Roots: The Complete Miniseries

Watch Roots: The Complete Miniseries

  • TV-14
  • 1977
  • 1 Season
  • 8.4  (18,571)

Roots: The Complete Miniseries from Warner Bros. is a historical drama television miniseries that first aired in 1977. The show is an adaptation of the novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley. The miniseries tells the story of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), an African man who is captured and sold into slavery in the United States.

The story begins in Gambia, West Africa in the 1760s, where Kunta Kinte is born into a Mandinka tribe. Kunta is captured by slave traders and taken to the United States, where he is sold to a plantation owner in Virginia. Over the course of the show, Kunta experiences the harsh realities of slavery, including brutal punishment, forced labor, and the separation of families.

Despite the difficult circumstances, Kunta maintains his strong spirit and identity as an African man. He inspires hope and resilience in his fellow slaves, and teaches them about their cultural heritage and history. Kunta's legacy continues through his daughter Kizzy (Leslie Uggams), who is also sold into slavery and faces her own challenges as a black woman in the United States.

The show spans several generations of Kunta's family, following their stories through the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. The show depicts the struggles and triumphs of African Americans in the United States, from slavery to the Civil Rights Movement.

The cast of Roots: The Complete Miniseries includes several notable actors, including Robert Reed, John Amos, and Ben Vereen. Robert Reed plays Dr. William Reynolds, a white plantation owner who struggles with his conscience over the treatment of his slaves. John Amos plays Kunta Kinte's father, Omoro, who teaches his son about their African heritage and traditions.

The show was groundbreaking for its portrayal of slavery and its impact on African American culture. It was one of the first depictions of slavery on mainstream television, and it brought attention to the issue of racism in the United States. The show won numerous awards, including nine Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.

Roots: The Complete Miniseries has become a cultural touchstone and an important work of historical fiction. It continues to resonate with audiences today, as the United States continues to grapple with issues of race and inequality.

Overall, Roots: The Complete Miniseries is a powerful and moving portrayal of the legacy of slavery in the United States. Through its depiction of Kunta Kinte and his family, the show shines a light on the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of oppression. It is a must-see for anyone interested in American history, African American culture, or the power of storytelling to shape our understanding of the world.

Roots: The Complete Miniseries is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (8 episodes). The series first aired on January 23, 1977.

Roots: The Complete Miniseries
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Seasons
Episode 8
8. Episode 8
January 30, 1977
1865: The Civil War and slavery ends while the system of sharecropping is born. Chicken George returns allowing the family to safely leave and settle on their own land in Henning, Tennessee.
Episode 7
7. Episode 7
January 29, 1977
1861. The nation erupts into Civil War as Chicken George returns to find his sons married with families but the law will forfeit his status as a free man if he stays more than 60 days.
Episode 6
6. Episode 6
January 29, 1977
The Civil War is over but night riders terrorize ex-slaves. By marking his clients' horseshoes, Tom identifies the raiders but endangers his own life. Chicken George, who fought for the Union, rejoins his family. He leads them to a new home in Tennessee.
Episode 5
5. Episode 5
January 27, 1977
Chicken George is sent to England as payment for his owner's gambling debt. Fourteen years later, he returns home a free man, a status that has a profound effect on the family begun by Kunta Kinte. The Civil War erupts; at last the era of slavery draws to an end.
Episode 4
4. Episode 4
January 26, 1977
At age 16, Kizzy is sold and bears her new master's son, who grows up to become fun-loving Chicken George. Yearning to see her parents, Kizzy is comforted by Samuel Bennett, but they are ill-matched. When she returns to her birthplace, Kizzy learns of her parents' fates.
Episode 3
3. Episode 3
January 25, 1977
In 1776, a nation fights for freedom - but not for all. Kunta Kinte escapes again and is crippled by slave catchers. He marries, gains a daughter and loses his long-time friend Fiddler. Another chance for escape arises, but Kunta sacrifices it to care for his wife and the newborn he names Kizzy, an African word for "stay put."
Episode 2
2. Episode 2
January 24, 1977
Despite a violent rebellion, the slave ship Lord Ligonier completes its voyage and Kunta Kinte endures the indiginity of an Annapolis slave auction. Fiddler, the slave in charge of Kunta's training, becomes his only friend ? a friendship that's tested when Kunta plans an escape so he can be with Fanta
Episode 1
1. Episode 1
January 23, 1977
In Gambia, West Africa, Kunta Kinte, son of Omoro and Binta, distinguishes himself in manhood training rituals. But he does not enjoy his new status long: slave traders sweeping the countryside seize him. Chained with other captives, Kunta begins an agonized odyssey to the New World.
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Where to Watch Roots: The Complete Miniseries
Roots: The Complete Miniseries is available for streaming on the Warner Bros. website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Roots: The Complete Miniseries on demand at Max, Amazon, Vudu, Google Play and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    January 23, 1977
  • IMDB Rating
    8.4  (18,571)