Show cover for I'll Fly Away

The Best Episodes of I'll Fly Away

Every episode of I'll Fly Away ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of I'll Fly Away!

I'll Fly Away is an American drama television series set during the late 1950s and early 1960s, in an unspecified Southern U.S. state. It aired...
Genre:Drama
Network:NBC

Best Episodes Summary

"(pilot)" is the best rated episode of "I'll Fly Away". It scored 9.5/10 based on 34 votes. Directed by Joshua Brand and written by John Falsey, Joshua Brand, it aired on 10/7/1991. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Comfort And Joy".

  • (pilot)
    9.5/1034 votes
    Loading...

    #1 - (pilot)

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/7/1991

    Lawyer Forrest Bedford struggles to raise a family amid the civil-rights strife of the 1958 South, aided by Lily, a lack housekeeper who comes to work in the opener to find Forrest prosecuting a young white for a bus accident that killed three black; and little John Morgan missing his hospitalized mama.

    Director: Joshua Brand

    Writer: John Falsey, Joshua Brand

  • Comfort And Joy
    9.5/109 votes
    Loading...

    #2 - Comfort And Joy

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 12/11/1992

    Lilly finds the holidays difficult to bear after she is brutally beaten by a freedom-bus protester; the Bedfords attend a Christmas party at Christina's house; and Slocum finds some Yuletide cheer in an unlikely place—Zollicofer's circle of friends.

    Director: Scott Paulin

    Writer: Barbara Hall

  • Hello And Goodbye
    9.4/106 votes
    Loading...

    #3 - Hello And Goodbye

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/1992

    In the second-season opener, Nathan reacts to Forrest's infidelity by deciding to confront Christina; Lilly struggles to give an answer to Clarence, who's new York bound; and Forrest opts to take the job as U.S. attorney, even though it means an FBI investigation of his life.

    Director: Jack Bender

    Writer: Barbara Hall

  • On The Road
    9.2/106 votes
    Loading...

    #4 - On The Road

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 2/28/1992

    On a campaign swing, Forrest lobbies for the affections of a difficult Francie, while Lilly faces a difficult test registering to vote.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Master Magician
    9.2/106 votes
    Loading...

    #5 - Master Magician

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 3/6/1992

    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 attorney general. He's facing a blackmail threat from a drunken Tyler. Meanwhile, Lilly's determination to vote remains unabated, even after her faith is tested by the opposition of her minister. But discrimination at the polling place makes that step forward seems more like an illusion.

    Director: Eric Laneuville

    Writer: David Chase

  • Small Wishes
    9.0/106 votes
    Loading...

    #6 - Small Wishes

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/15/1993

    Nathan is falsely arrested for narcotics possession; the Landers trial concludes with a shower of publicity, but it's not exactly what Forrest would have liked; and John Morgan becomes jealous of Lilly and Joe's relationship.

    Director: James A. Contner

    Writer: Dee Johnson

  • Rules Of The Game
    8.8/108 votes
    Loading...

    #7 - Rules Of The Game

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/15/1991

    With Forrest away on a weekend hunting trip, womanhood takes aim at Francie, who feels utterly alone; while worries about the fate of an errant arrow dog, John Morgan.

    Director: Jack Bender

    Writer: Barbara Hall

  • Commencement
    8.8/106 votes
    Loading...

    #8 - Commencement

    Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 1/29/1993

    Lilly tries to study for her high-school final exams despite continual interruptions; Forrest confides to Christina that he's being matched and then goes to Washington to see if he can do something about it; and a group of students stages a sit-in.

    Director: Jack Bender

    Writer: N/A

  • Amazing Grace
    8.6/106 votes
    Loading...

    #9 - Amazing Grace

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/22/1991

    As Forrest joins the race for attorney general, Lilly considers attending a voting-rights meetings, while Francie elects to overcome her writer's block by committing a betrayal.

    Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan

    Writer: Henry Bromell

  • Since Walter
    8.6/107 votes
    Loading...

    #10 - Since Walter

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/27/1992

    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; and Lilly's ex-husband comes to town, bringing with him his new fiancée.

    Director: Jack Bender

    Writer: Karen Hall

  • The Hat
    7.8/1011 votes
    Loading...

    #11 - The Hat

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/8/1991

    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 cross-fire over a beating case arising from the demonstration.

    Director: John David Coles

    Writer: David Chase

  • What's In A Name?
    7.7/1011 votes
    Loading...

    #12 - What's In A Name?

    Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 1/22/1993

    Forrest discovers that he's being followed—but it's not by whom he thinks; Nathan feels pressure at school over his relationship with Claudia; Lilly tries to persuade an elderly woman to register to vote.

    Director: James A. Contner

    Writer: Marjorie David

  • The Slightest Distance
    7.6/106 votes
    Loading...

    #13 - The Slightest Distance

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/15/1992

    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-changing decision; Nathan sees something he shouldn't; and Slocum saves his mother's birthday party.

    Director: Ian Sander

    Writer: N/A

  • Eighteen
    7.4/106 votes
    Loading...

    #14 - Eighteen

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 11/13/1992

    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 response; Forrest persuades a young man to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.

    Director: David Chase

    Writer: David Chase

  • The Way Things Are
    7.3/107 votes
    Loading...

    #15 - The Way Things Are

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/27/1992

    Forrest is shocked when Rev. Henry's latest protest sparks Lilly to action; Nathan and Diane's status as a couple generates charged comments; John Morgan fools with electricity.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Henry Bromell

  • Toy Soldiers
    7.2/106 votes
    Loading...

    #16 - Toy Soldiers

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/10/1992

    Not realizing how deep town sentiment runs, Lilly and Forrest learn fast after witnessing a police attack on black children; tucker robs the cradle with Forrests' young campaign worker; Francie behaves childishly after being asked to walk John Morgan to school.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • All God's Children
    NaN/100 votes
    Loading...

    #17 - All God's Children

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/29/1991

    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 black join the team; Forrest realizes running for office isn't going to be a piece of cake.

    Director: Eric Laneuville

    Writer: N/A

  • Beyond Here Dar Be Dragons
    NaN/100 votes
    Loading...

    #18 - Beyond Here Dar Be Dragons

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/1991

    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's heard about the ""dragon men"" from Adlaine.

    Director: Eugene Corr

    Writer: N/A

  • Parallel Lives
    NaN/100 votes
    Loading...

    #19 - Parallel Lives

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/19/1991

    Slocum wrestles with his conscience—-and with-–Evans as Zollicfer applies pressure over the brick-throwing incident; Lilly balks when Lewis, wanting to relive his time in the Negro Leagues, takes his eyes off the ball at home.

    Director: Michael Fresco

    Writer: N/A

  • Coming Home
    NaN/100 votes
    Loading...

    #20 - Coming Home

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/1991

    Thanksgiving brings family—and conflict—home: Gwen's visit from the mental hospital knocks the stuffing out of the Bedfords, especially Nathan; and Lilly's brother makes a pilgrimage home after discovering the New World of the North.

    Director: Mark Sobel

    Writer: N/A

  • Some Desperate Glory
    NaN/100 votes
    Loading...

    #21 - Some Desperate Glory

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/10/1991

    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 benefit.

    Director: Ian Sander

    Writer: Barbara Hall

  • Desire
    NaN/100 votes
    Loading...

    #22 - Desire

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/17/1991

    Lilly expresses a burning desire to divorce her absent husband; sparks fly between Nathan and a carnival worker; Forrest's arrest of an upstanding citizen in the McDaniel murder adds fuel to the fire against him, which licks at John Morgan.

    Director: Aaron Lipstadt

    Writer: Henry Bromell, Judi Ann Mason

  • Alice Oakley Doesn't Live Here Anymore
    NaN/100 votes
    Loading...

    #23 - Alice Oakley Doesn't Live Here Anymore

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/7/1992

    John Morgan makes up a tall tale about his absent mother joining the rodeo; as the trial approaches, Forrest lassos a witness and then tightens the rope; Slocum's father brands his son a loser and kicks him out of the house.

    Director: Jack Bender

    Writer: Josef Anderson

  • Hard Lessons
    NaN/100 votes
    Loading...

    #24 - Hard Lessons

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 3/13/1992

    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 falling-out; and Lilly enrolls in night school.

    Director: Jack Bender

    Writer: Barbara Hall

  • Cool Winter Blues
    NaN/100 votes
    Loading...

    #25 - Cool Winter Blues

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 3/20/1992

    An impromptu lunch-counter protest leads to a more serious demonstration; Lilly has to chew out John Morgan and an unruly friend; Nathan, stunned by a revelation about his girlfriend, wishes he could eat his words after Slocum repeals them to her.

    Director: Joe Napolitano

    Writer: Judi Ann Mason