I'll Fly Away

1. S01E01I'll Fly Away (Pilot)October 7, 1991—Lawyer Forrest Bedford struggles to raise a family amid the civil-rights strife of the 1958 South, aided by Lily, a lack housekeeper who com
2. S01E02The HatOctober 8, 1991—When John Morgan loses his cowboy hat out of the car window, Lilly finds it—but then so does her daughter—-while Forrest faces verbal cr
3. S01E03Rules of the GameOctober 15, 1991—With Forrest away on a weekend hunting trip, womanhood takes aim at Francie, who feels utterly alone; while worries about the fate of an err
4. S01E04Amazing GraceOctober 22, 1991—As Forrest joins the race for attorney general, Lilly considers attending a voting-rights meetings, while Francie elects to overcome her wri
5. S01E05All God's ChildrenOctober 29, 1991—John Morgan is upset when he doesn't get to go to Lilly's birthday party; the wrestlers aren't celebrating Zollicofer's decision to let a bl
6. S01E06Beyond Here Dar Be DragonsNovember 5, 1991—On Halloween, the specter of the KKK haunts Christina as she's asked to investigate Prevtiss Carver's death. It also haunts John Morgan, who
7. S01E07Parallel LivesNovember 19, 1991—Slocum wrestles with his conscience—-and with-–Evans as Zollicfer applies pressure over the brick-throwing incident; Lilly balks when Le
8. S01E08Coming HomeNovember 26, 1991—Thanksgiving brings family—and conflict—home: Gwen's visit from the mental hospital knocks the stuffing out of the Bedfords, especially
9. S01E09Some Desperate GloryDecember 10, 1991—A game of checkers turns deadly serious for Nathan and Slocum; Lilly helps Francie, who's afraid she'll lay an egg singing in the church ben
10. S01E10DesireDecember 17, 1991—Lilly expresses a burning desire to divorce her absent husband; sparks fly between Nathan and a carnival worker; Forrest's arrest of an upst
11. S01E11Alice Oakley Doesn't Live Here AnymoreJanuary 7, 1992—John Morgan makes up a tall tale about his absent mother joining the rodeo; as the trial approaches, Forrest lassos a witness and then tight
12. S01E12On the RoadFebruary 28, 1992—On a campaign swing, Forrest lobbies for the affections of a difficult Francie, while Lilly faces a difficult test registering to vote.
13. S01E13Master MagicianMarch 6, 1992—As Election Day nears, John Morgan plans a post-victory show, but Forrest isn't sure he can pull a win out of his hat in his race for attorn
14. S01E14Hard LessonsMarch 13, 1992—Forrest faces a test in courage when some of the townsfolk decide to teach him a lesson; Nathan is eager to learn why Forrest and Lake had a
15. S01E15Cool Winter BluesMarch 20, 1992—An impromptu lunch-counter protest leads to a more serious demonstration; Lilly has to chew out John Morgan and an unruly friend; Nathan, st
16. S01E16The Way Things AreMarch 27, 1992—Forrest is shocked when Rev. Henry's latest protest sparks Lilly to action; Nathan and Diane's status as a couple generates charged comments
17. S01E17Slow Dark ComingApril 3, 1992—Diane's father tries to put a damper on her and Nathan's passions; racial tensions heat up with the department-store boycott, leaving Lilly'
18. S01E18Toy SoldiersApril 10, 1992—Not realizing how deep town sentiment runs, Lilly and Forrest learn fast after witnessing a police attack on black children; tucker robs the
19. S01E19The Kindness of StrangersApril 24, 1992—Lilly finds herself in time with a visiting sax player; a frustrated Forrest wants someone to face the music about his incompetent opposing
20. S01E20Not BuriedMay 1, 1992—John Morgan tries to put to rest his guilt and fear over an elderly neighbor's passing; Forrest asks Christina to step in to save the dying
21. S01E21A Dangerous ComfortMay 15, 1992—Lilly feels no pain when she's with Clarence, but Lewis isn't as intoxicated by his presence; Christina faces her own demons helping alcohol
22. S01E22The Slightest DistanceMay 15, 1992—Forrest ponders an offer for a challenging job; Lilly tries to make peace between her father and Clarence, who asks her to make a life-chang

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01Hello and GoodbyeSeptember 25, 1992—In the second-season opener, Nathan reacts to Forrest's infidelity by deciding to confront Christina; Lilly struggles to give an answer to C
2. S02E02Ruler of My HeartOctober 2, 1992—Lilly is questioned by the FBI as part of Forrest's bid for U.S. attorney, and she gives some disturbing answers that may cost him the job;
3. S02E03All in the LifeOctober 9, 1992—On his first day at work as a U.S. attorney Forrest must break some bad news to his children about Gwen; the two suspects accused of killing
4. S02E04Until TomorrowOctober 16, 1992—The Bedfords deal with a painful loss; Slocum makes matters worse with regard to Parkie's pregnancy; Lewis takes Adlaine to a Shriners meeti
5. S02E05Desperate MeasureOctober 30, 1992—Civil-rights leaders converge in the ""trial"" of the two men accused of killing Col. Landers, including Rev. Henry, who persuades Forrest t
6. S02E06Freedom BusNovember 6, 1992—A group of Freedom Riders rolls into town, one of whom stays with Lilly and changes the way she thinks about the civil-rights movement; Nath
7. S02E07EighteenNovember 13, 1992—Slocum decides to marry Parkie, but not before he and Nathan make a trip to a brothel; Lilly asks Forrest for a raise and is unglued by his
8. S02E08Fragile TruthsNovember 20, 1992—The police interrogate Slocum, who turns to Forrest for legal advice; Lilly throws a birthday party for Lewis that turns into a political de
9. S02E09Since WalterNovember 27, 1992—Frankie gets deeper into the KKK and finds out that there was a third man involved in the killing of Col. Landers; Slocum's trial commences;
10. S02E10The Third ManDecember 11, 1992—Slocum's trial winds to a close, but not before Nathan pressures Coach Zollicofer to take the stand; Lilly tries to set Marguerite up with a
11. S02E11Comfort and JoyDecember 11, 1992—Lilly finds the holidays difficult to bear after she is brutally beaten by a freedom-bus protester; the Bedfords attend a Christmas party at
12. S02E12RealpolitikJanuary 8, 1993—Lilly reluctantly leads a boycott of a racist's store; Forrest, after having words with his Washington contact, debates dropping the Landers
13. S02E13Small WishesJanuary 15, 1993—Nathan is falsely arrested for narcotics possession; the Landers trial concludes with a shower of publicity, but it's not exactly what Forre
14. S02E14What's in a Name?January 22, 1993—Forrest discovers that he's being followed—but it's not by whom he thinks; Nathan feels pressure at school over his relationship with Clau
15. S02E15CommencementJanuary 29, 1993—Lilly tries to study for her high-school final exams despite continual interruptions; Forrest confides to Christina that he's being matched
16. S02E16StateFebruary 5, 1993—Joe faces some tough decisions when he thinks about becoming a teacher for the community's new school. Meanwhile, Nathan reluctantly goes to

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01I'll Fly Away: Then And NowOctober 11, 1993—PBS prefaces its rebroadcast of all 39 series episodes (originally aired on NBC) with this new episode in which a 60-year-old Lilly recalls

Season 3 ranked & reviewed