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?
This makes no sense when foolery such as dancing with the stars American Idol and America’s got talent are on air. Our national networks are betraying us by having such rubbish on TV. Bring back quality tv such as underground.
.Please fight for this amazing show!!!!!!!
.I love this show, I am a loyal fan of Underground. It is a great quality show and that’s what is lacking on television these days. How can “Underground” be cancelled by stupid degrading reality shows that show people of color in such a negative light remain on television. Television exec’s stand up for this amazing show with real actors and excellent acting with a amazing storyline.
I really really hope a network picks up Underground; atleast long enough so we can see what happens to the main characters . I love this show
NO, it should not have been cancelled! the rating as I see it were great, and for me to watch it, it has to be great! I guess it was to real for the powers to be to stomach… Also, I would like to add, I can understand why Bet declined, it’s white owned. But Own? It’s probably because Oprah wants to be white or caters mostly to white’s.
(Note’ my great, great grandfather father was 14 years old and his father was 46 and his mother was 35 when freed in 1865 from slavery).
A very good show with good acting & a look into a hidden part (Slavery) of U.S. History. It should be renewed. One of the best shows on television.
It should be brought back, It shows a part of our history that needs to be understood more clearly.
Wow! I can not believe it! I just found out….there should be an outcry from everyone. Not just Black Americans but ALL AMERICANS. Depressed!
Absolutely wonderful show and should be renewed.
I am disappointed that Underground is cancelled. It was a wonderful educational show and should be renewed.
I was not aware of this series until my daughter informed me. I watched all 40 episodes in three days. This educational presentation should absolutely be continued.
What 40 episodes – did I miss something????? There were only 2 seasons with 10 episodes each season, right?
I am really disappointed to find out that Underground was cancelled. I LOVE this show and watched faithfully every week! I hope it will someday be renewed!
I believe Underground should have been renewed. It gave another perspective of slavery in the United States and could have served to give everyone a better understanding of how the institution of slavery influenced the thinking of how people felt about people of color then and even now. WGN needs to rethink its decision to cancel this series and needs to bring it back.
We loved Undergroung. Why was it canceled? It was an amazing show and we as a nation need to better understand the hardships people experienced during this time in our history. Please give this show another chance to expand on this part of history.
I think it should have been renewed. We need more understanding of this part of American history.
Please renew .. history is very important…to be seen.. for our children so they can see for themselves…what happened..since all our story tellers are no longer with us…
This show should not have been cancelled! It’s giving a face to the lives of those people who set so much of our history in motion. Bring it back!