Small Axe
We are the small axe.
Created by Steve McQueen
On BBC One
A five-part historical anthology that honors the resilience and inner lives of a West Indian community in London, balancing warmth and connection against systemic darkness and loss.
An anthology series of five stories looking at the lives of a group of friends and their families in London’s West Indian community from the late 1960s to the early 80s.
Clusters
Genres
Keywords
Where to watch
- StreamPrime Video
- FreeHoopla
- BuyApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home
Questions people ask
Is Small Axe sad? Yes. More sad than 84% of series.
Is Small Axe violent? Somewhat. More violent than 59% of series.
Does Small Axe leave you hopeful? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is Small Axe scary? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is Small Axe easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Like Small Axe
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Small Axe
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Small Axe, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Small Axe, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Small Axe, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
