In the Cut Podcast host Rae Benjamin is joined by TV writer Alesia Etinoff (The Game) to break down the Queen Sugar pilot. In this episode, we explore how Ava DuVernay crafted a deeply cinematic and subversive drama—one that defies traditional TV structure in favor of rich character studies and visual storytelling. 

Queen Sugar is a groundbreaking family drama that follows the estranged Bordelon siblings as they reunite to save their family's struggling sugarcane farm in Louisiana. With stunning cinematography, complex character dynamics, and a slow-burn approach to storytelling, the series delivers an emotionally resonant experience rarely seen on television. Though it never received the awards recognition it deserved, Queen Sugar remains a standout example of Black storytelling at its finest.

Produced by Raenbo Media and Video Del Mar 

Host: Rae Benjamin 

Guest: Alesia Etinoff 

Producer, Editor, and Videographer: Joseph Fuentes 

Original Music by: Michael Shann aka MadOne 

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