# Black Earth Rising (2018)

> A London barrister adopted from the Rwandan genocide uncovers a conspiracy tied to her own past.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/70261

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 8
- Episode runtime: 59 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, crime, mystery
- Network: BBC Two
- Cast: Michaela Coel, John Goodman, Noma Dumezweni, Lucian Msamati, Tyrone Huggins, Tamara Tunie, Emmanuel Imani, Paapa Essiedu
- TMDB rating: 7.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7660730/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: tense, somber, suspenseful, morally weighty, unsettling

## What critics say

Audience reception is positive overall, with viewers praising the thriller's gripping conspiracy plot and its serious engagement with genocide, justice and survival.

## Synopsis

Black Earth Rising (2018) is a British crime thriller miniseries created for BBC Two. Michaela Coel plays Kate Ashby, a young woman rescued as a child from the horrific aftermath of the Rwandan genocide and raised in the UK, whose tragic past proves impossible to escape. As she pursues a legal case tied to international justice, she finds that powerful figures would prefer old atrocities stay buried. John Goodman plays Michael Ennis, a figure entangled in the investigation, while Noma Dumezweni plays Alice Munezero, a character bound to Kate's history. The engine of the story is Kate's determination to uncover the truth about her origins while navigating dangerous conspiracies that reach across borders and courtrooms. Across eight hour-long episodes, the series builds a serialized mystery with suspense and emotional weight, moving between London, Rwanda and European courts. Its tone is tense, somber and morally weighty, with an atmosphere of unease and political menace. Fans of The Night Manager, Criminal Justice and The Night Of will find resonance in its blend of conspiracy, legal drama and emotional depth, grounded in a serious engagement with the aftermath of genocide.

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