Beauty in Black Explained

Overview

"Beauty in Black" is a drama web series that follows the incredible life journey of a wild mustang named Beauty. It's a heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking story about the bond between humans and horses, resilience, and finding your way home. You'll see Beauty navigate different owners and challenges, all while holding onto the spirit she was born with. It's a tale that really makes you think about freedom, connection, and what it means to truly be a partner.

Cast

Taylor PolidoreKimmie

Crystle StewartMallory

Amber Reign SmithRain

Xavier SmallsAngel

Julian HortonRoy

What Happens (Spoilers)

The story begins with a wild mustang, born free in the Onaqui Mountains. She shares her mother's belief that horses go to the stars when they pass away. One day, cowboys round up her herd, and she loses her mother. A kind horse trainer, John Manly, buys her and takes her to Birtwick, a horse sanctuary. The mustang doesn't cooperate at first, but John is patient. She soon befriends two other horses, Ginger and Merrylegs.

Life changes for John when his sister and her husband die in a car accident, leaving him to care for his niece, Jo Green. Jo is initially distant from John but is drawn to the difficult mustang. The mustang recognizes Jo's pain, similar to her own, and they form a deep connection. Jo tames the mustang and names her Black Beauty, or Beauty. John helps Jo heal by having her work in the stables with Beauty. They popularize the idea of "partnering" a horse instead of "breaking" one. John warns Jo that Beauty will eventually need to be sold, but Jo refuses to accept it.

During a special moment, Jo grieves for her family. Beauty, wanting to comfort her, gives Jo a ride across the stable since Jo can't gallop herself. John is shocked to see Jo riding, as James reports that Beauty has escaped. In slow motion, Jo feels the wind in her hair, which helps her heal. She smiles, riding for the first time, until she falls into a haystack. John rushes to her, but Jo laughs, saying it was fun. From then on, John trains Jo to ride Beauty. Later, Jo rides Beauty to the beach, spreading her arms, feeling completely at one with the horse.

One night, a stablehand forgets to turn off a heater, causing a fire. The horses are evacuated. With Birtwick losing money, Jo worries about Beauty being sold. She makes a deal with Henry to work extra and earn enough to buy Beauty herself. However, the upper-class Winthorp family, who are migrants from England, arrive to buy horses for their estate. The daughter, Georgina, immediately chooses Beauty to lease. John convinces them to let Jo come along as Beauty's tenant. At Earlshall estate, Beauty finds her friend Ginger, who was bought for the Winthorp's son, George. Unlike Georgina, George is kind and takes an interest in Jo.

Georgina is cruel to Beauty, who resists harming her, knowing it would cause trouble for both her and Jo. During a social gathering, a race is held. Georgina's poor riding leads to Beauty injuring her leg. George stands up to his mother, and the Winthorps return Beauty. John then delivers bad news: Birtwick is closing, and all the horses must be sold. Beauty is taken away before Jo can even say goodbye. Jo becomes determined to find and buy her back.

Beauty is sold to a ranger named Terry, and they go on rescue missions in the wilderness. Terry eventually retires, and Beauty is given to a farmer who uses old tools, forcing her to work harder. She is then sold to a kind carriage driver in New York City, whose daughter names her Lady. One night, Beauty is reunited with Ginger, who had been sold without George's knowledge. Sadly, Ginger dies shortly after their reunion.

When Jerry, the carriage driver, falls sick, Beauty is sold to another carriage company. This company treats its horses cruelly and is involved in illegal horse trading. While driving, Beauty sees Ginger's body being taken away. Heartbroken, Beauty sits down in the middle of the road during her carriage rotation, drawing media attention. The company tries to sell Beauty, but a kind stable boy named Manuel alerts the police about their illegal activities. Finally, Jo finds Beauty and they are reunited. Jo reveals that she has rebuilt Birtwick and now works with John and George, who is now her husband, to rehabilitate horses. She even finds that Merrylegs was also recovered. Beauty lives happily with Jo for the rest of her days.

What It Means

This series beautifully explores themes of resilience and the deep, unspoken connection between humans and animals. It shows how love and patience can heal trauma, and how finding your true "home" isn't always a place, but a bond with those who understand you. Ultimately, it’s a story about enduring hardship and the power of unwavering hope to bring you back to where you belong.

Where to watch: Netflix (IN)

Plot facts sourced from Wikipedia (Black Beauty (2020 film)), used under CC BY-SA.

Movie data and images: TMDB. This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.