The Underground Railroad is a very graphic and sensational drama, but should not be viewed to learn the history behind the real Underground Railroad. The series takes enormous dramatic license, portraying slavery in the most brutal way possible, much as the recent film "Harriet" did, as did the remake of "Roots" in 2016. While the institution of slavery in America was barbaric, including untold oppression and sexual assault, most mainstream historians today agree that plantation slave masters did not routinely torture and murder their slaves for the sheer pleasure of it. The idea of "torture parties", as depicted in the series, where white gentile enjoy drinks and food while watching slaves tortured to death, in all likelihood did not occur.
The series also depicts an actual railroad beneath the earth, ferrying slaves to freedom on a secret train through hollowed out railway tunnels. This for me was a very big turnoff from the series, since this aspect was pure fiction. The actual Underground Railroad was a network of safe-houses and way stations for slaves fleeing north and there was never an actual train underground, which in itself is fantastical for obvious reasons such as how would such a train be maintained and where would the coal exhaust go in enclosed tunnels.
In all, the series is a good dramatic piece with action and suspense, but should be not be viewed as a historical film.
The series also depicts an actual railroad beneath the earth, ferrying slaves to freedom on a secret train through hollowed out railway tunnels. This for me was a very big turnoff from the series, since this aspect was pure fiction. The actual Underground Railroad was a network of safe-houses and way stations for slaves fleeing north and there was never an actual train underground, which in itself is fantastical for obvious reasons such as how would such a train be maintained and where would the coal exhaust go in enclosed tunnels.
In all, the series is a good dramatic piece with action and suspense, but should be not be viewed as a historical film.