Set against the backdrop of Louisiana, "Queen Sugar," a new series created, directed and produced by Ava DuVernay (and based off of a novel by Natalie Baszille of the same name), tells the story of three siblings as they attempt to navigate life post the loss of their father. Nova, the eldest, is a social activist and journalist; Charley/Charlotte, the middle child, is a savvy buisness woman and LA basketball wife; and Ralph Angel, the only boy and baby of the family, is a single father and former convict looking for stability for himself and his small son. The three inherit their father's sugarcane farm and must figure out how to handle the sprawling 800 acres of land while also contending with their own trials and tribulations; including drug addicted spouses, married partners, and cheating husbands. What could easily be turned into hackneyed soap opera fodder,"Queen Sugar" delves into with nuance and grace, highlighting Blackness and humanity all at once.

Here are five reasons why you need to tune into "Queen Sugar" now:

1. The characters

Flat characters don't exist in the realm of "Queen Sugar." Each character is a complex portrayal of humanity in times of joy, sadness, and pain. All characters on the canvas leave an impression on you. We simultaneously cheer on and break for Charley as she confronts her philandering (and possibly criminal) husband mid game in a fit of rage. When Nova watches from the outside as her married lover enjoys a night with his family, we struggle with rooting for them as a couple and shaking our heads at the infidelity. The character who, perhaps, we might lend our empathy to the most is Ralph Angel. The youngest of the Bordelon siblings, Ralph Angel is the character who can't win. We've all been him; we all know what it's like to try our best, but still lose it all in the end. From Aunt Vi, an older woman with the sexual prowess usually designated for character's half her age, who tries to be strong for her two nieces and nephew, to Blue, Ralph Angel's young son who carries a barbie, all of the characters in play stay with you. They are nuanced and they are whole.

2. The Music

If you're a music snob, like I am, you know that a score can make or break a film. If the music's too overpowering, you lose the essence of the scene, if it's not present enough its little more than background noise. In "Queen Sugar," singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello, strikes a mesmerizing score that serves to enhance the action on screen. From the nostalgic sounds of Maze and Frankie Beverly's "Before I Let Go" to the smooth crooning of Ndegeocello's own music, "Queen Sugar's" score boasts names both indie and mainstream, including U2 and Alabama Shakes. Check out a full list of songs found on the show here.

3. All female directing team

Queer, femme, female, diverse.

As the collective voices of the marginalized grow louder in their call to diversify Hollywood both on and off camera, Ava DuVernay has answered the called. After directing the first and second episodes herself, DuVernay turned the reigns of "Queen Sugar" over to an all female team of directors including "Yelling to the Sky's" Victoria Mahoney and "Mississippi Damned's" Tina Marby. In an industry that is predominately white and male, DuVernay's team is an anomaly. One she created purposefully to combat that fact. For most of the directors, "Queen Sugar" is their first foray into TV directing and the results have been astounding both on camera and off. On camera there is an intimacy present in "Queen Sugar" that is unlike any other on TV. The choice in lighting, props, and direction has brought the Borderlon family from two dimensional characters on screen, to well rounded people easy to invest in. Dare I say, DuVernay's team of directors might be the most concrete example of the forever MIA 'female gaze.' Off camera, the women seem to be fairing well thanks to the shot given to them by Miss DuVernay. Some have booked directing gigs for over TV series.

4. Cinematography

Allow me to be vain for a small moment, but "Queen Sugar" is just plain pretty. Truly. The deep blues, bright greens, warm yellows, and stark whites all present in the first episode alone are just as vibrant as the Bordelone family. The camera angles and props, too, all work in perfect harmony to reflect the emotions of the characters on screen. From the pan shots of the sprawling cane fields reflecting Ralph Angel's eagerness to start fresh; the tight close ups of Nova as she stands with her married lover Calvin, a stack of objects off in the distance but still clearly between them, symbolizing feelings of being trapped; to Charley and her husband on uneven terrain against a blue wall to symbolize them drifting further and further apart, "Queen Sugar" knowns how to invoke emotion without words.

Quite possibly the most important piece of cinematography to note in regards to "Queen Sugar," however, is the lighting. Too often on TV darker skin tones are washed out or under lit and the audience isn't able to see the richness and diversity of Blackness. DuVernay has made certain to work against that in "Queen Sugar."

5. Ava DuVernay + Oprah Winfrey

Like Pippen and Jordan or Hamilton and Billups, Miss DuVernay and Oprah are a duo to be reckoned with. "Queen Sugar" is not their first collaboration and will certainly not be their last. Together they've helmed the critically acclaimed (and wrongfully snubbed) "Selma," which many contend should've garnered DuVernay her first Oscar nomination for Best Director. Next up, the two will work together on the second season of "Queen Sugar," which has proven to be a ratings hit for Oprah's OWN network, and "A Wrinkle in Time." When these two work together, a hit is almost guaranteed.

In a TV landscape filled with zombies, over-sexed doctors, morally ambiguous cops, and the many scandals of back alley Washington D.C politics, "Queen Sugar" is a breath of fresh air in an over-crowded TV landscape. Its languid pacing draws you in and its fully fleshed out characters keeps you present. "Queen Sugar" is a must watch for everyone.