Network: WGN America
Episodes: 20 (hour)
Seasons: Two

TV show dates: March 9, 2016 — May 10, 2017
Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Jessica De Gouw, Alano Miller, Christopher Meloni, Marc Blucas, Reed Diamond, Adina Porter, Amirah Vann, Mykelti Williamson, Theodus Crane, Johnny Ray Gill, Renwick Scott, Jussie Smollett, and Andrea Frankle.

TV show description:
Set in 1857 Georgia, this antebellum historical drama thriller features the heroes of the Underground Railroad who used everything within them to escape bondage and live as free men and women.

Noah (Aldis Hodge) is a blacksmith, who keeps his own counsel. It is he who organizes fellow slaves and develops an escape plan that will take them on the long journey to freedom. With the odds stacked against them, can he lead the group on this treacherous 600 mile journey north?

Noah is in love with the young, bashful Rosalee (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) — a house slave to the Macon family. She has not experienced much of life, particularly not off the plantation. While she had never before considered running, a brutal incident awakens something within.

Her mother and head house slave, Ernestine (Amira Vann) is a savvy woman, who does whatever it takes to safeguard her family. She shares a connection with August Pullman (Christopher Meloni).

A Mexican-American war veteran, Pullman is trying to make a life for himself and his son, as a farmer. A complicated man, he struggles to find his moral compass and to put food on the table.

Moses (Mykelti Williamson) is the slaves’ preacher. He works to discern if it is God’s will to risk his family in an attempt to free them. He is married to Pearly Mae (Adina Porter), who first inspires the group to escape.

John Hawkes (Marc Blucas) is an abolitionist lawyer, dedicated to the cause of freedom. Despite his profession, he answers to a higher law.

His wife, Ohio socialite Elizabeth Hawkes (Jessica De Gouw), shares her husband’s convictions. Still, she is afraid of the consequences their commitment to the cause could bring.

A clever man, the fearsome Cato (Alano Miller) is a larger-than-life presence on the plantation. His fellow slaves loathe this assistant overseer.

A plantation owner with political aspirations, northerner Tom Macon (Reed Diamond) longs to become a true “man of the South.” He is married to Suzanna (Andrea Frankle).

Sizable and strong, Zeke (Theodus Crane) is a mighty man with hidden agonies. Sam (Johnny Ray Gill) is Rosalee’s half brother and a gifted craftsman.

Although young and restless, Henry (Renwick Scott) has a good heart. He is devoted to his hero, Noah. A runaway, Josey (Jussie Smollett) has learned the hard way not to trust anyone.

Series Finale:
Episode #20 — Soldier
The road to freedom is paved in blood.
First aired: May 10, 2017.

What do you think? Do you like the Underground TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a third season?