Roots is coming back...YAY!

[salsmum]

Just that really, Quite right it was amazing let's hope it still is.

[morningtoncrescent62]

I haven't watched it yet, though I'm intending to. Just wanted to reply to this:

I don't quite understand the glee shown here either. I feel similar to Queenie. It's educational but the wrongs portrayed are just harrowing. It's not entertainment.

I'm not sure anyone said 'ooh goodie, that lovely entertaining costume drama is back' or words to that effect. My 'glee' (not the word I'd use) is that the series had a profound effect on me as a teenager, and much of its narrative, the points it makes, and the characters themselves, have stayed with me in the intervening decades. It was my first real introduction to the horrors of the slave trade and its continuing effects on life in the southern US states, and I was able to relate it to the racism that was becoming more and more apparent in my own community (in fact, the racism probably became apparent to me because Roots had made me aware of it). I do think it had a core of 'entertainment', though - the characters whilst based on reality were made memorable and I cared about what happened to them in a way I probably wouldn't if I'd been watching an extended documentary. So I'm very glad to see it back, and looking forward to finding out what they've done with it, and how the narrative will be re-shaped by being seen through 21st-century eyes.

[DispatchReady]

God Zuzu when you said you hadn't watched the last 15 mins I was thinking shit...

It was one of the most upsetting things I've seen on tv, wonder how the actors felt about that scene...

I too remember it being a big thing in the 70s although I was only about 6 when it was first shown. I might make my teen DCs watch it.

[drigon]

Well said, mornington! You're a lot more articulate than me.

Just want to reiterate that I wasn't patronising the Mandinka tribesmen featured or making fun of them in the "foto" scene. It just struck us as quite funny when they all clutched their groin areas before the ceremony and then washed off their agonising bits in the river with an understandable scream. I daresay a lot of British customs from around 200 years ago are quite "primitive" now. Again, no offence was intended, Viv.

Yes, dispatch, I felt it was good my teenage son watched it and was aware of the inhumanity it shows.

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

Dispatch,

"It was one of the most upsetting things I've seen on tv, wonder how the actors felt about that scene..."

Yup, it'll certainly stay with me, too. Really interesting article here. Malachi Kirby talking on that very point: about how he coped, psychologically.

Also, this U.S. professor of African American history's take on it all.

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

So, are we all braced for part 2 tonight?

I'm a mass of contradictions: interested to see in what direction the plot develops, am already jittery about the harder scenes, hoping the acting's as excellent as last week...and hoping Evil Little Bastard Connelly gets his comeuppance.

[drigon]

Evil Little Bastard Connelly did indeed get his just Deserts! A terribly upsetting episode in many ways-poor, brave Fiddler. Very well made programme, though.

[DalekBred]

Do any of you go to bed after watching this and cant get the whole thin g out of your heads? Its so disturbing isn't it? took me ages to get to sleep.

YY good Connely was killed by Kunte.

I thought the Doctor (adultery aside) was a good chap and kind to his servants, obviously not. Poor Kizzy.

And I really sobbed when Fiddler and Noah were killed.

Beggars belief doesn't it how people can be treated that way and get away with it....and it still happens now in many ways

George is called 'Chicken George'' isn't he? I seem to remember that from the 1st version- because hes a poultry farmer, not cos of fear! wonder how hes treated, being of mixed rce?

Almost don't watnt to watch as its so distressing, but cant not watch, its too compelling and YY excellently made.

Noticed its directed by Mario Van Peebls, and Levar Burton is involved in the programme too.

[paulapantsdown]

I am finding this remake so moving. My mum and I LOVED the original Roots, and even thinking about it makes me think of and miss her. IT had a really profound effect on me as a teenager, and I think help to shape some of my political views.

I am finding this version just as affecting. It is not an easy watch, but so well acted. Yes Dalek, I have trouble sleeping after watching it.

Imagine giving birth to a child and knowing at any time, your owner could just sell you or your child like cattle? Mind you, as an Irish person, I have sometimes thought of the Irish women of history who had to watch thier children starve to death during the famine.

[hattymattie]

I can't remember much of the original series except "my name is Kuntakinte" - I didn't realise how important that phrase was. I remember that it was a hugely watched and talked about series at the time. I was 14 when the original came out in 1977.

I'm finding this version excellent, hard watching and very moving. I cannot understand the total lack of compassion that the whites seem to have. I find the doctor takes the stance of a good farmer making sure his cattle are well tended. He has no regard for human ties and the emotions of his slaves.

I feel desperately sorry for Kizzy.

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

Amongst all the action stuff, I thought part 2 really got the subtleties across well:

That even the moments of white compassion, when I outwardly cheered, were mostly only superficial.
e.g. the Dr. angry that Noah's mother had been overworked (literally) to death was more down to the fact one of his 'belongings' had been taken out of the workforce, not that a real, living and breathing human had suffered and died.

He even docked Evil Little Bastard Spalding's wages, but not to teach him a lesson about his abuse, just that it had cost the Dr.'s family a worker...

His dehumanising comments about 'breeding' Kizzy with Noah, as you'd talk about effing prize cattle, really made me shudder.

The compare-and-contrast lives between his daughter and Kizzy were excellently played out. Even when the Missy/ Kizzy friendship initially seemed quite sweet, any small slave still had to know her place.

All those telling comments the white, privileged little girls let slip about their slave playmate possessions. But the reading came out of it, at least. A major, major advantage.

And I'm devastated lovely Fiddler was killed off...had hopes that he'd be a constant, kindly presence in their lives, and eventually achieve Freedman status in his old age .

I suppose at least he was able to reclaim his birth name in the faces of the white killers, and Kunta and Kizzy survived entirely because of his quick thinking. I properly welled up at that bit.

As I did at Kizzy's fate now. Especially the river scene. I'm really intrigued to see the next plotline, but am already repulsed by her owner.

Although many scenes are so hard to watch, I'm really glad the makers haven't shied away from showing the exact brutalities meted out in that era. (Foot scene...aaaargh). This was the daily reality, after all.

Dalek,
I noticed that, too, and also the penny finally dropped for me that Noah is played by his RL son, Mandela!

[Anasnake]

Did anyone spot the original Kunte (Levar Burton) sat in a cart just after the auction scene in episode 1 ?

[Lessthanaballpark]

I caught a few moments of it but found it too upsetting to watch.

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

Anasnake,

That's really interesting, and very poignant. I was too young to watch the original Roots, so wouldn't have recognised him. Will go back and find him now. Thanks for pointing that out!

[Anasnake]

It's a 'blink and you'll miss it' moment but definitely him

[Magicpaintbrush]

I've just watched half of episode one to the part on board ship where the woman is trying to escape those awful men treating her like a piece of meat, and then they cut off the man's arm - I've had to turn it off. It's so horrifying I felt physically sick. I am so ashamed that people were treated like less than animals and viewed as property, not human beings. I cannot get my head around how people could be so evil. It's good that this series is highlighting what happened, and the acting is amazing, but I'm not sure I can watch further, I will have to see. I don't understand the comments about settling down with popcorn to watch this, it is totally traumatising and based on history, not fiction.

[TeaAddict235]

I haven't watched the entire programme (due to a teething Ds2) however, it could be that time had played on my memory, but this series seems a lot more glitzy (polished, clean, enhanced colours etc) than the original Roots. By that I mean that the original seemed grittier, although that could be due to the advances in technology. This version does seem somewhat less brutal.

Please someone tell convince me that time has meddled with my mind.

I want to order the original Roots but perhaps with German or French subtitles, why is it so hard to find?

[morningtoncrescent62]

I re-watched the original last year, TeaAddict, so I can compare. So far, I think the current series has dwelt on the brutal episodes for longer, so they've become more detailed, but somehow the less polished effects of the original plus the fact that they show enough of the brutality to shock but then cut away and leave the rest to your imagination, make the earlier version more shocking, I think. Something I think has been emphasised more in the new series has been Kunta Kinte's utter despair as he realises what's happened to him.

There's been one plot change so far. In the original there's nothing about the Revolutionary War - Kunta Kinte seizes an opportunity to run when he's sent on an errand, and then gets caught with the same consequence (his foot is chopped off). Also, not really a plot change, but in the original series they show slaves being caught by having a net thrown over them, both in Guinea and in America when runaways are caught by slave-catchers. It was one of the images I never forgot, seeing a human being caught in a net.

[Jaynebxl]

I remember watching the original Roots when I was a kid with my family and was looking forward to this new version. I loved the characters and thought it was all very well done but had to turn off half way through the first episode because it was so graphic. I know the original was grim but it didn't show so much and left it more to your imagination. I'd like to watch this one but I just can't. I think it is too explicit and would touch more people if it wasn't so.

Before anyone says anything about it portraying reality, I know that but I still don't need to see it in detail, any more than I would need to see explicit child abuse.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

I watched the first episode, I don't know if I want to watch the next one. It was very graphic.

I remember watching the original as a young teen. I think they have made a much better job of conveying the culture Kunta came from this time. I'm sure the original was more savages and mud huts.

Also I never realised that Kunta was a muslim. Presumably that relates to why many black activists in the sixties and seventies became muslims, The Black Panthers, Muhammed Ali etc, it was part of a process of reclaiming their history.

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

Anticipatory nerves ahead of tonight's episode, especially for Kizzy

But definitely watching.
(Though I expect not literally, at certain scenes).

Will be interesting to see where the storyline takes us next.

[DalekBred]

Its all abuot Chicken George mainly I think this week.

I wonder (Cant remember the original) if part of his persecution is being of mixed race even though Kizzy was raped.

So is he acceptepted by the black people or the whites?

[DalekBred]

Bloody bastard Tom Lea.

I don't like Jonathan Rhys Meyers , but he's portraying TL brilliantly IMO. well done for the acting.

and the fact that George is his son he ''allows'' George to be quite authorative with him at times -the duel scene for example.

Slightly shallow note, but I think the actor playing George is nice looking.

so Tom Leas wife, in the last programme, she saw and heard Kizzy being raped, yes? so she'd know George is Toms son? yet shes friendly with Kizzy.

please tell me how the story ends with George and his family.

anyone who doesn't want spoilers, could anyone who knows please PM me?

Id like to know in advance as Im of a nervous disposition and this series has been really affecting me medically as well as emotionally.

[ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap]

Some interesting points made in ep. 3:

Kizzy facing the massive dilemma of leaving for her only chance of freedom and happiness with Marcellus vs staying to fight for/ protect her family, and having to continue submitting to Lea's abuse.

Strong ties to children with white owners: controlling way to help prevent female slaves from easily escaping, I suppose.

(I wrongly assumed Lea would end up killing Marcellus, out of sexual jealousy).

George realising Lea was his own father, whose relative 'friendship' was mostly due to his money-making with the birds, and who ultimately saw him as just another slave. As reflected in his comments about keeping Matilda "sliding them babies out" to increase his stock of workers...

The locking him back in chains was especially upsetting.

Lea ultimately reneging on his promise of freeman status to George (as if we didn't all see that coming from a mile off!). George being wrenched from his family, with no opportunity even to explain and say goodbye had me teary.

Wonder how differing English attitudes to slavery will be portrayed, next episode?

[clothespeggy]

Do you think that we'll stay with George or with Matilda's child?

I don't like the dates that come up on the screen. You realise that there's years and years until anything gets anywhere near better. Abolition and equal rights are miracles in a way.

[DalekBred]

OMG! What a sob-fest! I cried for over half an hour solid at the last bit when everyone appeared! especially Fiddler!

and that bastard who hung up the spy guy and the womnan (Im terrible with names!).

So glad George made it back to be with his family again, although poor Kizzy.

only thing Ive found wrong with this series is the gaps.

lots of years mentioned but seems bits of storyline missing- like, how and when did kunte and belle die?

and also, why show such a superb series on BBC4??????? surely it was worthy of the main channel?