I agree with you, Chefguy, but all of the “buzz” about this show says that is really starts to pick up around the 5th episode. I’m hanging in until then, based only on the buzz, but it’s going to be one hard slog.
And thanks, Ruffian, for your expertise. You have helped me understand a whole lot that HBO couldn’t.
It was definitely still in the “clumsy exposition” phase. “Here, let’s put Dustin Hoffman in a car and have him deliver the backstory.” I’m fascinated for the obvious equine-reasons, but it’d be hard to follow without the pretty horses. Still, I remember Boardwalk Empire being rough in the first few episodes in the “Who is that, what the hell did they say, what the hell is going on” kind of way.
Incidentally, I was fascinated by the storyline Nick Nolte gave on Delphi, the stallion killed for insurance reasons, because it’s pretty much exactly what happened to Alydar. Alydar was famously second to Affirmed in all three 1978 Triple Crown races and became a sensation at stud, siring 1987 Kentucky Derby winner and 1988 Horse of the Year Alysheba among many other highly successful offspring. Alydar was bred and owned by one of the greatest farms in racing history, Calumet Farm, but when the son took over, he ran it into the ground…and Alydar was killed for his massive insurance value. They broke his hind legs and he died in 1990, at the height of his stallion career.
It took years for that story to come out; initially it was just the tragic loss of a promising young stud in an accident. Then, over the next few years, more came to light, and the entire racing world was simultaneously astonished and repulsed. I was a kid (who loooved Alysheba), and it horrified me.
Meanwhile, Escalante is a complete idiot for thinking no one would claim his horse when he dropped him in class coming off a win. I’d be shocked if the horse wasn’t claimed, and front leg wraps don’t mean crap at that claiming level, anyway. Half the field would be wearing them.
I’m bumping this because I hope the last two episodes, which were very good IMHO, brought things together for most people. It’s getting more of that “Deadwood” feel to it, not quite the same phrasing but I’m enjoying the dialogue. It’s my favorite show this year, but I am a horse person so that may be the real reason why :). It did take me a while to get a good idea of what was going on with each storyline but now that I especially get where Ace and Escalante’s motivations are, it’s very rewarding.
Great so far- the race in which Nick Nolte’s horse ran with the new jockey, Ace catching Escalante at his game and making him fly straight, Marcus and friends saving Jerry’s ass at the poker table and the dialogue between Marcus and Jerry this latest episode where Marcus worries about the intensity of his worrying over Jerry and his gambling. Plus, I really like the actor playing Escalante, once you figure out what he’s saying LOL.
I agree that things are really starting to come together, and I can start to see how everything is fitting in. I’m really interested in seeing how Ace’s plan unfolds. The one character I haven’t figured out yet is Claire Lachay (Joan Allen). I keep expecting to find out some ulterior motive to her involvement.
Yes, on Ace - knowing his backstory helps as far as his motivations but I still haven’t quite gotten how buying a horse ties into it. Just to give him an inside position at the track or something else?
It was interesting that Claire didn’t show at first to pick up the check and acted so flaky but my SO pointed out that it would be really intimidating to deal with Ace and his entourage when she’s probably more used to being told no or given just token amounts for her charity. Does she know about his recent jail time? I can’t remember if they discussed it.
I just read a piece that says the series has been cancelled. They’ve had to euthanize three horses, two of which were seriously injured during racing scenes, and I guess they don’t want the bad publicity.