Get Millie Black Creator Says Series Is "More Than" Death in Paradise Comparisons

 Get Millie Black Creator Says Series Is "More Than" Death in Paradise Comparisons

"It's complicated, it's dark, it's sexy, it's mysterious."

Channel 4’s latest crime drama, Get Millie Black, is much more than just another Caribbean detective series, according to its creator and writer, Marlon James. While its tropical setting might draw comparisons to Death in Paradise, James insists his show is an entirely different beast.

Get Millie Black Is No Death in Paradise

In a press pack for the series, James expressed his desire to challenge the typical perception of Jamaica, stating: "I want people to have a more complicated view of what Jamaica is. It is certainly more than sun, sand, and sea."

He continued: "There is a dark undercurrent, but at the same time, the forces of good are also Jamaican. There is stuff going on, but there are really talented and dedicated people who go about protecting people, saving lives, and solving mysteries."

For James, the Caribbean crime genre shouldn’t just be defined by the lighthearted murder mysteries of Death in Paradise. He describes Get Millie Black as "complicated, dark, sexy, and mysterious." The show promises to delve into the full spectrum of Jamaican society, offering a gritty, noir-style look at Kingston.

A New Take on Jamaican Noir

James likens Get Millie Black to Scandinavian noir, explaining: "In Scandinavia, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is called Men Who Hate Women. That story put Scandinavia on the map as a place where complicated and exciting mysteries happen."

He argues that Jamaica can provide a similarly rich setting for gripping crime dramas, stating: "No one is saying they are not going to Sweden because of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but people want to watch Scandinavian noir. This is Jamaican noir."

The Story of Get Millie Black

The five-part series stars Tamara Lawrance (Time, Mr Loverman) as Millie-Jean Black, a former Scotland Yard detective who returns to her home in Kingston to work with the Jamaican Police Force. Her relentless pursuit of missing children fuels her passion for solving tough cases.

However, her work becomes even more challenging when another Scotland Yard detective, Luke Holborn (played by Game of Thrones star Joe Dempsie), arrives in Jamaica due to an unexpected link to one of Millie’s investigations.

A Crime Thriller With Layers

Dempsie echoes James’s sentiments, saying Get Millie Black is difficult to categorize: "It’s ostensibly a cop show, a crime thriller. But it has loads of other layers that make it hard to define and put squarely in that box."

He adds: "The aesthetic is vivid and stylized. The story takes us through every level of Kingston society, from the underworld to the rich and powerful. In her mission to find Romeo, Millie pulls on threads that expand the scope of the case, exposing crime and corruption on a scale beyond anything she could’ve imagined—classic ingredients of film noir."

Authentic Representation and Social Commentary

Chyna McQueen, who plays Millie’s sister Hibiscus, praises the series for its representation of trans and queer individuals in Jamaica. She states: "It’s a groundbreaking series that represents true Jamaican authenticity—the mystery, crime, and violence."

She also acknowledges the show’s exploration of LGBTQ+ issues in Jamaica: "It shows the reality of trans and queer life in Jamaica and how transphobic and homophobic the country still is."

When Does Get Millie Black Air?

Viewers eager to watch this fresh take on Caribbean crime drama can tune into Get Millie Black when it premieres on Channel 4 at 9 PM on Wednesday, March 5th.

FAQs

1. What is Get Millie Black about?
Get Millie Black follows former Scotland Yard detective Millie-Jean Black as she returns to Jamaica to work in the Jamaican Police Force, investigating missing persons and uncovering deep-rooted corruption.

2. How is Get Millie Black different from Death in Paradise?
While both are set in the Caribbean, Get Millie Black is a dark, complex crime drama with noir elements, unlike the lighthearted murder mysteries of Death in Paradise.

3. Who created Get Millie Black?
The series was created and written by Marlon James, an award-winning Jamaican novelist known for A Brief History of Seven Killings.

4. Who stars in Get Millie Black?
The cast includes Tamara Lawrance as Millie-Jean Black, Joe Dempsie as Luke Holborn, and Chyna McQueen as Hibiscus.

5. When does Get Millie Black premiere?
The series airs on Channel 4 at 9 PM on March 5th.

Stay tuned for more updates on Get Millie Black and other crime dramas at Flickcore.us!