After the program's cancellation, a two-hour film, I'll Fly Away: Then and Now, was produced, to resolve dangling storylines from season two, and provide the series with a true finale. The movie aired on October 11, 1993, on PBS. Its major storyline closely paralleled the true story of the 1955 murder of Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi. Thereafter, PBS began airing repeats of the original episodes through 1995. The series also aired on PAX.[5]
In 1999, TV Guide ranked Lilly Harper number 15 on its list of 50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time.[6] In 2013 it ranked the series #9 on their list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon".[7]
In "Freedom Bus", Forrest Bedford is described as a new U.S. Attorney "in the Fifth District", presumably a reference to the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the federal court system. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Fifth Circuit comprised Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, and the Panama Canal Zone. Because the first five states listed can be eliminated on the basis of statements made by characters throughout the series, the likeliest setting for the series is Georgia.[9]
Lilly is hired as the Bedfords' housekeeper as Forrest prosecutes a white man for a bus accident that killed three black people and John Morgan deals with his mother being in the hospital.
As Lilly plans to divorce her husband, Nathan comes into conflict with a carnival worker and Forrest makes things for him worse when he arrests an upstanding citizen in the McDaniel murder case.
11
11
"Alice Oakley Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
Jack Bender
Josef Anderson
January 7, 1992 (1992-01-07)
John Morgan makes up a story about his mother joining the rodeo, while Forrest finds a witness and Slocum's father kicks him out of the house.
12
12
"On the Road"
Barbara Amato
Frank Dandrolf
February 28, 1992 (1992-02-28)
Forrest lobbies for Francie's affections on his campaign trail, while Lilly tries registering to vote.
13
13
"Master Magician"
Eric Laneuville
David Chase
March 6, 1992 (1992-03-06)
John Morgan plans a postvictory magic show for Forrest, while Lilly considers the possibility that the gains earned by casting a vote could just be an illusion.
14
14
"Hard Lessons"
Jack Bender
Barbara Hall
March 13, 1992 (1992-03-13)
The townspeople decide to teach Forrest a lesson, while Nathan wants to know the reason behind Forrest and Lake's falling-out.
As Lilly takes action due to Rev. Henry's latest protest, Nathan and Diane's status as a couple creates rather harsh comments and John Morgan fiddles with electricity.
As Lilly tries to respond to Clarence's proposal, Forrest decides to accept the job of U.S. attorney, despite Nathan confronting him about his affair with Christina.
At Christmastime, Lilly is beaten by an opponent of the Freedom Riders, the Bedfords attend a Christmas party at Christina's and Slocum finds holiday cheer in a most unlikely place
34
12
"Realpolitik"
Allan Arkush
Henry Bromell and Kevin Arkadie
January 8, 1993 (1993-01-08)
While Lilly becomes the leader of a boycott, Forrest debates dropping the Landers case as his relationship with Christina gets worse.
As Forrest finds himself being followed, Nathan starts to feel pressure over his relationship with Claudia and Lilly tries to get an old woman registered to vote.
37
15
"Commencement"
Jack Bender
Rogers Turrentine
January 29, 1993 (1993-01-29)
Lilly tries to study for her high-school finals, while Forrest informs Christina he's being followed and a group of students set up a sit-in.
38
16
"State"
Ian Sander
Josef Anderson
February 5, 1993 (1993-02-05)
Joe considers becoming a teacher for the new school, while Nathan unwillingly goes to a college interview arranged by Forrest.
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special
James Hulsey and Joseph Litsch (For the pilot episode)
Nominated
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
Peter Austin, Peter Bergren, John Bonds, Joe Earle, Frank Fuller, Gary Gelfand, Michael Gutierrez, Jim Hebenstreit, H. Jay Levine, Albert Lord, Bruce Michaels, Brian Thomas Nist, Ralph Osborn, Allan K. Rosen, Matthew Sawelson, Adam Sawelson, Richard Taylor, Randal S. Thomas, Patty Von Arx and Dave Weathers (For the pilot episode)
^The episode "Some Desperate Glory" (Season 1, Episode 9) depicts the marquee of a local movie theater, listing Auntie Mame as the main feature. This film was first released in the United States in December 1958, implying that the first season of I'll Fly Away takes place in 1958 and 1959. However, in "The Slightest Distance" (Season 1, Episode 22), a U.S. Justice Department official remarks that a "new administration" about to take office. Clearly a reference to PresidentJohn F. Kennedy, this would place the first season's latter episodes between the November 8, 1960 election and the January 20, 1961 inauguration.
^In "Freedom Bus" (Season 2, Episode 6), Robert F. Kennedy is referred to as the United States Attorney General, an office he assumed in 1961. Subsequently, in "State" (Season 2, Episode 16), Joe Clay is seen browsing through a 1962 Chevrolet catalog.
^The bulk of the series finale I'll Fly Away: Then and Now is a flashback to events occurring in the summer of 1962.
^Roush, Matt (June 3, 2013). "Cancelled Too Soon". TV Guide. pp. 20 and 21
^The episode "Slow Coming Dark" (season one, episode 17) depicts an automobile with a license plate registered in "Bryland", as opposed to one of the 50 states. "Freedom Bus" (season two, episode six), depicts a motorcycle with a similar license plate.
^The notion that Georgia is the setting for the series finds credence in several episodes. In "The Third Man" (season two, episode 10), Forrest Bedford coerces a Klan infiltrator into maintaining his cover by threatening to have him imprisoned in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. In "State" (season two, episode 16), Lilly Harper, while discussing a freedom school to be opened in Bryland, mentions the possibility of using students from Morehouse College, a historically black college in Atlanta, as teachers. Moreover, in the final scene of "State", two black students, one male and one female, integrate the local state university, with federal troops protecting them from a mob of jeering white students. The scene is reminiscent of the 1961 integration of the University of Georgia by Hamilton E. Holmes and Charlayne Hunter. Finally, in the series finale, I'll Fly Away: Then and Now, Lilly reads from a novel she has written, which is based on her life. The protagonist of the novel states that she was born in "a small Southern town located on a parched southwestern plot of Georgian soil."
