In case you had little idea of how 'the English', as Native Americans called the White Man, took their lands, you will need a strong stomach for the 6 episodes of this powerful story with twists and surprises to keep you guessing throughout about cause and outcome. Filmed in Spain, the cinematography was stunning, as were the costumes, especially Cordelia's even if fanciful as a wardrobe for an English aristocrat riding a wagon across the Great Plains.
The acting though was patchy. Ciaran Hinds, Stephen Rea and Toby Jones always give absorbing performances and Chaske Spencer particularly had terrific presence, but the cable company shooter man Major Mackay couldn't sustain an American accent (and put the stress on the wrong word in 'they shoot grouse now'). As for the Melmont character, many have commented Rafe Spall stole accent and mannerisms from the role Tom Hardy played in Peaky Blinders but it suited the part so I wouldn't criticise him for such.
The narrative moving across time periods years apart was managed OK but the pace was inconsistent and the dialogue was often opaque. There were too many action scenes with 2-dimensional characters who looked alike, with little development so I got a bit lost sometimes when they were referenced later in the narrative.
But the spine of the narrative, the relationship between Cordelia and Eli was absorbing and treated well even if the outcome was not wholly satisfying, the denouement in England set up 13 years after they had 'found home' in America.
The acting though was patchy. Ciaran Hinds, Stephen Rea and Toby Jones always give absorbing performances and Chaske Spencer particularly had terrific presence, but the cable company shooter man Major Mackay couldn't sustain an American accent (and put the stress on the wrong word in 'they shoot grouse now'). As for the Melmont character, many have commented Rafe Spall stole accent and mannerisms from the role Tom Hardy played in Peaky Blinders but it suited the part so I wouldn't criticise him for such.
The narrative moving across time periods years apart was managed OK but the pace was inconsistent and the dialogue was often opaque. There were too many action scenes with 2-dimensional characters who looked alike, with little development so I got a bit lost sometimes when they were referenced later in the narrative.
But the spine of the narrative, the relationship between Cordelia and Eli was absorbing and treated well even if the outcome was not wholly satisfying, the denouement in England set up 13 years after they had 'found home' in America.