Ethan Hawke stars as abolitionist John Brown in this limited series based on the novel. 'Onion' is a fictional enslaved boy who becomes a member of Brown's family of abolitionist soldiers and finds himself in the 1859 raid at Harpers Ferry
Shifting the perspective allows Hawke to go mountainous with his performance. He is a sweaty, manic, delusional wonder to behold, giving the story a jolt whenever he appears. He is also, in something of a rarity in his career, incredibly funny.
Hawke, it scarcely needs saying, is an utter delight, his character hanging by a single broken hinge, but being afforded no unwarranted deference by those who tire of his interminable prayers. A wild ride you'll want to get on.
Hawke mesmerizes as Brown -- excellent casting for a wild-eyed character -- and Johnson brings a mix of a child's innocence and a young man's recognition of the craziness of the world around him to his sometimes heartbreaking performance.
Seven hours of The Good Lord Bird left me both clear-eyed about John Brown as a historical figure and curious to learn more. Above all, it left me with zero doubts about Hawke's ever-evolving talent.
The show's rowdy atmosphere is flexible enough to slide into intensely moving and disturbing moments, thanks to directors such as Albert Hughes and Kevin Hooks and creator-writers Hawke and Mark Richard, all of whom stay true to McBride's vision.
