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The Best Episodes of Finding Your Roots Season 5

Every episode of Finding Your Roots Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Finding Your Roots Season 5!

Binge this in 10h 0m•Peaking at 8.2/10

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Finding Your Roots Season 5 Episode 1 - Grandparents and Other Strangers
    8.0/10(68 votes)

    #1 - Grandparents and Other Strangers

    S5:E1

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actor Andy Samberg and author George R. R. Martin answer some family mysteries when DNA detective work uncovers new branches of their family trees. The DNA analysis upends family history and reveals new relatives.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Finding Your Roots Season 5 Episode 2 - Mystery Men
    7.9/10(41 votes)

    #2 - Mystery Men

    S5:E2

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actors Felicity Huffman and Michael K. Williams discover a wealth of hidden family history. Both grew up knowing little about their biological fathers, and seeing their lost ancestry restored proves deeply empowering.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Finding Your Roots Season 5 Episode 3 - Reporting on the Reporters
    8.1/10(46 votes)

    #3 - Reporting on the Reporters

    S5:E3

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shows journalists Christiane Amanpour, Ann Curry and Lisa Ling that the stories within their own family trees are every bit as compelling as the news stories they have been covering for the world.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Finding Your Roots Season 5 Episode 4 - Dreaming of a New Land
    7.9/10(45 votes)

    #4 - Dreaming of a New Land

    S5:E4

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores with Marisa Tomei, Sheryl Sandberg and Kal Penn the tremendous challenges faced by their immigrant forebears. From Italy, Russia and India to America, their histories show success could take generations to achieve.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Finding Your Roots Season 5 Episode 5 - Freedom Tales
    8.2/10(46 votes)

    #5 - Freedom Tales

    S5:E5

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. delves deep into the roots of two African-American guests, actor S. Epatha Merkerson and athlete and television personality Michael Strahan. Both discover unexpected stories that challenge assumptions about black history.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Finding Your Roots Season 5 Episode 6 - Roots in Politics
    7.2/10(37 votes)

    #6 - Roots in Politics

    S5:E6

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the diverse family histories of politicians Paul Ryan, Tulsi Gabbard and Marco Rubio. They each see a shared vision of the great American melting pot reflected in their ancestors’ stories.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Finding Your Roots Season 5 Episode 7 - No Laughing Matter
    7.7/10(45 votes)

    #7 - No Laughing Matter

    S5:E7

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shows comedians Seth Meyers, Tig Notaro and Sarah Silverman that their family trees are filled with people whose struggles laid the groundwork for their success. Gates also reveals to each one news of an unexpected DNA cousin.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Finding Your Roots Season 5 Episode 8 - Hard Times
    7.9/10(51 votes)

    #8 - Hard Times

    S5:E8

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family stories of filmmaker Michael Moore and actors Laura Linney and Chloë Sevigny—three people whose distant ancestors overcame great hardships in ways that resonate with their lives today.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Finding Your Roots Season 5 Episode 9 - The Eye of the Beholder
    8.1/10(30 votes)

    #9 - The Eye of the Beholder

    S5:E9

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shares the family histories of director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, iconoclastic performance artist Marina Abramović and painter Kehinde Wiley. These visionary artists find their identities challenged—and affirmed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Finding Your Roots Season 5 Episode 10 - All in the Family
    8.0/10(42 votes)

    #10 - All in the Family

    S5:E10

    The family stories of actor Ty Burrell, and radio host Joe Madison. Also a look at how a summer camp for children is using genetic genealogy to help young people better understand their burgeoning identities.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 5 Ratings Summary

"Grandparents and Other Strangers" is the best rated episode of "Finding Your Roots" season 5. It scored 8/10 based on 68 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/8/2019. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Mystery Men".