This Gritty 92% RT Crime Drama Examines One of the Most Hardcore Gangsters in American History
2 weeks ago
13
Image via MGM+
Published Mar 10, 2026, 6:05 AM EDT
Jen Vestuto is a TV Features Writer for Collider. A born and raised New Yorker, she started her career on set as a production assistant for shows like Law & Order: SVU and Person of Interest. In LA, she worked in the writers' rooms for The Vampire Diaries and Nancy Drew. Along with her writing partner, she joined the writing staff of Nancy Drew in Season 2 and stayed on the run of the show, which ended in 2022 with Season 4.
Jen grew up on Long Island in a loud Italian family. She's been writing creatively since she was in elementary school and would often make her younger sister act out scenes from her favorite movies with her. Jen is also a massive sports fan and was an athlete herself growing up.
Writing features for Collider gives her the opportunity to share her passion for great storytelling and compelling characters.
Crime dramas have never been more popular, but the genre’s recent boom has also made it easier for truly great shows to slip through the cracks. Between prestige streaming hits, international thrillers, and an endless supply of true-crime adaptations, audiences have more options than ever — which means some of the most compelling series don’t always receive the attention they deserve.
What Is 'Godfather of Harlem' About?
Premiering in 2019, Godfather of Harlem blends the real-life history of New York City’s criminal underworld with the larger political and cultural upheaval of the 1960s. Created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, the series pulls heavily from the real story of legendary Harlem crime boss Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, while shaping the material into a compelling character-driven drama. That approach works largely because of Forest Whitaker, who plays Bumpy with commanding intensity and emotional complexity. When the series begins, Bumpy has just returned to Harlem after serving ten years in prison, only to discover that the neighborhood he once controlled has changed dramatically in his absence. The Italian mob, particularly the powerful Genovese crime family led by Vincent “Chin” Gigante (Vincent D’Onofrio), has taken over much of the territory Bumpy once ruled, forcing him to rebuild his empire from the ground up.
The upcoming season will introduce ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ alum, Rome Flynn, to the fold.
Over the course of its four seasons, the show chronicles Bumpy’s increasingly complicated battle to reclaim Harlem. That struggle puts him in direct conflict with the Italian Mafia while also creating tension in his personal life, particularly with his wife Mayme (Ilfenesh Hadera), who often questions the cost of Bumpy’s ambition and the violence that comes with it. The series also explores the broader cultural and social transformations happening in the neighborhood. Figures like Malcolm X — portrayed first by Nigél Thatch and later by Jason Alan Carvell — and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (Giancarlo Esposito), the influential Harlem congressman, play crucial roles in the story, highlighting the intersections between civil rights activism, community leadership, and the criminal underworld. What the show refreshingly avoids, however, is turning these real-life figures into one-dimensional historical caricatures. Instead, the writing emphasizes their humanity, portraying them as complicated individuals navigating power, politics, and personal loyalties during a turbulent era.
Forest Whitaker Anchors 'Godfather of Harlem' With a Commanding Performance
While Godfather of Harlem features an incredibly compelling ensemble cast, it’s hard to ignore just how much of the show rests on Forest Whitaker’s shoulders. The Oscar winner has spent his entire career delivering powerful performances, but this role gives him the space to fully anchor a series, and he makes the most of it. Whitaker portrays Bumpy as more than just a ruthless crime boss. He’s also a husband, a father, and a man trying to make sense of a rapidly changing world. Moving seamlessly between those identities, Whitaker makes every side of Bumpy feel believable and deeply human.
One of Whitaker’s greatest strengths as an actor has always been his quiet intensity and commanding screen presence. A single look from him can convey warmth, empathy, or a terrifying menace. Whether it was his Oscar-winning performance in The Last King of Scotland, his role in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, or appearances in major films like Black Panther and Rogue One, Whitaker has consistently shown remarkable range. That same quality defines his portrayal of Bumpy Johnson. Bumpy is often the calmest person in the room, but that calm hides a strategic mind capable of incredible violence when necessary. It’s the kind of performance that elevates the entire series and deserves far more attention than it’s received.
Season 4 aired its finale in June 2025, and the series has yet to be renewed for a fifth season. Showrunner Chris Brancato expressed optimism about the show’s future due to strong viewership, noting that he hopes the story can continue to 1968, which is the year Bumpy Johnson died. Whether it returns for another season or builds toward a final chapter, Godfather of Harlem remains one of the most compelling crime dramas currently available, and one of the best binges waiting to be discovered.
Image via MGM+
English (US) ·