I hesitated watching Beauty in Black due to Tyler Perry's inconsistency in making great content but wanted to give it a fair chance by watching it end to end. So, I did.
It was full of intrigue, debauchery, violence, twists, and turns. If one attempted to create a melodrama that combined elements of Empire (at its height), P-Valley, and Dynasty (at its height), the outcome would be Beauty in Black. The acting cast is solid with plausible performances throughout the series.
I struggled with 2 disappointments: the over-use of the N-word exchanged repeatedly between the Black characters AND the perpetuation of negative Black stereotypes. Tyler P has a great deal of influence and power in Hollywood. It would be refreshing to see him amplify images and voices consistently that are positive for the Black community. People (inside and outside of the Black community) take their cues from this content and may place more weight on the accuracy of its portrayals because a Black filmmaker is behind the camera. He can do better.
That said, if one wants a soapy, rollercoaster ride of melodrama, then I would recommend Beauty in Black.
