Hulu’s niche comedies are its underrated highlight. They range from irreverent (Pen15, The Great, High Fidelity) to inclusive (This Fool, Shrill, Ramy). The platform has cultivated a wide-ranging and fun voice through them that feels oft-forgotten while discussing more high-profile originals like Only Murders In The Building or The Handmaid’s Tale. If there’s one TV show that combines all these elements—in that it’s candid, diverse, and led by two bonafide legends—it’s UnPrisoned, which returns for season two on July 16.
UnPrisoned doesn’t just fit seamlessly into the mix, it stands out because of its crystal-clear commentary and humor from the get-go. Created by Tracy McMillan and based on her experiences, it’s produced by Onyx Collective as a way to boost diverse programming. The show explores the complicated bond between the Alexander family after Edwin (Delroy Lindo) is released from prison after 17 years and reunites with his daughter, Paige (Kerry Washington), and her teen son. It’s fertile ground to discuss the aftermath of incarceration, reintroduction into society, and intergenerational trauma.
Yes, these are heavy topics, but UnPrisoned weaves through them with genuine heart. It’s hard-hitting without feeling soapy or melodramatic. The writing relies (perhaps a little too heavily) on a contemporary style to hammer this point, but the corniness works because of how palpable it feels. For example, of course, Paige is a TikTok addict who uses her follower count and going live as a way to deal with her attachment issues. But the script carefully doesn’t make her a one-note figure. Despite her arrested development and parental issues, Paige is a fully realized woman who navigates motherhood, a successful career as a therapist, and her messed-up romances while dealing with Edwin and struggling to trust him again.
Washington is best known on TV for playing Scandal’s tenacious, sly Olivia Pope. Her range is on full display in UnPrisoned as she charts Paige’s coming-of-age as an adult, going from unbridled joy at her father’s return to paranoia over what happens next and how to best protect her child from the pain she felt as a kid. It’s the kind of performance that’s easy to get lost in because of how authentic it feels. Washington is especially great in scenes with Jordyn McIntosh, who plays Paige’s younger self and pops up in a scene whenever Paige is, let’s just say, going through it.
Washington’s skill is matched by Lindo (who is a single dangly earring and having the time of his life here). He brings so much pathos to Edwin, a man committed to making it work with his family this time. Edwin is determined not to destroy Paige’s hopes or disappoint his grandson, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana, also terrific in a sincere attempt to get on par with his established co-stars), who suffers from anxiety and reckons with his mother’s overprotectiveness.
Each of their personalities is three-dimensional, while the trio’s bond feels awkward yet lived-in because of an easygoing chemistry. In season two, their dynamic is tested after they go to family therapy with a new-age doctor, Murphy (John Stamos). His approach of radical honesty challenges Paige, Edwin, and Finn to reflect on their triggers and let go of past issues. The eight new episodes handle their evolution so realistically, making it a breeze to binge (and you will probably shed a few tears now and again).
The pragmatism doesn’t mean UnPrisoned has let go of its heartfelt humor. Most of the jokes come from Brenda Strong’s unfiltered Nadine, Edwin’s “situationship.” Paige’s platonic banter with Murphy proves she’s met her professional match, while her rom-com angle with Mal (Marque Richardson) is alive and well. There are complications, to be sure, like Paige going on a bunch of new dates and Mal’s perfect new girlfriend, but Richardson is a calming presence on UnPrisoned regardless. In fact, the ensemble expands as the show welcomes other guest stars like Jamie Chung and Oliver Hudson in season two.
Perhaps the most needed improvement this time is an expanded focus on Esti (Jee Young Han), Paige’s foster sister who was nothing but a cheeky sounding-board in season one. Now, she gets the same treatment as the Alexanders in the form of a proper, progressive arc as she debates finding her birth parents and digs into her Korean roots. It helps pull together season two’s theme of “A family is only as functional as the people in it,” as Murphy says at one point.
UnPrisoned flew a bit under the radar when it debuted last spring despite its excellent cast and crew. Let’s not repeat that mistake. McMillan has taken her specific real life and crafted a universally resonant world and characters with it. Season two is both funny and critical, transcending its feel-good genre.
UnPrisoned season 2 premieres July 16 on Hulu