(Netflix)
Baltimore — If you’re into history and a bit of drama, Netflix’s newest docuseries “Queen Cleopatra” might just be your next binge watch.
The show tells the infatuating story of one of “most famous Queens of Egypt,” Cleopatra through reenactment alongside commentary from experts and professionals. While they do make it clear that some of the facts are just unknown, they do an amazing job using the details that are known to tell her story while still captivating the audience.
Cleopatra, a woman known for being fearless, having great beauty, brains along with power, journey is documented through the 4-part documentary. Jada Pinkett Smith serves as the executive producer and narrator, which is part of her series highlighting prominent queens who ruled on the continent of Africa.
The first segment ‘African Queens: Njinga’ is already on the streaming service.
The four 45-minute episodes — “Rivals,” “When in Rome,” “What Must Be Done” and the “Last Pharaoh”— touch on deceit, betrayal, family, leadership, love and so much more. And what would a Cleopatra documentary be without covering her relationship with two of the most powerful Roman leaders, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony who she had children with. While this is a great introduction to the topic, I would recommend watching other documentaries and doing your own deep dive research, if you are into that type of thing to get more perspectives on her life story.
Critics have already had a lot to say before the documentary has even premiered for reasons none other than the color of her skin. The series portrays Cleopatra to be a Black woman, although the documentary states it is unsure exactly what she may have looked like, the sentiment has people and historians fuming.
"Since the film is classified as a documentary and not a drama, those making the film have to be accurate and it should be based on historical and scientific facts, to ensure that history and civilizations are not falsified," the Egyptian Ministry said, stressing that "the rejection of the film before its screening was in defense of the history of Queen Cleopatra… and has nothing to do with racism," CBS News reported.
While there is controversy around the show, and even a petition to get it canceled, if you are into docuseries, history or if you have not heard of the story before then you may want to check it out.