Finished Episode 2. The most awesome scene is when Tim McGraw grabs a shovel from the wagon and goes back to Claire. He knew what she was going to do.
I haven’t figured out that relationship. Was Claire Dutton married to James Dutton brother? Or was she Margaret Dutton sister?
My only criticism is the exaggerated violence. You couldn’t shoot a pickpocket on the street in front of witnesses. The sheriff would hang you for murder. A group of men wouldn’t indiscriminately shoot women and kids in a camp along a river.
It was a brutal time. People did handle situations themselves because the law might be a week or two ride away. You defended your family and property. There’s a difference in shooting someone that’s a threat and just murdering unarmed men & women.
I could believe a crowd would beat a pickpocket to a bloody pulp. Hanging him from a lamppost seems a bit too extreme.
Of course the drama is going to be heightened. Its a TV drama. As I mentioned above about 6-10% of those going on the Oregon Trail (which they haven’t reached yet) died but most of them were from disease. Violence did happen but it was not close to the majority of the deaths. The show did portray some misfortune due to disease but an entire series showing people shitting themselves to death would not be entertaining. I’m sure they will overstate the role of Indian tribes in the danger of the trip. There were several hundred deaths by Indians on the Oregon Trail but mostly they occurred 20-40 years earlier. I don’t think it will be too much stereotypical Cowboy and Indians in future episodes because the showrunner has shown a sensitivity to give balance to native history. The flash forward showed it will play some role.
Yes, the over the top violence is to be expected since that is what draws in viewers. But western shows have always done this, there must have been a shootout or murder on just about every episode of Gunsmoke.
I like Tim McGraw character’s backstory. He had to become a hardened SOB to survive 3 years in a civil war prison camp.
I’ve read about and seen the Brady photos of the many that died from starvation. Dutton would have literally fought every day to get scraps of food. He would and probably did kill any one that stole his ration.
That’s why James Dutton reacted so viciously to the pickpocket.
McGraw does a nice job portraying the inner turmoil. Dutton hates the violence but knows it’s necessary to protect his family.
Looking forward to watching episode 3 and 4 tonight.
Ep 3 The River
A nice change of pace as the characters settles into the journey. Some die before they can learn from their mistakes.
I’m enjoying the quiet moments between Margaret and James Dutton. It was smart to cast Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. There’s a interesting romantic connection between them that mirrors their characters. You can’t fake the closeness of a 25 year marriage.
I’m beginning to understand why Elsa was introduced as wide-eyed and a bit naive. She was so excited to experience the new world after getting off the train. Elsa will mature and experience a lot of tragedy throughout the series. Hopefully Elsa won’t be bitter and jaded at the end. I’m guessing she’ll eventually be the historical matriarch of the family we meet in Yellowstone. (I haven’t watched yet).
The battlefield tactics against the bandits wasn’t done well. You have two former Civil War captains (with combat experience) and a veteran sergeant from a Buffalo Soldier regiment (from Wikipedia). They could have planned something more effective against bandits.
The love scene. . was a bit funny. Reminded me of a couple rutting hogs. LOL That’s from my farm background.
I know, the director was going for realism. Hairy bodies and sweat. Very gritty and unsatisfying. The big O is a modern element in bedrooms.
It was a good episode. The series is steadily getting better.
This show keeps getting better and better. I like most of the cast and they’re doing a wonderful job.
I’ve seen Sam Elliott in various roles for decades. This is the first time that I’ve actually been amazed by the depth of his work. He’s bringing so much texture and complexity to the role of trail boss. I’ve seen dozens of wagon train adventure movies and TV series. 1883 is among the very best.
I can’t discuss Ep 6, Boring The Devil without spoilers for Ep 5.
“thecinemaholic.com” is reviewing the episodes and I find them interesting.
I have always been impressed by Sam Elliot. This does not surprise me. Tim McGraw is impressing me more and more. There are lots of layers to his character. It would be a tough role for someone who has trained as an actor all his life.
My only question is the pacing of the series. We know where the Duttons end up. Its not Oregon. At what point will the journey no longer be part of the show? They will lose most of the cast at that point. They can string out the journey for a while but not multiple seasons.
I guess I’m worried it will have the same problems as Yellowstone. It feels like Yellowstone is losing direction. The first couple of seasons the plot was tight but now it feels like its losing focus.
Agree about Yellowstone losing focus. In my opinion they should have just killed off most of the Dutton family at the end of season 3 instead of all them miraculously surviving and taking vengeance. But its hard to kill a cash cow that’s been propping up the channel.
The actual ranch where they film the series is on the border of Montana and Oregon, about 3 hours outside of Bozeman. My GF wanted to go there when we went to Yellowstone and I said no I wasn’t going to go 6 hours out of our way to see a movie set when we could actually use that time to go to Yellowstone. Still would have been an interesting drive.
They rent a couple of cabins on the ranch but not when they are filming. They don’t have tours. All you would be able to get would have been a picture from the front gate.
I’ve seen speculation on Reddit the wagon train will have to stop at the Rockies and spend the winter. Maybe get jobs in town and earn money to buy provisions and resume traveling in the Spring.
But they would have casting problems for season 2.
Well, I’ve seen Westerns my entire life. My parents probably watched them when I was in my crib.
I can’t recall a wagon train flattened by a tornado.
I’m curious to see what happens next. Historically it wasn’t uncommon for small groups of wagons to join together. There’s safety in numbers when crossing Indian territory.
1883 isn’t a historical reenactment. The writers may go in another direction.
Shea, Thomas, James Dutton and the other men briefly met Charlie. Fans on Reddit think that’s Charles Goodnight. That’s why I love social media. I would have completely missed this detail. It’s not a big plot point. Charlie could have been any rancher in the fictional world.
1883 gives good ‘horse shit and gun smoke’. Convincing costumes, great characters and an engaging story, but it is not a documentary.
The drayage animals would have been mules not horses and would have been arranged around the camp at night, outside of the wagons, with their posteriors pointing out. Or they would have been hobbled and released to graze which meant more time in the morning rounding them up. Also, there would have been additional mules in the herd for ‘spare parts’.
In the latest episode, the twelve bandits would not have left the herd to chase the 6 settlers. No need to. If the settlers had posed any real threat the bandits would have split the herd and left the settlers to round up their half.
Completely implausible, but I can’t wait to watch the next episode.
It’s not a big stretch to think he’s Charles Goodnight since that’s what he is listed as in IMDB. They get the information directly from the production.
It’s also a way for Taylor Sheridan to give himself another acting credit.
With three more episodes this season I don’t think they are getting out of the Texas/Oklahoma area.
I hope they can get Tim and Faith back for season 2.
They already have busy schedules. Tim usually tours. I guess Covid sidelined him for awhile.
I’m in awe of Sam Elliott. He’s 77. Moves and looks like a guy in his late 50’s. I don’t know how he can ride horses and work 12 hour days on location. I couldn’t do that and I’m 15 years younger than Sam.
There is zero chance they weren’t signed for multiple seasons. It’s pretty standard. A show that has 10 episodes per season allows for time in between.
I’m not sure if I’ll watch season 2. The complete focus on Elsa is becoming increasingly annoying. Her modern Coachella outfit, casual sex, and wild Comanche yelling was just bad. Very bad. It is so socially inaccurate for that time period.
There are so many great stories that are being ignored. We know so little about the immigrants and their sacrifices to build a new life.
I’ll finish season 1. Maybe that arrow we saw in Ep 1 will save us all from Elsa. I know that’s unlikely. Taylor Sheridan wrote 1883 around that character.
It’s called “1883”, not “1783” or even 1823. So what kind of lunatic figures it’s cheaper to move a bunch of stuff by wagon than by train or ship? And, if it was that expensive or that much trouble, why not work in a normal place like New York for a while—at least you had actual buildings and electricity.
That’s from my farm background.
Moves and looks like a guy in his late 50’s. I don’t know how he can ride horses and work 12 hour days on location. I couldn’t do that and I’m 15 years younger than Sam.
I know that’s unlikely. Taylor Sheridan wrote 1883 around that character.