If Kentucky Cycle II hadn't opened with another song by full cast staring out in epic manner, the second half of the story of the fates of the land and the Rowans, Talberts, and Biggeses would be, well, epically better than Part I. There's still a lot of trying to do others in, but in general the descendants are an improvement on their ancestors. One really feels sorry for those who get screwed by the coal companies that in turn screw the entire environment. Not that the folks weren't warned by smoothie J. T. Wells, beautifully believable in Walter Rhodes' changes from slick to sympathizing. Meany Jed Rowen (Erick Uppling, smoothly ruthless) is survived by daughter Mary Ann, aptly shown in weary motherhood by Sharon Spelman, of whose five children only Joshua lives. He's played by James Patrick Clarke, unconvincing as a youth but just the opposite when he becomes a labor leader/politician of sorts.
A mining disaster is a highlight of the staging, rousing as when Spelman's Mary Ann becomes an organizer. The episode "Whose Side Are You On?" makes good agit-prop.
David Howard retreats well from his often-seen, good-guy portrayals, as a company rep. Brad Wallace also scores by feigning interest in the miners. By the time of the "War on Poverty, 1975," the land is barren, digging is to rob graves, a promised hospital won't be built, there's racial tension, and bad guy Winston (Wallace) is threatening to get a part of the mountain that hasn't yet been leveled or caved in. Joshua retrieves a mummy he realizes is the girl child Jed Rowan took away from Morning Star and caused to die in the early days of the "family." Ghosts of the characters from throughout the cycle come to watch as Joshua seems determined to fight the forces of greed and see whatever is left of nature (personified by a wolf) preserved. A corny ending, but moving all the same.
