1883
Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 12:51 pm
I just finished 1883, the prequel series to Yellowstone, on Paramount Plus. It was written by Taylor Sheridan, who also plays Charles Goodnight in a couple of episodes. The series stars Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill. Tom Hanks shows up for about 30 seconds as General George Meade in one episode, and Rita Wilson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Graham Greene also guest star. As far as I know, the series seems historically accurate. It describes how the Dutton family (led by McGraw and Hill) got from Tennessee to Montana and explains some of the plot points in Yellowstone.
The series is very well written and well acted. It is also extremely violent. Elliott is leading a wagon train of German settlers from Ft. Worth to Oregon, with McGraw and Hill's family along as well. They are beset by cattle rustlers, horse thieves, and outlaws in almost every episode and the size of the wagon train shrinks considerably over the series. It's also a very depressing series, with several likeable characters coming to bad ends.
Supposedly, there will be additional episodes, presumably describing what happens to the Duttons in the years immediately following 1883.
The series is very well written and well acted. It is also extremely violent. Elliott is leading a wagon train of German settlers from Ft. Worth to Oregon, with McGraw and Hill's family along as well. They are beset by cattle rustlers, horse thieves, and outlaws in almost every episode and the size of the wagon train shrinks considerably over the series. It's also a very depressing series, with several likeable characters coming to bad ends.
Supposedly, there will be additional episodes, presumably describing what happens to the Duttons in the years immediately following 1883.