Review for ‘‘Blocked’’ by Anntreece Jones

Rarely are we presented with a story so heavy & impactful as in the pilot episode for Anntreece Jones' series Blocked. From its difficult opening scene through its unexpected ending, the pilot is steeped in the hard realities and lived experiences inherent in the contemporary african-american experience.

We follow the steps of protagonist April  following a confrontation with a beggar which awakens in her anger towards God, her absentee mother, and the systems that have failed her throughout a life of abuse and abandonment. Through a conversation with her friend group, we gain insight into April's tortured viewpoint. At the same time, we are introduced to the rest of the series' cast, in short, albeit well-written snapshots of their lives and conflicts as african-americans striving to make it in today's USA.

Visually, the pilot is impressive, well-produced, and makes effective use of editing and camera angles to insert us into the lives of everyday people in difficult situations and dilemmas without breaking our immersion. The music efficiently underlines all the main story beats, and finally makeup & costume design bring the characters to the next level, especially for a series.

Rich in social commentary given its limited runtime, Blocked's pilot touches on generational trauma, the place of faith in life nowadays, the black experience, LGBTQI+ relationships and our perceptions of them, forgiveness, the hard choices imposed by poverty, and our attitudes towards those less fortunate. An impressive start for the director/writer, we hope to see her involved in more creative and high-concept projects in the future.