# Roots: The Next Generations (1979)

> A multigenerational saga follows the descendants of Alex Haley's family as they navigate life in Henning, Tennessee, from the late nineteenth century through the 1960s.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/12535

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 7
- Episode runtime: 96 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, history
- Created by: Alex Haley
- Network: ABC
- Cast: Olivia de Havilland, Paul Koslo, Greg Morris, Marc Singer, Debbi Morgan, Harry Morgan, Roger E. Mosley, Dorian Harewood
- TMDB rating: 7.8/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078678/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: sober, sweeping, elegiac, hopeful, reflective

## Synopsis

Roots: The Next Generations (1979) is an American historical miniseries created by Alex Haley for ABC, a seven-episode sequel to the 1977 Roots. Spanning from 1882 into the 1960s, it follows the descendants of Haley's family in Henning, Lauderdale County, Tennessee. Simon Haley (Dorian Harewood) anchors the story of a family carrying the weight of their ancestors' bondage while pressing forward into an uncertain future, with Elizabeth Harvey (Debbi Morgan) and Andy Warner (Marc Singer) among the principal figures whose lives intersect across the decades. Mrs. Warner (Olivia de Havilland) and Earl Crowther (Paul Koslo) represent the hostile white society that resists their progress. Each episode unfolds as a chronicle of ordinary struggles, romance, and hard-won dignity against entrenched prejudice. The tone is sober and sweeping, with a patient, elegiac pace that lingers on family bonds and the slow turning of American history. Viewers who enjoyed Roots (1977), The Thorn Birds, or North and South will find the same generational scope and emotional weight. Its 96-minute episodes give the saga room to breathe, making it a deliberate, reflective watch for those drawn to historical family drama.

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