‘Beauty in Black’ (2024) Netflix Series Review - A Good Quick Watch

Tyler Perry’s Netflix drama Beauty in Black weaves together the compelling stories of two women whose lives are worlds apart, yet fate draws them into each other’s orbit. Kimmie, a stripper hardened by the daily battle for survival, is ready to leave behind the shadows of her past and start anew. She dreams of breaking free from the confines of a life that has long felt like a trap. In this bid, she applies for a scholarship to the Beauty in Black hair school. Meanwhile, Mallory, a polished and successful businesswoman, sits at the helm of her family’s prestigious cosmetics empire. Yet beneath the veneer of success lies a darker truth—her family's fortune is tainted by secret, illicit activities that constantly threaten to unravel their legacy.

When Kimmie and Mallory’s paths cross, the collision of their vastly different worlds sparks a storm of dramatic twists. What begins as a chance encounter soon spirals into a complex, thrilling tale of ambition, deception, and survival. The show deftly juggles these high-stakes plotlines with moments of profound emotional depth, exploring the inner turmoil of its characters as they grapple with their circumstances.

Beauty in Black keeps viewers hooked with its fiery confrontations and unexpected turns, all while peeling back layers of the characters’ lives. The tension between Kimmie’s desperate bid for freedom and Mallory’s struggle to balance family loyalty with her conscience brings richness to the narrative, making it more than just another drama. The show also delves into themes of family strife, the price of power, and the pursuit of redemption, giving it an authenticity that resonates with audiences.

Through its nuanced storytelling and vivid characters, Beauty in Black strikes a balance between entertainment and substance, leaving viewers intrigued by how much of the story might be rooted in reality. This dynamic blend of suspense, drama, and authenticity is what makes the series a standout in Tyler Perry’s impressive repertoire.

The central premise of Beauty in Black focuses on the starkly contrasting realms of the beauty and stripping industries, using them as a backdrop for an unexpected, yet gripping, intersection of crime and ambition. By portraying this overlap, the show maintains a sense of gritty realism, even as the plot ventures into more sensational and dramatic territory. While the story draws from recognizable aspects of these industries, it ultimately remains a work of fiction, with the majority of its narrative components purely imaginative.

Tyler Perry, who both wrote and directed the series, skillfully shapes the world of Beauty in Black, ensuring that while the show’s foundation feels grounded in reality, its characters and plotlines are entirely his creation. His signature storytelling blends larger-than-life drama with nuanced, human experiences, but it's clear that the characters, their struggles, and the twists that define the series are products of Perry’s inventive mind. This balance of realism and fiction not only adds depth to the narrative but also highlights Perry’s creative vision at the heart of the show’s development.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times