Beauty in Black 2024 S01
Director: Created, directed, and executive produced by Tyler Perry
Cast: Taylor Polidore Williams, Crystle Stewart, Amber Reign Smith, Xavier Smalls, Ts Madison, Julian Horton, Steven G. Norfleet, Richard Lawson, Terrell Carter, Shannon Wallace, Charles Malik Whitfield, Debbi Morgan
Beauty in Black – Season 1 is a dramatic soap-opera thriller that explores power, corruption, and ambition within the intersection of a cosmetics dynasty and the underbelly of Chicago’s sex industry. The narrative unfolds over two parts: the first eight episodes premiered in October 2024, followed by the second half in March 2025 HilvaroWhat’s on Netflix.
At its core is Kimmie (Taylor Polidore Williams), an exotic dancer whose chance encounter with the powerful Bellarie family thrusts her into a world of manipulation and upheaval. Meanwhile, Mallory (Crystle Stewart), heir to the family’s beauty empire, confronts scandals of her own involving corporate intrigue and personal betrayal. The series amplifies high-stakes drama with sharp plot twists—including identity crises, trafficking schemes, and revenge arcs—set against the backdrop of a glamorous yet dangerous underworld Netflix+8People.com+8Netflix+8.
Technically, the show delivers high production values—lavish sets, dramatic cinematography, and polished visual design echo Tyler Perry’s cinematic style and scale WikipediaThe Guardian. However, critical reception was largely negative, with reviewers citing one-dimensional characters, excessive sensationalism, and uneven storytelling. Despite these critiques, viewership remained strong: the show debuted as Netflix’s fourth most-watched series and later reached the top of the Netflix global English TV ranking for weeks Wikipedia.
Viewer discussions, particularly on Reddit, reflect a mix of reactions—many describing it as a “guilty pleasure,” with criticisms leveled at dialogue and performances, yet others acknowledging its addictive, so-bad-it’s-good appeal RedditRedditRedditReddit.
In summary, Beauty in Black – Season 1 offers an unabashedly dramatic exploration of power and desperation. A divisive but attention-grabbing premiere, it stands out as a flashy, soap-style drama that leveraged Tyler Perry’s brand and Netflix platform reach—earning both fervent viewers and pointed critique.
Beauty in Black – Season 1 is a dramatic soap-opera thriller that explores power, corruption, and ambition within the intersection of a cosmetics dynasty and the underbelly of Chicago’s sex industry. The narrative unfolds over two parts: the first eight episodes premiered in October 2024, followed by the second half in March 2025 HilvaroWhat’s on Netflix.
At its core is Kimmie (Taylor Polidore Williams), an exotic dancer whose chance encounter with the powerful Bellarie family thrusts her into a world of manipulation and upheaval. Meanwhile, Mallory (Crystle Stewart), heir to the family’s beauty empire, confronts scandals of her own involving corporate intrigue and personal betrayal. The series amplifies high-stakes drama with sharp plot twists—including identity crises, trafficking schemes, and revenge arcs—set against the backdrop of a glamorous yet dangerous underworld Netflix+8People.com+8Netflix+8.
Technically, the show delivers high production values—lavish sets, dramatic cinematography, and polished visual design echo Tyler Perry’s cinematic style and scale WikipediaThe Guardian. However, critical reception was largely negative, with reviewers citing one-dimensional characters, excessive sensationalism, and uneven storytelling. Despite these critiques, viewership remained strong: the show debuted as Netflix’s fourth most-watched series and later reached the top of the Netflix global English TV ranking for weeks Wikipedia.
Viewer discussions, particularly on Reddit, reflect a mix of reactions—many describing it as a “guilty pleasure,” with criticisms leveled at dialogue and performances, yet others acknowledging its addictive, so-bad-it’s-good appeal RedditRedditRedditReddit.
In summary, Beauty in Black – Season 1 offers an unabashedly dramatic exploration of power and desperation. A divisive but attention-grabbing premiere, it stands out as a flashy, soap-style drama that leveraged Tyler Perry’s brand and Netflix platform reach—earning both fervent viewers and pointed critique.