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Critics Consensus

Sporting a good pair of starring performances, Genius' fourth season can't quite capture the legacies of its two civil rights icons but delivers a sturdy recreation of their personal lives.

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Melanie McFarland Salon.com Some insist that critics should evaluate a work of art as it is instead of lamenting what it could or should have been. But with “Genius” a little complaining can’t be helped, since the narrative execution so rarely lives up to the title's promise. Feb 5, 2024 Full Review Brian Lowry CNN.com MLK/X exhibits a clear desire to humanize its subjects, conveying the men, women and personal sacrifices behind the myths and legends. While it generally succeeds on that level, the denseness of that history comes at the expense of slowing its march. Feb 1, 2024 Full Review Ben Travers indieWire Cramming two titans into one season was likely the first warning sign that “MLK/X” may not be the definitive take on either icon, but it’s still surprising how little the eight episodes have to say about either man. Rated: D+ Feb 1, 2024 Full Review M.N. Miller Geek Vibes Nation If anything, the miniseries attempts a character study with the civil rights movement as a backdrop under extraordinary circumstances. This may be presented as standard fare, but that can't be farther from the truth. Rated: 8/10 Feb 17, 2024 Full Review Russ Simmons KKFI-FM (Kansas City) “Genius: MLK/X” is a respectable but standard biographical series. Rated: 3/5 Feb 9, 2024 Full Review Liam Lacey Original Cin The double-strand biographical series about the parallel lives of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X transcends its mechanical structure through strong performances. Rated: B-plus Feb 1, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

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Episode 1 Aired Feb 1, 2024 Graduation Young Martin is influenced by his family and the Jim Crow-era South; he gains community and leadership skills at Boston University; Young Malcolm is taught racial pride, economic self-sufficiency and loss; after incarceration he has a new purpose. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 1, 2024 Who We Are Martin and Malcolm each work to shape their identities and become the change they wish to see in the world; Martin takes a pastor position in Montgomery and marries Coretta Scott; Malcolm purges his past and becomes the leader of the Harlem Temple. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 8, 2024 Protect Us Martin and Coretta begin their family as the Montgomery bus boycott propels MLK into national headlines as the leader of the movement; Malcolm proposes to Betty Saunders as he ascends to become the National Representative of NOI. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 8, 2024 Watch the Throne Martin struggles to find a balance between active and passive resistance, relying on his faith for guidance; Malcolm is absorbed in his work, which creates strife for Betty and challenges his relationship with Elijah Muhammad. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 15, 2024 Matriarchs Pressures and expectations take a toll on Coretta and Betty; they each question their resolve and decisions as they navigate the rigors of a public persona and private life. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 15, 2024 The American Promise Two monumental 1963 events - the March on Washington and the Kennedy assassination - have lasting effects on both men; Martin becomes the moral leader of the movement, while Malcolm is suspended from the NOI. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 22, 2024 The Sword and the Shield The two leaders meet briefly in D.C. while supporting the passage of the Civil Rights Act; Martin wins the Nobel Peace Prize; Malcolm forms two new organizations; both men are under scrutiny and surveillance. Details Episode 8 Aired Feb 22, 2024 Can You Imagine Malcolm's fate is sealed after he criticizes the NOI; Martin's political views lead to his ultimate sacrifice for the movement; the two leaders are assassinated, but their legacies continue to inspire. Details

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Genius: MLK/X: Anthology Series Trailer Genius: MLK/X: Anthology Series Trailer 2:17 View more videos

Director

Director X., Channing Godfrey Peoples, Marta Cunningham

Executive Producer

Raphael Jackson Jr., Damione Macedon, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard

Screenwriter

Raphael Jackson Jr., Quran Squire, Sigrid Gilmer, Marta Gene Camps, Jeff Stetson, Damione Macedon

Network

National Geographic

Rating

TV-14

Genre

Drama, History

Original Language

English

Release Date

Feb 1, 2024