User Reviews

THE SEEKERS concludes with this second chapter, kicking off during the War of 1812 with the late Philip Kent's grandson Jarod (Timothy P. Murphy) the new focus, as we see only a brief glimpse of his wayward father Abraham (Randolph Mantooth), and a slightly larger role for uncle Gilbert (George Deloy). Jarod is in love with his teenage cousin Amanda (Sarah Rush), despite the lifelong animosity from her mother Harriet (Harriet Karr), and to escape her tyranny joins the Navy to fight the British. A lascivious commanding officer (George Hamilton), the loss of all family possessions, and the deaths of both Gilbert and Harriet force Jarod and Amanda to flee Boston, headed West to encounter mutiny, a kidnapping, and finally a friendly fur trapper (Brian Keith) who takes a protective interest in Jarod as a partner. Not as involving as the preceding episode, yet more star studded: Hugh O'Brian as a despicable losing gambler, Stuart Whitman as a lecherous reverend, a young Eric Stoltz as a cabin boy. As for John Carradine, he enters the fray midway through in Pittsburgh as first mate Avery Mills, answering Jarod's call to see a certain captain now deceased, having been murdered by new commander Isaac Drew (Neville Brand), ready to flog captive Amos Samuels (Rosey Grier) for disobedience. Mills only gets to crack the whip a few times before Jarod's timely intervention puts a quick end to both he and Drew, thus saving the life of a grateful Samuels. Carradine hasn't much screen time to shine as brightly as his co-stars, in particular a most villainous George Hamilton, and smiling heroic Brian Keith. As the last of the trilogy, THE SEEKERS doesn't live up to THE BASTARD or THE REBELS, simply due to the fact that its story arc is divided between two characters, but it remains an entertaining example of the early days of TV miniseries.