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Finding Your Roots

Finding Your Roots

2012–Ongoing12 seasons126 episodes~53 min/epTV-PGMidcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

Noted Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has been helping people discover long-lost relatives hidden for generations within the branches of their family trees. Professor Gates utilizes a team of genealogists to reconstruct the paper trail left behind by our ancestors and the world’s leading geneticists to decode our DNA and help us travel thousands of years into the past to discover the origins of our earliest forebears.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Finding Your Roots?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Finding Your Roots streaming on PBS Documentaries via Prime Video, PBS Living via Prime Video, Pluto TV (free) and The Roku Channel (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Finding Your Roots?

Finding Your Roots earns 6 badges, led by Top 10% of shows and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Finding Your Roots worth watching?

Finding Your Roots' Midcredits score is the 91st percentile of all shows, from 2.2K ratings across 2 sources. 87% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

91st percentile

Better received than 91% of shows

87th percentile among Documentary91st percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)90th
Approval (how many liked it)88th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

81 /100

90th percentile of all shows

83rd percentile among Documentary89th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

87% liked it

88th percentile of all shows

84th percentile among Documentary86th percentile among 2010s
87% rated it 7–1013% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

78th percentile

2.2K ratings across platforms

96th percentile among Documentary79th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 17% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show explores deep genealogical research that often unearths difficult historical truths, especially about slavery and racial ancestry.

Fans praised

  • Genealogical discoveries about slavery, surprising family connections, and mixed-race ancestry revealed through DNA
  • Eloquent storytelling by Henry Louis Gates that weaves past and present
  • Emotional weight — laughter and tears from learning about unknown ancestors

Detractors panned

  • Dry presentation with a smug or condescending host
  • Focus on celebrities, not everyday people
  • Overemphasis on slavery, repeatedly asking guests to relive pain

What stands out

Emotional impactDivisive80

Heartwarming and heartbreaking discoveries, but detractors see it as forced pain

Plot and storyDivisive75

Discovery-driven narrative with surprising revelations, but detractors find it slow and repetitive

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 27 points higher than men.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 60 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

13 seasons

Season 12 · 2026 · 10 episodes

  • S12E1
    S12E1

    American Dreams

    Jan 6, 2026
  • S12E2
    S12E2

    Great Migrations

    Jan 13, 2026
  • S12E3
    S12E3

    Caribbean Roots

    Jan 20, 2026
  • S12E4
    S12E4

    The Road We Took

    Jan 27, 2026
  • S12E5
    S12E5

    Love & Basketball

    Feb 3, 2026
  • S12E6
    S12E6

    Westward Bound

    Feb 10, 2026

Watch experience

What is Finding Your Roots like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you hopeful.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
HopefulWarmContemplativeJoyful
Heaviest: throughout
Warm humor
Register
WarmSolemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Procedural · 7% of showsStatus quo each season
ToneThe series treats its subjects with respectful warmth, celebrating heritage and emotional discovery without irony or judgment.
The rideThe series maintains a consistent and gentle emotional pulse of discovery and connection from start to finish.
StructureThe series is a non-narrative documentary; each episode follows a consistent format of discovery and revelation, but no structural device like nonlinearity or framing is used.
Episode formatEach episode follows a consistent procedure: select a guest, research their genealogy, reveal findings, and deliver emotional glimpses into their ancestry.
Season formatSeasons are interchangeable batches of episodes; any season is an entry point.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
HopefulThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayViewers leave inspired by the emotional discoveries and prompted to reflect on their own ancestry and the interconnectedness of history.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 40% of shows: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeA documentary series about genealogy has no overarching narrative plot archetype; each episode is a standalone exploration, not a story with a protagonist's journey.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3% (this title)
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

IdentityFamily bondsLegacy · 3% of shows
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores who people are by uncovering the ancestral roots and family histories that shaped them.
StanceThe series celebrates the individual's unique identity as revealed through their ancestry, affirming its value deeply.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalDomesticRealistic
Orchestral classicalFolkSupportive music · original score · Michael Bacon
Settingarchives, ancestral homes, and interviews with celebrities
MusicThe music underscores emotional revelations with gentle strings and acoustic guitar.

Content guide

Is Finding Your Roots okay for kids?

TV-PG

Finding Your Roots is rated TV-PG. As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (0/100), sexual content at minimal (11/100), language at minimal (0/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (0/100) and frightening material at mild (22/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 6 other countries
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • MexicoA
  • Spain13
  • Türkiye13+
Overall
None / Minimal · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Profanity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (11 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Finding Your Roots have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Finding Your Roots?

Cast

Henry Louis Gates Jr.
as Self - Host
CeCe Moore
as Self
Anita Hill
as Self
Angela Bassett
as Self
Tina Fey
as Self
Scarlett Johansson
as Self - Guest
Ty Burrell
as Self - Guest
Kehinde Wiley
as Self
Cory Booker
as Self
Sally Field
as Self

Crew

Directed by

Josh Gleason, Hazel Gurland, Muriel Soenens, Hannah Olson, Phil Bertelsen, Krista Whetstone
+4 more, Jesse Sweet, Lindsey Megrue, Jamila Wignot, Sabin Streeter

Written by

Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Cinematography

Jason Longo, Sam Russell, Nikki Bramley, Justin Zweifach, Sandra Chandler, Felipe Lazaro
+3 more, Simon Fanthorpe, Stephen McCarthy, Graham Smith

Edited by

Patricia De Jesus, Angelique Ibarra, Aaron Brummer, Aaron Prieto, Kenneth Levis, Lisa Shreve
+26 more, Kevin Fanning, David Gauff, R.A. Fedde, Jenna Bliss, Jonathan Leiner, Seth Bomse, Natalia Stevenson, Eli Rudavsky, Emily Park, Todd Goings, Ben Howard, Brittany Kaplan, Nicholas Mastrangelo, Sam Kun, Ilya Chaiken, Nancy Novack, Bruce Shaw, Noah Smith, Jim Isler, Michael Weingrad, Jamie Unruh, Jessica Reynolds, Ed Barteski, Emir Lewis, Peter R. Livingston Jr., Merril Stern

Music by

Dom CapuanoMichael Bacon

Produced by

Sabin Streeter, Kevin Burke, Enrique Figueroa-Cabrero, Sam Hartley, Caitlin McNally, Robert L. Yacyshyn
+73 more, Nicole Bozorgmir, Julie Anderson, Samantha Gowda, Jade Edwards-Lovell, William Ventura, Zehra Rehman, Matthew Cesario, Laura Wolford, Leslie Asako Gladsjo, Kelly Deckert, Dyllan McGee, Erika Weiner, Abigail Gordon, Stephanie Carter, Julia Marchesi, Anna Harrington, Carrie Nelson, George Kunhardt, Teddy Kunhardt, Stephen Robinson, Josh Gleason, Holly Siegel, Elizabeth Woller, Maya Tepler, Megan Peck Shub, Samuel Lieberman, Leah Bartels, Dalton Delan, Peter W. Kunhardt, Stephen Segaller, Emily Doyle, Hazel Gurland, Jack Youngelson, Juliana Torres, Dorin Razam-Grunfeld, Muriel Soenens, Hannah Olson, Gopi Shastri, Joey Fishman, Ti Yu, Natalia Warchol, Nyasha Kadandara, Phil Bertelsen, Lindsey Megrue, CeCe Moore, Anne-Marcelle Ngabirano, Claire Hoffert, Tom Denison, Hannah Olson, John F. Wilson, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Mai Perkins, Lauren Hom, Christina Bartson, Caroline Brennan, Owen O'Leary, Jesse Sweet, Laura Wolfo, Laura Wolford, Deborah Clancy Porfido, Stef Gordon, Sandra I. McDaniel, Jessica Xanthe Cran, Tiffany Hagger, Anne Harrington, Ariel Field, Jenny Sorin, Prisca Pointdujour, Kevin Burke, Brittany Clemons, Lindsey Schneider, Rachel Dretzin, John Maggio

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What are shows like Finding Your Roots?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Finding Your Roots include Who Do You Think You Are? (2004), Mysteries at the Museum (2010) and American Experience (1988).

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