Black Cake debuted in November 2023 alongside decent reviews, co-produced by Oprah Winfrey through the Harpo Films division of her multimedia company. With its early December conclusion, the web does not have much chatter circulating about the epic novel adaptation, meaning a future at Hulu is not certain. The dense plot about a parent’s hidden past revealed to her children has plenty of potential story remaining, so Hulu’s unfortunate pullback on its Black Cake marketing might mean dooming an underrated series that could become something truly fantastic.
‘Black Cake’ Season 1 Plot
When their mother dies of cancer, two adult siblings begin listening to a recording she made, which details the reality of her past that she never disclosed to them. Their mother’s globe-trotting backstory unearths secrets from their pasts, forever changing their views on life, identity, and the morally complex effects of lying to your children.
‘Black Cake’ Deserves More Attention from Audiences
Adaptations of advanced, multi-location epics like Pachinko and Fellow Travelers frequently translate into some of the best shows of any given year, but even hot trends have overlooked examples. Black Cake seems like a recipe for the exact success and acclaim that similar shows achieved, but comparatively less reception means fewer people have heard about it, and even fewer have ended up watching it. Viewers who can stick with the slow pacing of the pilot episode will find a bounty of twists and unexpectedly heartrending elements to hook them.
The exceptional aspect of Black Cake is its moving performances in service of a gripping dramatic tale, led by Mia Isaac as Covey in the past storyline and Adrienne Warren and Ashley Thomas as the main characters of the present. Though Warren and Thomas’ roles require reacting to a deepening dive into perplexing truths for most of the runtime, Isaac balances an extended pathway of sorrows, excitement, and impossible situations, growing intricate with each passing episode.
Adrienne Warren in ‘Black Cake’
Chance of ‘Black Cake’ Season 2?
Judging by the content of Wilkerson’s novel, Black Cake has enough material for at least another season. The pacing here is deliberate and pleasing to dedicated fans of classic dramas, the direction is consistently amiable in beautifying each shot, and dialogue occasionally lacks the intended subtly of the characters’ remarkable circumstances. Without more viewers, Black Cake does not have the quickest road to renewal, with slight imperfections keeping it from being one of 2023’s best shows.
A more popular, equally good series would have no issue returning for a second season, but this series’ inability to break into a wider audience might keep it from continuing. Hopefully, more critical awareness and a small but championing fanbase can rally around a renewal for this strong adaptation. As for potential avenues for the story, the future looks very bright for Black Cake.
Black Cake is streaming now on Hulu.
