Godfather of Harlem: Season 1

2019

Created by Chris Brancato, Paul Eckstein
92%
87%
10 episodes
Drama

This prequel series to Ridley Scott's 2007 film American Gangster stars Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson, a crime boss looking to... More

This prequel series to Ridley Scott's 2007 film American Gangster stars Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson, a crime boss looking to reclaim his neighbourhood after a ten-year stint in prison.

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Where to watch Godfather of Harlem: Season 1

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Godfather of Harlem: Season 1 episodes

By Whatever Means Necessary

After returning from Alcatraz, Bumpy Johnson seeks to regain control... More of Harlem. With the streets controlled by the Italian mob, Bumpy must take on the Genovese crime family, led by Vincent “Chin” Gigante.

The Nitty Gritty

Realizing a consistent source of heroin is vital to reclaim... More Harlem, Bumpy engages in a fevered search to find a dope supply independent of the Italians. Chin engages the services of crooked cops in a plot to arrest Bumpy and send him back to jail.

Our Day Will Come

Bumpy unexpectedly finds himself at Elise's side when her shoplifting... More arrest and subsequent abuse is the catalyst for a protest where conflicting interests cause tensions to rise.

I Am The Greatest

Cassius Clay battles local boxing hero Doug Jones in the... More ring. Mayme insists Bumpy back Jones, an advocate for her Harlem Youth organization, but Malcolm urges Bumpy to back Clay. Meanwhile, Chin engages in a turf war for Harlem with Bonnano.

It's All In the Game

In an effort to break Bumpy's bank, Chin fixes a... More bet, as a result, Bumpy owes the winners more than he can cover. Police arrest Stella and Teddy for kissing. Elise looks toward the Nation of Islam in order to better herself.

Il Canto de Malavita

Elijah Muhammed tours Malcolm X's mosque where he meets Elise... More and asks her to spy on Malcolm. Chin finds out Teddy is alive, leaving Ernie Nunzi to correct his mistake. Esther James sues Adam Clayton Powell Jr. for slander.

Masters of War

Striking back at the Italians, Bumpy exploits Chin's dark past.... More Mayme and Elise put aside their differences and Bumpy sees his wife and children reunited before his war explodes.

How I Got Over

Chin and Bonnano are at war in Harlem. Mayme asks... More Bumpy to create a will where Bumpy finds out he and Mayme never formally adopted Margaret. Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. go to D.C. for the March on Washington.

Rent Strike Blues

Due to slum conditions in Harlem, Adam Clayton Powell Jr.... More leads a rent strike and investigates the owners of the buildings. Ernie Nunzi searches for the hooker who helped set up Zambrano. Bumpy and Mayme experience tension in their marriage.

Chickens Come Home to Roost

Bumpy blackmails the mob in an effort to secure the... More safety of himself and his family. President John F. Kennedy is assassinated. Teddy performs at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

Godfather of Harlem: Season 1 | Ratings & Reviews

92_%25 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes® rating
87_%42 reviews
Audience score rating

"It's just good enough for fans of period crime dramas, without seeming interested in (or capable of) finding another level."

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Rolling Stone

"The show's ambition pays off in the rare gangster epic we haven't seen before."

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Time Magazine

"If it can't be The Sopranos or Boardwalk Empire it can be something less while still entertaining those who like mob stories."

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Hollywood Reporter

"Through it all, Whitaker keeps a tight rein on his performance, letting his storied intensity break through in just a few flashes."

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The New York Times

"Even with its ambitions, its embracing of the genre's cliches, its at-times strained credulity, and overstuffed plot lines may keep new audiences away."

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IndieWire

"Anachronistic hip-hop might date the series quickly, but for now it's a rich and piquant stew."

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Sydney Morning Herald

"This unofficial prequel to "American Gangster" does play with nostalgia from the era... But its depiction of a racially divided, corrupt and often venal world rings just as true today."

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Los Angeles Times

"It's gritty, pulpy and unpredictable and confident in a swagger that's not really trying to emulate the soft nuances of "prestige" crime dramas like Breaking Bad or The Sopranos."

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