2 min read- There's a lot of chatter surrounding a new series called The Gray House.
- The drama/thriller is set in war times and shines a light on a group of women leading an espionage network.
- The series released all 8 of its Season 1 episodes this week.
A new period drama set during the Civil War will follow a group of women who are working as spies for the Union in Richmond, Virginia — the capital of the Confederate States of America during this time.
The Gray House is a highly-anticipated thriller produced by Hollywood duo Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman. It will hit all of the big themes that defined the 1860s — the election of Abraham Lincoln, the fight for states' rights and the tussle for American freedoms — and won't shy away from the realities of slavery.
It's likely no coincidence that the series drops in the year of America's 250th birthday.
What Is The Gray House About?
The focus is largely on the women who transformed the Underground Railroad into an underground spy network to keep tabs on the Confeds on behalf of the Union Army. They're based in Confederate-run Richmond, so expect thrills and drama as they infiltrate military camps, hospitals, and even brothels to obtain information.
Per IMDb: "Set on the Underground Railroad during the U.S. Civil War, four women help turn the tide of the war in favor of the Union by turning from railroad operatives into spies."
Is The Gray House Based on a True Story?
Yes! Well, with an asterisk. The day-to-day plot is speculative and formulated for television drama, but stays true to what these women experienced as they sought to protect American democracy.
Elizabeth Van Lew (Daisy Head) was a real person. She led and recruited for the spy ring, and along with her mother, helped slaves work toward freedom. The formerly enslaved Mary Jane Richards (Amethyst Davis) is said to have worked as a maid for Jefferson Davis while acting as a Union spy and would collect intelligence documents when she could sneak past him. Elizabeth's mother, socialite Eliza Baker (Mary-Louise Parker), and many of the other focus characters all existed and held key roles in swinging the war in favor of the North.
Together, these very real women changed the course of American history.
When Does The Gray House Premiere?
The full run of the The Gray House will be 8 episodes, and all of Season 1 will drop on February 26 via Prime Video. The episodes — which run about an hour each, some with some change — are titled as follows:
Ep. 1: "Nothin' Like the Fourth of July"
Ep. 2: "Never Secede"
Ep. 3: "First Blood"
Ep. 4: "Spy Ring"
Ep. 5: "Treason Ends on the Gallows"
Ep. 6: "Alien Enemies"
Ep. 7: "Babcock"
Ep. 8: "The Firestorm"
Amanda Hensel Jermstad is a skilled writer based in Austin, Texas. She spent 14 years as Editor-in-Chief of Taste of Country, where she led coverage of the artists, stories and trends shaping country music. With a career deeply rooted in the genre, Amanda has built a reputation for sharp editorial insight and authentic storytelling. Outside of work, she’s a proud mom of three.
