Underground: 17 Best Moments So Far

The season two premiere of Underground is a week away.

So I can't think of a better time then now, to share some of the best moments of Underground's thrilling first season.

It was quite a daunting task to come up with just a few key moments, when the entire first season was extraordinary.

There was heartbreak, action, romance, inspiration and tenderness. There were scenes that highlighted a character's vulnerability, and others that showcased their strength. There were many, that were game changers, shifting the course of the season.

You name it. Underground had them all.

So check out some of the best moments from the first season. Do you agree with them? Do you have some of your own that you think are missing? Sound off in the comments!

Underground Season 2 Episode 1 premieres on March.8!

1. Ernestine Seduces Tom to Protect James

Ernestine is hands down one of the greatest characters on television. She's smart, calculating, and extremely protective of her children. But most of all, despite being black, a woman, and a slave, she's allowed agency. It's such a painfully common fact that enslaved women were violated and raped by everyone from their masters, to their overseers. Ernestine, however, wields her sexuality like a weapon to have as little power and control as she can under her circumstances. In this case, after Mistress Suzanna threatend to send little James out into the fields, Ernestine enganged in a little BDSM style romp with her master, and father of her children, to ensure that James would be spared. It is one of the first moments we realize that Ernestine is a powerhouse.

2. Origins of Noahlee

Underground isn't just a historical action-thriller. It's a love story too. Noah mapped out an extensive plan and handpicked a full team based on them being assets. But everything changed the second he uttered those three words to Rosalee. It changed the course of everything. Aldis Hodge and Jurnee Smollett-Bell have amazing chemistry, and in that moment it was hard not to fall in love with a couple who later proved to be true and equal partners.

3. Zeke's Fall

Zeke was the "gentle giant" of the Macon 7. He was a big, burly man, but a kind and gentle soul. His death was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the season. It was especially difficult, given the fact that Cato left him for dead. Zeke knew he was facing his demise, so he went down swinging, taking down as many of the slave-catchers as he could.

4. Ernestine's Vengeance

The unspeakable, gruesome hanging of Sam was one of the most difficult scenes of the season, and a painful reminder of just how inhumane and dark the time period was. The fact that it was under his father's orders made it so much worse. Which is why we couldn't resist cheering Ernestine on when she lured Tom into one of their spots and had him hanged just like their son. She drank whiskey and left him with some powerful parting words, "We're both going to hell. You, just a bit sooner."

5. Cato Burns the Field

Cato is notoriously an opportunistic, untrustworthy character who only looks out for himself. So imagine our surprise when after long tense moments where it felt as if he might turn on his fellow slaves, he actually did something to help them. Sure, it was only because he was personally invested in doing so by escaping with them, but it was one of those great moments where it appeared like Cato might be a bit heroic after all. He'd go on to blow that theory to hell a few times, but that's what makes him such an interesting character.

6. Pearly Mae's Sacrifice

Pearly Mae being just a few feet away from escaping and not getting there, was a punch to the gut. Yet, it had nothing on watching her drop to her knees, hands raised in the air, with a gun pointed at her head. It certainly had nothing on watching her plead with August to take her and not her daughter. It doesn't get more powerful than a mother's love. She was willing to face whatever consequences she had to, if it meant Boo would be free. Adina Porter put her all into that scene. It was a real tear-jerker.

7. Henry's Bravery

Season one of Underground had more than a few casualties. One of the most heart-wrenching ones, was that of Henry. He was young but wise for his age, and Noah's right-hand man. So it came as no real surprise that he would be every bit as willing to sacrifice, as Noah. He literally gave his own life just to give the others a chance to flee from slave-catchers. You never want to see a teenager die before their time, but Henry's bravery in the face of death made for a sad but truly incredible moment.

8. Harriet Tubman

Who didn't squeal in glee when Rosalee was helped by none other than one of the greatest historical figures of all time?! As far as cliffhangers go, that season finale reveal was exciting and had us on the edge of our seats. With Rosalee being one of the only members of the Macon 7 who successfully escaped, and her friends and lover left, it's about time Rosalee join the movement.

9. Rise of August

After failing to catch all of the Macon 7 and having a deadly run in with the Hawkes women, it didn't appear as if August would make it out of the season alive. In fact, he was left for dead. His future looked quite bleak, unitl he suddenly crawled from the pits of hell. Is there anything at all that can keep that man down and out? So far it doesn't look like. As far as advesaries and antagonists go, he's an intriguing one. So, yay!

10. Cato Lives

It should have been obvious that Cato had survived an arrow to the back. He is nothing, if not a survivor. Yet, as much as he can be a conniving pain in the ass, his being alive came as a relief. Not only did he live, but he managed to find a chest filled with money. He's clever and always a few steps ahead. We just bet he'll find a way to buy his freedom.

11. Badass Hawkes Women

Rosalee and Elizabeth were the two characters who were underestimated early on in the season, and were able to prove everyone wrong by the end. It was scary to think that August was hot on their track, and it could have had a scary ending. But the Hawkes women held their own. Aunt and niece were willing to do anything to protect each other and Boo, and get to the men in their lives. That included shooting August and walking away without a second thought.

12. The Wolf

Any scene that involves the likes of Amirah Vann and Chris Meloni, is bound to be a good one. The two of them are exceptional. That was the case in Devil's Snare. It was shocking to see that of all the people August could hallucinate, he was hallucinating Ernestine. She was the voice of his conscience giving a rather poetic monologue about inner wolves and demons. It was an amazing scene.

13. Noah Proves Why He's Leader

Noah easily could have kept on running with Rosalee, afthery they abruptly fled when she thought she killed Overseer Bill. In fact, Rosalee expected as much. But Noah proved why he's the leader of the group and set her straight. He didn't believe in leaving anyone behind. He certainly couldn't leave Henry. Noah gave the first of many moving speeches, about the importance of freedom and having his own name.

14. Elizabeth and Boo Take Care of Each Other

Elizabeth was a barren woman who wanted a child. Boo was a motherless child who needed a mother. Their special relationship was meant to be. In a moment that surely made viewers ill, Elizabeth was forced to sleep with her lawman ex, in order to protect Boo. It was the type of sacrifice a real mother would make. After hours of being sexually assaulted, a traumatized Elizabeth sat in a bath. In a silent, but poignant moment, Boo bathed Elizabeth as they consoled one another. So. Many. Feels.

15. Rosalee Brings the Calvary

There are plenty of moments that gave us chills during the first season of Underground. One of the biggest moments, was when Rosalee swam to safety when the gang were stuck on a boat. Cato and Noah bickered over whether or not she would return. While they were under attack by catchers hot on their trail, Rosalee emerged from the wilderness like a warrior queen with back up in tow. The "back up" being the Native Americans, who scared off the slave-catchers who happen to be on Indian territory.

16. Elizabeth Becomes the Life of the Party

One of the greatest reveals was when we found out that the abolitionist lawyer from the North was actually the brother of the plantation owner in the South. Who'd have imagined that? Elizabeth was not a fan of staying at her brother-in-law's home. She found the environment oppressive and stifling, and the women catty. In fact, one of the best exchanges of dialogue was when her Southern sister-and-law accurately called out Northerners for being all talk but very little action when it came to dissenting slavery. Then Elizabeth pointed out that it wasn't the Southerners doing all the hard work, it was slaves. Then she proceeded to get drunk and can-can on tables. Gotta love Elizabeth!

17. Fugitive Josey

We were all excited when we saw Jussie Smollett would guest star on Underground. Sure enough, he did not disappoint with his portrayal of an unhinged and violent escapee. Josey blaming John Hawkes for his wife being shipped away put everything about John's passion and guilt into perspective. It also reignited the Hawkes' couple's drive to house fugitives. Josey going on about his wife at the dinner table, and having the Hawkes couple serve him so that he could experience what the white people do, was such a powerful and interesting scene.