Boo, the young son of Ernestine, tragically drowns in the second season of “Underground.”
In the context of the series, Boo’s death is a significant and heartbreaking moment that deeply affects his mother, Ernestine. Throughout the first season, Ernestine goes to great lengths to protect her children on the Macon plantation. In the second season, after the events that lead to Boo’s separation from his mother, he ends up in the care of August Pullman, a complicated character who is both a slave catcher and a man with his own moral dilemmas.
The relationship between August and Boo is complex, as August, despite his role as a slave catcher, shows a degree of care for the boy. However, in a devastating turn of events, Boo tries to escape from August by running into a river. Not being a strong swimmer, Boo drowns before August can save him. This moment is not only a pivotal point for Ernestine, who is already struggling with the loss of her other children and her own personal demons, but it also serves as a catalyst for August’s further descent into alcoholism and his eventual fate.
Boo’s death is emblematic of the many tragedies and the harsh realities of slavery depicted in “Underground.” It underscores the constant danger and the high stakes involved in the pursuit of freedom, as well as the personal losses endured by those enslaved. Boo’s passing is a poignant reminder of the innocence caught in the crossfire of history’s cruelties, and it leaves a lasting impact on the characters and the audience alike.
