Genius
Genius leadExceptional intellect as the protagonist's engine.This show: 9/10AnthologyA new story or cast with every episode or season.This show: 9/10Real historyReal historical events and figures woven into the story.This show: 9/10Character studyInterior life matters more than plot.This show: 8/10Period pieceSet meaningfully in a past era.This show: 8/10
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Starring
Samantha ColleySeth GabelAntonio BanderasClémence PoésyT.R. KnightMichael McElhatton
Written by
Kenneth BillerNoah PinkSuzan-Lori ParksJeff Stetson
Starring
Samantha ColleySeth GabelAntonio BanderasClémence PoésyT.R. KnightMichael McElhatton
Written by
Kenneth BillerNoah PinkSuzan-Lori ParksJeff Stetson
Ratings per Episode
Votes per Episode
Genius Episode Ratings Heatmap
| Avg | E1 | E2 | E3 | E4 | E5 | E6 | E7 | E8 | E9 | E10 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.8 | |
| S2 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 8.3 | |
| S3 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.8 | |||
| S4 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 7.2 |
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About
"Prestige biopics that dig past the myth"
An anthology series that spends each season on one towering historical figure, from Einstein's tangled genius and love life to Picasso's ambition, Aretha Franklin's rise, and the intertwined paths of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. It alternates between formative years and later fame, leaning on strong lead performances to carry the weight of biography-as-drama. The tone is prestige and reverent but not stiff, more interested in psychology and contradiction than a tidy timeline. It rewards patience with rich, actor-driven character studies rather than plot-driven momentum.
Watch it for
the lead performances that turn textbook figures into flawed, specific human beings.
Maybe skip if
you want linear plotting rather than time-jumping biographical mosaics.
Written by our AI editor to help you decide, spoiler-free by design.
All Seasons
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Einstein2017
8.39K108h 50m
Season one charts how Albert Einstein—an imaginative, rebellious patent clerk, who couldn’t get a teaching job or a doctorate—unlocked the mysteries of the atom and the universe. Based on Walter Isaacson’s critically acclaimed book “Einstein: His Life and Universe.”
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Picasso2018
7.74K108h 19m
Season two explores how the passionate nature and relentless creative drive of Picasso—a Spanish-born painter, sculptor, poet and playwright—were inextricably linked to his personal life, which included tumultuous marriages, numerous affairs and constantly shifting political and personal alliances.
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Aretha2021
7.62K86h 32m
The third season explores Aretha Franklin’s musical genius and incomparable career, as well as the immeasurable impact and lasting influence she has had on music and culture around the world. Grammy Award winner Franklin was a gospel prodigy and outspoken civil rights champion; she is widely considered to be the greatest singer of the past 50 years, receiving countless honors throughout her career.
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MLK/X2024
7.379986h 51m
MLK/X follows Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X from their formative years to their rich, parallel stories as they shape their identities and become the change they wish to see in the world; the two visionaries ultimately rise to pioneer a movement.
Full Cast & Crew
Cast
Samantha Colley Dora Maar, Mileva Maric
Seth Gabel Michele Besso, Guillaume Apollinaire
Antonio Banderas Pablo Picasso
Clémence Poésy Françoise Gilot
T.R. Knight Max Jacob, J. Edgar Hoover
Michael McElhatton Dr. Philipp Lenard, Philipp Lenard, Jonas Salk
Cynthia Erivo Aretha Franklin
Aaron Pierre Malcolm X
Johnny Flynn Young Albert Einstein, Alain Cuny
Malcolm Barrett Ted White
Crew
Kenneth Biller
Noah Pink
Suzan-Lori Parks
Jeff Stetson
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