominent prize wins.