Kindred (2022) – A Modern Adaptation That Ended Too Soon
In 2022, FX on Hulu released Kindred, a science fiction drama series adapted from the acclaimed 1979 novel by Octavia E. Butler. The show attempted to bring Butler’s groundbreaking story of time travel, race, and ancestry to television for a modern audience. Despite its ambitious themes and talented cast, Kindred only lasted one season before being canceled in 2023.
Plot Overview
The series follows Dana James (Mallori Johnson), a young Black aspiring writer who relocates to Los Angeles to pursue her career. Shortly after moving, Dana finds herself inexplicably pulled back in time to a 19th-century Maryland plantation.
There, she encounters her ancestors, both enslaved and free, and begins to understand the disturbing connection between her present and her family’s traumatic past. Each time Dana is pulled into the past, the dangers grow, threatening not only her life but also her sense of identity and belonging in the present.
The Cast
Kindred assembled a strong ensemble, blending rising talent with familiar faces:
Mallori Johnson as Dana James – The protagonist struggling to navigate her dual existence across time.
Micah Stock as Kevin Franklin – Dana’s partner, who also becomes entangled in the time-traveling events.
Ryan Kwanten as Thomas Weylin – The brutal plantation owner Dana encounters in the past.
Gayle Rankin as Margaret Weylin – Thomas’s wife, torn between complicity and insecurity.
David Alexander Kaplan as Rufus Weylin – The child whose survival is mysteriously tied to Dana’s time jumps.
Themes and Tone
Like Butler’s novel, the series explored race, power, trauma, and the legacy of slavery, but updated the narrative for modern sensibilities. It combined elements of psychological drama, historical fiction, and speculative sci-fi, asking viewers to confront how history continues to shape the present.
The show’s atmosphere balanced suspense with emotional intensity, highlighting both the horror of slavery and the deeply personal connections across generations.
Reception
Critics and audiences praised the performances, particularly Mallori Johnson’s breakout role, and the bold attempt to adapt such a complex novel. However, some felt the pacing was uneven, with too much time spent on setup and not enough on the deeper exploration of Butler’s original narrative.
The series sparked conversation, but it did not attract a large enough audience. FX canceled Kindred in January 2023, after only one season of eight episodes.
Why It Ended Too Soon
Fans of the novel were disappointed, as the series had just begun to scratch the surface of Butler’s rich story. The cancellation left Dana’s journey unfinished, cutting off an opportunity to fully explore the intertwining of ancestry, survival, and identity that made the book a classic.
Legacy
Even with its short run, Kindred (2022) stands as a notable attempt to bring Octavia E. Butler’s visionary storytelling to television. It may not have achieved the longevity fans hoped for, but it introduced a new generation to Butler’s work, reminding viewers why her writing remains timeless and powerful.