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8 Episodes 2004 - 2004
Episode 1
Mon, May 17, 2004 57 mins
Time travelers from the 21st century start a 17th-century colony in coastal Maine from scratch (almost) in this eight-part series from the producers of "Frontier House" and "Manor House." As it opens, it's 1628 and 25 colonists are sailing for the colony they'll call home for five months. It's cold and damp on-board, but they'll have to get used to that. They'll also have to get used to illness, having to go to the bathroom in the woods and dealing with Native Americans. And they must get used to backbreaking work. "Every minute," moans one woman---and she's the governor's wife.
Episode 2
Mon, May 17, 2004 57 mins
Part 2 of eight. It's June, but it's still cold at night and by day there are mosquitos. And it's always a struggle to keep the home fires burning. "We must get beyond just surviving the day," declares Gov. Jeff Wyers, and that means planting maize. But never on Sunday---that's set aside for church. Lay minister Don Heinz has a tough congregation, not all of whom are believers. At least the Native Americans are friendly, and several arrive bearing a gift: a muskrat to eat, washed down with (rationed) beer. But then a tragedy strikes the governor's family and the colonists lose their focus.
Episode 3
Tue, May 18, 2004 57 mins
Part 3. Gov. Wyers returns alone five weeks after the death of daughter Bethany's fiancé, ready to "tighten the screws" in an attempt to turn the colony into the idealized Puritan "city on the hill." But it won't be easy to enforce 17th-century laws, particularly the one mandating church attendance. The Voorhees family goes skinny dipping instead the first week, and by Week 2 it's clear that the requirement is unenforceable.
Episode 4
Tue, May 18, 2004 57 mins
Part 4. Reinforcements arrive, almost doubling the colony's population. That means more hands, a necessity if the colony is to make a profit for investors, but it also means more mouths to feed and cramped living quarters. So Gov. Wyers decides to build another house. Meanwhile, freeman Dominic leaves the colony for two days of finding himself in the 21st century, Amy-Kristina leaves for good, and indentured servant Jonathan takes Don and Carolyn into his confidence in a manner he'd be unlikely to use in 1628.
Episode 5
Mon, May 24, 2004 57 mins
Part 5. It's August. The Verdecia house is finished but food supplies are dwindling (although not so fast as to make rotten fish palatable) and a torpor pervades the colony. "We're not living up to ourselves," says freeman Don Wood at Sunday services. Then Gov. Wyers announces that he and his family must leave because his daughter has been hospitalized in Texas. Who'll take his place? That's not all that the shakeup will entail.
Episode 6
Mon, May 24, 2004 57 mins
Part 6. The shakeup continues as Colonial House Company sends its "cape merchant," Jack Lecza, to the colony to make it more businesslike. "It's something of an annoyance," the new governor, Don Heinz, says at first, and Jack does immediately declare "a final push" for the last five weeks. But Jack's full of good ideas, and he isn't a tyrant. Meanwhile, Michelle Voorhees' refusal to attend Sunday services has become an issue again, since her husband John has been chosen as the new assistant governor.
Episode 7
Tue, May 25, 2004 57 mins
Part 7. As the experiment enters its final weeks, Gov. Heinz is optimistic ("There is a tremendous spiritedness") and makes plans for "creative" projects. This breeds resentment among servants who must split logs and women who must cook. Meanwhile, a contingent of Indians (not the colonists' trading partners) has set up camp on a hill overlooking the colony. They're resentful too: of European colonialism. "If I'd have had my way I would have burned the colony down," fumes one hothead.
Episode 8
Tue, May 25, 2004 57 mins
Conclusion. The colonists say farewell to Colonial House, but first there's a final dinner for some honored guests---their "assessors" among them. They'll judge the colonists as they will, but Gov. Heinz is satisfied that he has overseen a successful community. Then it's back to the 21st century for (first things first) showers, followed by reflections. Says Michelle Voorhees: "I'm grateful that I live now, that I'm a woman now."