Marycarmen Lopez

In the series premiere, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay ("Selma"), Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner "Unforgettable"), a savvy wife and manager of a professional basketball star living an upscale Los Angeles lifestyle returns to her family home – an 800-acre sugarcane farm in the heart of Louisiana – after her father suffers a stroke and she receives alarming news about her husband. There, she reunites with her estranged siblings Nova (Rutina Wesley "True Blood"), a world-wise journalist and activist, and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe "Awkward"), a formerly incarcerated young father in search of redemption. Together, they must navigate the triumphs and struggles of their complicated lives in order to run an ailing farm in the New South.

In the second-hour of the two-night series premiere, the Bordelon siblings must work together to plan their father's funeral. Tensions rise between Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner "Unforgettable") and Nova (Rutina Wesley "True Blood") as they each seek to honor their father in very different ways. Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe "Awkward") argues with Aunt Violet (Tina Lifford "Parenthood") over whether or not it's appropriate to invite his young son Blue (Ethan Hutchison "The Path") to the funeral service. Charley struggles with the fallout of the shocking news surrounding her husband and also learns there are many things they did not know about the state of their father's farm. In an unexpected encounter, she comes face-to-face with an individual who's interested in taking the farm off their hands.

Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner “Unforgettable”), Nova (Rutina Wesley “True Blood”), and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe “Awkward”), learn the contents of their father’s will and explore the idea of running their newly inherited farm together as a family. Though Ralph Angel fights to fulfill his late father’s dream, he faces resistance from his siblings. The pressure on Ralph Angel pushes him to his limit when someone attempts to repossess one of his late father’s possessions. While deciding what to do next, the family seriously considers an undesirably low offer for the land from a local buyer.

As the siblings work together to repair any damage caused by the storm, Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner), Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe) and Remy (Dondré T. Whitfield) are shocked to discover two dead bodies on their property. When the police begin to investigate, Charley questions her own moral compass. Nova also investigates their death, and the siblings later unite to tell their fellow workers about the tragedy. Meanwhile, Aunt Violet (Tina Lifford) objects to Darla’s (Bianca Lawson) continued presence in their home, and when she refuses to relinquish guardianship of Blue (Ethan Hutchison), Hollywood (Omar J. Dorsey) encourages her to look at things in a different light.

As the family prepares for a hurricane, many of their issues are brought to the surface. The incoming storm threatens the farm, and while preparing to protect their land, Remy (Dondré T. Whitfield) calls into question Charley’s (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) treatment of her staff. Aunt Violet (Tina Lifford) worries about Nova’s (Rutina Wesley) safety while Nova tends to the community in the Lower Ninth, and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe) quarrels with Darla (Bianca Lawson) when she arrives unannounced. Plus, Hollywood (Omar J. Dorsey) and Aunt Violet are reunited, and Nova and Charley argue over their different lifestyles.