Enslaved

This documentary flitted about, sometimes a little disjointedly, between Africa, the Americas and England as Jackson and Afua Hirsch narrated the shameful history of slavery along with all its complexities.

A sobering US documentary series which sets out, in a clear and incontrovertible manner, the horrors of the slave trade.

Given the heart-rending human tragedies told by Jackson and Hirsch, it feels indulgent to spend so much time on what is, ultimately, the retrieval of an ancient elephant tusk from the seabed, connected though it is to the slave ships. Perhaps it is all about expectation. The title, Enslaved, will attract those who wish to know more about the trade and its inhumanities, without the extended diving dramas.

Samuel L. Jackson reveals a hidden side of himself, and that's worth watching for that reason alone.