REVIEW: Kerry Washington Stars in Hilarious New Hulu Series Unprisoned

Kerry Washington stars as Paige Alexander in Hulu’s Unprisoned, a new, thought-provoking yet hysterical dramedy by author, writer, show creator, and relationship expert Tracy McMillan. McMillan is not a newbie to TV writing and has served as a writer for Runaways, Life on Mars, Mad Men, and Chase, to name a few.

Packed with buzzwords from her extensive self-help expertise, this is a series you’ll need to take notes on as it’s like getting gratis self-help advice with each episode. Add a glass of vino and buckle up for a therapeutic and uproarious ride focused on Paige’s family, love life, and friends.

Unprisoned is loosely based on McMillan’s own efforts to reunite with her estranged father after he was released from prison after a very long 19 years. Paige is a social media influencer and blogger as well as a relationship therapist and single mom “whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad gets out of prison and moves to her house to live with her and her teenage son,” according to the series synopsis.

Washington stars opposite Delroy Lindo as Edwin Alexander, Paige’s charming father, who is more than a handful after his time served. He still has his eye on wooing any good-looking woman in sight, announcing he is definitely on the market, even if he’s only been back into the public eye for less than 24 hours. We have to mention that he is also trying to get his life back on track post-incarceration, but he’s letting everyone know that it doesn’t mean he is not going to have some fun in the meantime. 

Edwin consistently puts Paige in one vicarious situation after the next out in public, which is all recorded live via Paige’s video diaries and viral messages to her social followers. She’s trying to make sense of her feelings and brought us all along for the ride. From Edwin’s supermarket pickup lines to his secret rendezvous with his ex, which aren’t always the quietest, Paige is consistently embarrassed as he’s now staying in her home, as she gets one life lesson to the next on how to get her life right.

In a most positive and delightful way, Jordyn McIntosh makes the series go off the rails as she stars as “Little Paige,” the protagonist’s pure inner self that pops up in the series to keep the real-life version in check with some of the good and bad decisions she’s making in her love and family life.

Little Paige pushes this series to a mix of Sex and the City 2.0, Black-ish, and Insecure all rolled into one but Unprisoned definitely “hits different.” The series can appeal to everyone as this clan bumps heads with exes and extended family, vents, grows, and learns from one another, yet not always in the most elegant way.

Faly Rakotohavana stars as Finn, Paige’s son and Edwin’s grandson, who he has never met, but we see him trying to form a bond with, not always with Paige in the loop. Edwin is on a mission to find work and realizes the struggles of needing paperwork to do a new thing called, “Uber.” The series focuses on the issues facing those who have fulfilled their debt to society and want to acclimate back into their community but don’t always have the tools and resources to make it happen. 

Don’t let the name fool you; Unprisoned is one good time that will leave you wanting more.

Tune in March 10 on Hulu.