one of the decade's best, Black Dynamite is currently streaming in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV with a 8/10 audience score that speaks for itself. 19 episodes — the right length to tell the story it is telling. Television that earns its era label is rarer than the number of shows attempting it suggests — most of what gets called prestige TV is really just expensive TV. Black Dynamite is one of the genuine examples: the craft is there in the writing, the performances, and the way it handles its subject matter. Michael Jai White's involvement signals the kind of production that attracts serious talent and uses it properly. Available now on streaming — no excuses left for not watching it.

Black Dynamite follows a path that stands out in a crowded field. Black Dynamite is an American animated television series based on the 2009 film of the same name, although the series follows a separate continuity, with some back-references to the film. The series was announced shortly after the release of the film, the 10-minute pilot episode was released on Adult Swim Video on August 8, 2011, and the full series premiered on Cartoon Network's late night programming block, Adult Swim, on July 15, 2012. Michael Jai White, Byron Minns, Tommy Davidson and Kym Whitley reprise their film roles as Black Dynamite, Bullhorn, Cream Corn and Honeybee, respectively. Michael Jai White and Byron Minns lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. The series ran for 2 seasons (2012–2015), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Black Dynamite holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-season curiosities.

The kind of show you put on in the background and find yourself actually paying attention to. It earns every laugh across its entire run — no coasting on goodwill. The comedy comes from character rather than situation, which means it holds up on rewatch in a way that pure farce never does. Michael Jai White sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. If Marvel's Hit-Monkey is already in your rotation, Black Dynamite fits naturally alongside it.