Complex characters, engaging story arc and beautiful cinematography. I am not particularly a fan of Westerns, but this show was so well done that I binge watched to the end in one sitting. One of the things that made it so good was that they managed to avoid the usual tropes and stereotypes--a very original take on the western, while exalting and staying true to the spirit of the genre that has made it so attractive to so many over the years of cinema.
This show glorifies the sense of adventure, opportunity and determination that allowed the people, the industries and towns of the West to prosper--despite the (frequent, often deep-seated) corruption and risk. The West was not lawless, but as this show demonstrates, the "law" was not always there when needed, nor necessarily willing or able to uphold the laws that existed--particularly in the days before statehood, necessitating a form of callous ruthlessness by indigenous peoples, the settlers and settled alike that we abhor in society today. But it was truly the individual characters that made the show so successful--no one was completely good or pure, even the main villain of the series wasn't totally evil-as tempting as it must have been to paint him that way. The inconsistencies in characters' actions are quite human and consistent with the character's personalities and histories. Over the course of the series we see each character grow and change--for better OR worse, as they should in all great tales.
Some have lamented or scorned the form of violence shown in the series, but many of the incidents reported or enacted did actually occur--though perhaps not exactly as depicted. A small historical fact: Blackdom actually existed--though again, fictional liberties were taken. It IS after all, a fictional story, albeit a well-grounded one.
My only tiny little quibble is that some of the flashbacks were a little jarring, albeit essential background, and they did little to spoil the over all telling of the story. HIGHLY recommended.
This show glorifies the sense of adventure, opportunity and determination that allowed the people, the industries and towns of the West to prosper--despite the (frequent, often deep-seated) corruption and risk. The West was not lawless, but as this show demonstrates, the "law" was not always there when needed, nor necessarily willing or able to uphold the laws that existed--particularly in the days before statehood, necessitating a form of callous ruthlessness by indigenous peoples, the settlers and settled alike that we abhor in society today. But it was truly the individual characters that made the show so successful--no one was completely good or pure, even the main villain of the series wasn't totally evil-as tempting as it must have been to paint him that way. The inconsistencies in characters' actions are quite human and consistent with the character's personalities and histories. Over the course of the series we see each character grow and change--for better OR worse, as they should in all great tales.
Some have lamented or scorned the form of violence shown in the series, but many of the incidents reported or enacted did actually occur--though perhaps not exactly as depicted. A small historical fact: Blackdom actually existed--though again, fictional liberties were taken. It IS after all, a fictional story, albeit a well-grounded one.
My only tiny little quibble is that some of the flashbacks were a little jarring, albeit essential background, and they did little to spoil the over all telling of the story. HIGHLY recommended.