'giants' - BIG HEARTS ON THE SMALL SCREEN  

Another great YouTube series from Issa Rae Presents,  this time shining a light on the mental health within the Black community that we are long overdue needing to talk about. Written by and also staring James Bland as 'Malachi', a man who seemingly gave up the high flying life to live more on his own terms, it also stars Sean Samuels who plays 'Ade' who we learn has been disowned by his father for giving up engineering for dance.

The characters have real depth and vulnerability that had me making comparisons to the depictions of black masculinity in Moonlight. The friendship between the two main male protagonists was warm and open, they weren't afraid to be sad, lonely and messed up in  front of each other.  What was lovely too, was none of the homophobic toxic masculinity that seems to be the only trope we see of our men on screen, when we know most of them are good brothers, supportive fathers and great friends.

The depiction of depression in his female friend 'Journee' played by Vanessa Baden, was also raw and realistic, showing the depths that it can lead to and sadly the often dismissive response of those around you who either don't understand it,
or become angry and defensive as a way to mask their pain at being unable to help you. It was also heart warming to see a male and female friendship that wasn't reduced to one or the other secretly pining after the other as a basis for their friendship.

​Giants has only had one season so far but I can see it as a fully fledged series in its own right - Netflix are you listening? - anyway, you can catch the first season on YouTube, with the second season coming soon I hope. ​

'Avant Guardians' - Angels on the therapy couch

Ok, so I gotta admit that I'm not that taken with 'Avant Guardians', it has me giving a low chuckle rather than those tear inducing laughs that Chris Rock gives me when he talks about preparing his kids for 'whitey' - but what I love about it is the premise of a Guardian Angel needing therapy and kinda effing up in their heavenly duties. It has a lot of potential to be a great series and I for one will definitively be tuning in to support this comedic piece of black creativity.

I love that the Angel in question is full of that confidence that says, no I'm not going to push the door just because the sign says so, because isn't that what society and ultimately 'the man' expects you to do? She plays to her own melody, but unfortunately it doesn't work it too well for those she's supposed to be guarding and Heaven ain't buying it!

It's quirky fun, well written and actresses are believable and have you rooting for both sides. Most of all it's original and I Iove that. Catch it on YouTube before God has it axed for blasphemy!! ​

'cHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE' - tOMI aDEYEMI

There is literally so much hype around this book that I don't even know where to start. For a debut novel it apparently already has deals to adapt it into a screenplay and was snapped up faster than you can say "Black Lord of the Rings."

Written by Tomi Adeyemi, it is said to be an African Fantasy novel the likes of which we may not have seen since Ben Okri's 'Famished Road' and that book was written over 15years ago - seriously publishers, what's with that?

The artwork alone has my heart thumping, I mean look at it, its gorgeous and mysterious!! I for one am looking forward to learning about Orisha's in a engaging and entertaining way, while also celebrating African culture that I have not had the pleasure of experiencing before. It's out in March, the billboards are up in New York City and the hype is off the charts, get yours, that’s all I'm saying.