THE SEEKERS was the last of a trilogy of TV miniseries based on the bestselling series of eight books by John Jakes (later composing the even better known NORTH AND SOUTH) about the fictitious Kent family, kicked off by THE BASTARD and THE REBELS, each of which focused on Philip Kent, played by a young Andrew Stevens. In THE SEEKERS we see an older, dying Philip played briefly by Martin Milner, the lead in chapter one his eldest son Abraham (Randolph Mantooth), forsaking his father's careers in the military and printing to forge a new life out West with pregnant bride Elizabeth (Delta Burke), who bears him a son named Jarod. Five years of plowing land ends tragically when Elizabeth is killed by Indians, so a demoralized Abraham returns to his home in Boston, learns about his father's death, and younger brother Gilbert's ascension in the printing business. By chapter's conclusion Gilbert is forced to evict his alcoholic brother, now ailing with the pox, his child left behind to be cared for by an unloving stepmother. The minutes breeze by as we watch the varied guest stars take turns in the spotlight: this was Delta Burke's debut in a featured role, with Ed Harris and Skip Riley as a young Lewis and Clark, Barbara Rush gorgeous as ever as Abraham's mother, Ross Martin as a sympathetic news editor, Robert Reed affecting a Swedish accent as a helpful friend, Vic Morrow in typical scene stealing form as a whip cracking villain. Randolph Mantooth is (rightly) the actor everyone remembers, though he appears only in this first chapter. In truth this is really all we get for the time invested, not exactly great history but certainly an easy viewing.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews