Godless is easily one of my favorite westerns I've seen in a long time. I'm actually blown away by how much I liked it. I had high expectations because of all the great ratings and reviews and it not only met those expectations but surpassed them in every way! The writing and acting is would really makes this show so special. Jack O'Connell and Jeff Daniels both give award worthy performances. It's a western that takes place in New Mexico in the 1880's. It follows Roy Goode (O'Connell) who's an ex protege of a a dangerous gang leader named Frank Griffin (Daniels) as he runs from his mentor and hides out in a town full of women after all the men died in a mining accident. If you haven't seen this series yet then do yourself a favor and go watch it as soon as possible!
458 Reviews
Terrific!
Supermanfan-1324 August 2021
I can't say anything about Godless that hasn't already been said! It's fantastic and judging by the ratings/reviews, most people seem to agree with me! It's easily one of my favorite westerns of all-time! Jack O'Connell and Jeff Daniels lead an absolutely incredible cast who are all at the top of their game here! Everything about this amazing show is great, I really can not recommend this show enough!
Godless(2017
robfollower8 March 2021
Starring: Michelle Dockery, Jack O'Connell, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Kim Coates, and Jeff Daniels.
Description: Set in the 1880s, the series follows Frank Griffin and his gang's quest to seek revenge on his former protege, Roy Goode. While he's on the run, Roy seeks refuge in the mining town of La Belle, which is mostly occupied by women. When Griffin and his gang of outlaws get word of Roy's whereabouts, the women of La Belle must find a way to keep their town safe.
It's hard to find a series that is partly a female driven Western and also a commentary on fathers and sons. Apart from the magnificent cinematography, the show's dialogue is almost poetic. Godless is truly a unique find on Netflix, and is totally worth watching.
Description: Set in the 1880s, the series follows Frank Griffin and his gang's quest to seek revenge on his former protege, Roy Goode. While he's on the run, Roy seeks refuge in the mining town of La Belle, which is mostly occupied by women. When Griffin and his gang of outlaws get word of Roy's whereabouts, the women of La Belle must find a way to keep their town safe.
It's hard to find a series that is partly a female driven Western and also a commentary on fathers and sons. Apart from the magnificent cinematography, the show's dialogue is almost poetic. Godless is truly a unique find on Netflix, and is totally worth watching.
A Masterpiece
tunesplitter21 August 2021
Im a very huge Western Fan and i love everything about this Netflix production. What a great journey. The Actors are high quality. Everything seems perfect. But im sad that its not longer. I could watch easily 10 Seasons more.
Do not miss watching Godless.
edinadental25 November 2017
SPOILER: Godless has a long list of actors who do a great job working with a wonderful director and a great screenplay presenting a very interesting story. The tale in this movie has been told before. A good example of a very similar story is the 1968 movie "Blue" (see information about Blue on IMDb) where a young gang member decides to leave the criminals he grew up with and start a new life; and then is pursued by his former bunch of hooligans, resulting in significant consequences for some innocent folks.
In Godless, an extreme event occurs in La Belle, New Mexico that leaves the town with a population that is almost all women and children. Fortunately, Marshall Bill McNue (Scoot McNairy ) and Deputy Whitey Winn (Thomas Brodie-Sangster ) are left to keep the peace. Things become complicated when Roy Goode (Jack O'Connell) shows up at the ranch owned by Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery). The plot darkens when the gang Roy abandons decide to chase him to wherever he is, and punish anyone who harbors him.
Michelle Dockery (as Alice Fletcher) is the movie's focus, and the actress dominates every scene in which she appears. Ms. Dockery is an exceptional and interesting actor with a tremendous "screen presence." Merritt Weaver (as Mary Agnes) is another stand out. She delivers a great performance that she refines and develops through the series of episodes until the climax.
A lot happens within the seven episodes, that vary from 40 to 80 minutes per episode (four episodes are 70 minutes, one episode is 50 minutes, one episode is 41 minutes, and the final episode is 80 minutes). I am admitting to watching all seven episodes (totaling 7.5 hours) in a single day, and almost continuously. Godless is that good. This is an entertaining mini-series that holds your attention as you watch an interesting plot develop and finally unfold in a dramatic and exciting climax.
In Godless, an extreme event occurs in La Belle, New Mexico that leaves the town with a population that is almost all women and children. Fortunately, Marshall Bill McNue (Scoot McNairy ) and Deputy Whitey Winn (Thomas Brodie-Sangster ) are left to keep the peace. Things become complicated when Roy Goode (Jack O'Connell) shows up at the ranch owned by Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery). The plot darkens when the gang Roy abandons decide to chase him to wherever he is, and punish anyone who harbors him.
Michelle Dockery (as Alice Fletcher) is the movie's focus, and the actress dominates every scene in which she appears. Ms. Dockery is an exceptional and interesting actor with a tremendous "screen presence." Merritt Weaver (as Mary Agnes) is another stand out. She delivers a great performance that she refines and develops through the series of episodes until the climax.
A lot happens within the seven episodes, that vary from 40 to 80 minutes per episode (four episodes are 70 minutes, one episode is 50 minutes, one episode is 41 minutes, and the final episode is 80 minutes). I am admitting to watching all seven episodes (totaling 7.5 hours) in a single day, and almost continuously. Godless is that good. This is an entertaining mini-series that holds your attention as you watch an interesting plot develop and finally unfold in a dramatic and exciting climax.
Satisfying
mweratcliffe25 November 2017
Excellent tale well told. Great cast - great screenplay - great music - great costumes - great cinematography. A thoroughly satisfying viewing experience. Definitely among the best films of the western genre. My hats off and I thank all who were involved in bringing this story to the screen.
Netflix is definitely leaving its mark on almost every television genre out there.
Johnny-the-Film-Sentinel-218716 July 2018
Godless is great Western storytelling: it's got callbacks to John Ford's Westerns and even echoes of Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns, but Godless brings about something that Westerns haven't really explored properly: feminism and LGBT themes. It's a highly enjoyable mini-series that deserves to be kept in the 'tv-golden-age' lime-light as more Netflix originals come crashing in like a tsunami of entertainment upon the masses. For Western lovers like myself, this series is an absolute must-see!
4.5/5 stars.
4.5/5 stars.
Brilliant
bryangary6526 September 2018
Without doubt the best Western series I have watched
Full of drama and wonderful acting with deserved Emmys for Merrit Wever & Jeff Daniels
But the whole cast deserved praise, watch this and you will not be disappointed
Full of drama and wonderful acting with deserved Emmys for Merrit Wever & Jeff Daniels
But the whole cast deserved praise, watch this and you will not be disappointed
great new western
SnoopyStyle26 June 2019
It's 1884 Colorado. Marshal John Cook is tracking the murderous outlaw Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) and his gang. Outside of La Belle, New Mexico, Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery) finds wounded Roy Goode (Jack O'Connell). He's Frank's protégé who ran off with the loot. Both are recovering from their bullet wounds. La Belle had suffered a devastating mining accident which killed almost every working men in town. Sheriff Bill McNue (Scoot McNairy) is slowly losing his eyesight and his sister Mary Agnes (Merritt Wever) tries to fill in for the lost men. The women are pushed into selling the mine and company man Ed Logan (Kim Coates) arrives to take over the town.
This is a great western series from Netflix. The standout performance comes from Wever. Jeff Daniels surprises with a menacing villain. The only problem I have is that it ends after seven episodes. It could have been great prestige TV. I don't know if it was canceled or if it was never intended to be more than a limited series. It's an intriguing reworking of the western genre.
This is a great western series from Netflix. The standout performance comes from Wever. Jeff Daniels surprises with a menacing villain. The only problem I have is that it ends after seven episodes. It could have been great prestige TV. I don't know if it was canceled or if it was never intended to be more than a limited series. It's an intriguing reworking of the western genre.
Heathen Chemisty
southdavid12 February 2021
It's been on my Netflix list for a long time, but I've finally found the time to get back to 2017's "Godless" from writer/director Scott Frank, who would later reteam with Netflix for "The Queen's Gambit" another 7-episode miniseries. Reminiscent of the all-time classic "Deadwood", I enjoyed it overall, but I felt that with a tighter story, told over less time, it would have been even better.
The mining town of LaBelle has stagnated since an accident took 200 of its menfolk two years previously. Now populated almost exclusively by the widows and children of those men, the town's sheriff Bill McNue (Scoot McNairy) captures the notorious criminal Roy Goode (Jack O Connell). Goode had betrayed his former gang leader and father figure, Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) and he and his posse have been hunting him ever since. Word has spread that the Griffin gang murdered everyone and razed a town that had previously given Goode shelter and it's only a matter of time before word gets out that he's in LaBelle.
There are dozens of little stories that feed back into the main narrative thrust of "Godless". Some of which run over episodes, others that just take a few scenes. Much of it was really good, but I did feel myself thinking that as this is a seven-episode mini-series, rather than an ongoing affair, wouldn't we have been better served focusing more on the actual story we're here for? That was my problem with "Godless" in a nutshell. It's often beautiful, funny, entertaining, exciting and the performances are, too a person, excellent. But if it was just a bit more focused on its story. I don't think I want to lose any of the other tales either, because I felt we needed it all for the last episode to hit like it does, I just want the show to be tighter with them. Once I've got that Roy Goode is a master horse wrangler, I don't need 45 more minutes of him breaking in the horses, for example.
I don't want to sound too negative though. It really is wonderfully shot and as I say, performances are excellent and the actual story is really good, it's just a little buried.
The mining town of LaBelle has stagnated since an accident took 200 of its menfolk two years previously. Now populated almost exclusively by the widows and children of those men, the town's sheriff Bill McNue (Scoot McNairy) captures the notorious criminal Roy Goode (Jack O Connell). Goode had betrayed his former gang leader and father figure, Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) and he and his posse have been hunting him ever since. Word has spread that the Griffin gang murdered everyone and razed a town that had previously given Goode shelter and it's only a matter of time before word gets out that he's in LaBelle.
There are dozens of little stories that feed back into the main narrative thrust of "Godless". Some of which run over episodes, others that just take a few scenes. Much of it was really good, but I did feel myself thinking that as this is a seven-episode mini-series, rather than an ongoing affair, wouldn't we have been better served focusing more on the actual story we're here for? That was my problem with "Godless" in a nutshell. It's often beautiful, funny, entertaining, exciting and the performances are, too a person, excellent. But if it was just a bit more focused on its story. I don't think I want to lose any of the other tales either, because I felt we needed it all for the last episode to hit like it does, I just want the show to be tighter with them. Once I've got that Roy Goode is a master horse wrangler, I don't need 45 more minutes of him breaking in the horses, for example.
I don't want to sound too negative though. It really is wonderfully shot and as I say, performances are excellent and the actual story is really good, it's just a little buried.
One of the best westerns in the recent years
johnyrufus23 November 2017
This is one of the best western series in the recent years. Well scripted and acted. This has everything a good series warrants and feels like a 7+ hour treat. Personally, I liked this a tiny bit better than Deadwood and Hell on Wheels. I hope Netflix keeps producing more of these quality ones. Jack O'Connell shines in the lead role, as does most of the cast. Well done Scott Frank for such an engaging story line and script.
Great visuals in a rather shallow and illogical tale
FabledGentleman25 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I have to say that for the most part this series had some truly great moments. The tale gets off to a very good start, but soon after, i was starting to ponder if this story goes any deeper, and have some nice surprises for me down the road. At episode 4 i was starting to wonder if this entire series was like it already had been portrayed, with too many coincidences happening, too many predictable outcomes, shallow characters, and being incredibly politically correct.
I was hoping that it all would come together and make sense as it moved closer to the end. But sadly, this show ends on a note with little to no explanation to why we have been taken this trip through all 7 episodes. And this is not one of those times where i will be sitting here pondering for weeks what i might have missed, this show is not that intelligent, even if some people here might think it actually is.
You can tell that the creator has spent a lot of time making this series, especially on the characters. The little things about them that make them stand out. The journalist with a bad eye, the vision impaired sheriff, the rich prostitute and school teacher, the rape victim and farm owner. There are lots of details to be found in this, but some of the details i would call over the top, i find some of these quirks and personalities to be what they are, just for the sake of it. The illusion of depth and variety, to make the story seem richer and more complex, but as it turns out, the traits these people have, rarely has anything to do with anything going on, except for being traits written into the script.
But on the other hand, the actors here are for the most part really good, and play their roles with lots of gravitas, and they are depicted with some really great visuals, the cinematography is outstanding. They really managed to capture the western feel of this. The wide shots of open landscapes, mixed with great set pieces of buildings that looks like they have been standing there forever, it really has a great atmosphere. You can almost smell the horse poop and the gunpowder.
But the story is the main problem here, it's not that the story itself is bad, though somewhat over the top, it's how it's executed that is the problem. For example that two characters that are suppose to end up doing something, and they construct scenes that makes no sense what so ever just so those two can have their moments. Instead of interlinking the stories better, they went for the easy solution, almost all the time.
Problem then is that since they made an entire scene just to be able to create a moment, the rest of the story surrounding this moment makes no sense anymore. This show is full of illogical moments which kept bugging me. Let me just explain one quick scene to underline my point. In the final shootout, and when there is still shooting going on, the kids and the old ones come walking into town like it's all over, no more danger. How on earth could they know that? It makes no sense. Someone would have gone for them when it's safe. And there still was shooting going on, they would never ever have come walking into town at that moment, but it was created to have this little emotional scene where the Sheriff meets his kids, and this is one of the scenes that they actually made it harder than it had to be, just to make a scene completely illogical.
What about the Sheriff and Roy suddenly bumping into each other with the mining companies security team after they had taken the horses? Small world ey? Huge open empty space for miles and miles, and yet we all come crashing into one another on the smallest of areas.
Yeah this show is full of these, where things are constructed just to get the story going, but makes absolutely no sense. Well i notice these things. But, the show is still good, has a good nerve throughout all episodes, there is almost always something to admire or take in, just that the story lacks logic and depth.
All in all a 7 out of 10.
I was hoping that it all would come together and make sense as it moved closer to the end. But sadly, this show ends on a note with little to no explanation to why we have been taken this trip through all 7 episodes. And this is not one of those times where i will be sitting here pondering for weeks what i might have missed, this show is not that intelligent, even if some people here might think it actually is.
You can tell that the creator has spent a lot of time making this series, especially on the characters. The little things about them that make them stand out. The journalist with a bad eye, the vision impaired sheriff, the rich prostitute and school teacher, the rape victim and farm owner. There are lots of details to be found in this, but some of the details i would call over the top, i find some of these quirks and personalities to be what they are, just for the sake of it. The illusion of depth and variety, to make the story seem richer and more complex, but as it turns out, the traits these people have, rarely has anything to do with anything going on, except for being traits written into the script.
But on the other hand, the actors here are for the most part really good, and play their roles with lots of gravitas, and they are depicted with some really great visuals, the cinematography is outstanding. They really managed to capture the western feel of this. The wide shots of open landscapes, mixed with great set pieces of buildings that looks like they have been standing there forever, it really has a great atmosphere. You can almost smell the horse poop and the gunpowder.
But the story is the main problem here, it's not that the story itself is bad, though somewhat over the top, it's how it's executed that is the problem. For example that two characters that are suppose to end up doing something, and they construct scenes that makes no sense what so ever just so those two can have their moments. Instead of interlinking the stories better, they went for the easy solution, almost all the time.
Problem then is that since they made an entire scene just to be able to create a moment, the rest of the story surrounding this moment makes no sense anymore. This show is full of illogical moments which kept bugging me. Let me just explain one quick scene to underline my point. In the final shootout, and when there is still shooting going on, the kids and the old ones come walking into town like it's all over, no more danger. How on earth could they know that? It makes no sense. Someone would have gone for them when it's safe. And there still was shooting going on, they would never ever have come walking into town at that moment, but it was created to have this little emotional scene where the Sheriff meets his kids, and this is one of the scenes that they actually made it harder than it had to be, just to make a scene completely illogical.
What about the Sheriff and Roy suddenly bumping into each other with the mining companies security team after they had taken the horses? Small world ey? Huge open empty space for miles and miles, and yet we all come crashing into one another on the smallest of areas.
Yeah this show is full of these, where things are constructed just to get the story going, but makes absolutely no sense. Well i notice these things. But, the show is still good, has a good nerve throughout all episodes, there is almost always something to admire or take in, just that the story lacks logic and depth.
All in all a 7 out of 10.
Anomaly Masterpiece
BirdmanT729 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This is among the best Westerns ever made in the last thirty years since "Lonesome Dove", but I would say this is even better. I have seen "Godless" several times since 2017 and each time I loved it even more. The writing of this show is what surprised me the most, how the scenes of each character from their past to the present are presented in such a subtle yet moving way. The pacing of those horse scenes with Jack O'Connell (Roy) hardly had any words, but the expressions of the character standing back, just summed up the feelings of what the character felt, and this happened all throughout this show with almost every character.
The direction of Scott Frank is really among the best when it comes to how he sets up the scenes, the camera work, and how he spent time with these characters that went further than western to date. I wish there were more Westerns made this way, with a story that was about characters and their struggles than just a shoot-out. The last scene when Roy rides to California was like you rode with him the entire way, the only thing I would have liked to see is that he finally found his brother in person. I doubt anyone can top "Godless" in decades to come, this was an anomaly masterpiece.
The direction of Scott Frank is really among the best when it comes to how he sets up the scenes, the camera work, and how he spent time with these characters that went further than western to date. I wish there were more Westerns made this way, with a story that was about characters and their struggles than just a shoot-out. The last scene when Roy rides to California was like you rode with him the entire way, the only thing I would have liked to see is that he finally found his brother in person. I doubt anyone can top "Godless" in decades to come, this was an anomaly masterpiece.
Hard to watch, but so captivating
dickersonbethj6 September 2022
This show is hard to watch with its graphic violence and truths of the times in which it took place. I cannot imagine how hard existence was for folks who travelled to and homesteaded the west. I'm sure much of the very things portrayed in these episodes took place and some probably even worse.
The acting was excellent. The scripts were so believable. I was glad to see Jeff Daniels in a lead role though his character was brutal and, well, Godless. Who knows if any of us would be the same if we were faced with situations such as the ones portrayed in these episodes. Don't judge a man (or woman) until you've walked in their shoes.
The acting was excellent. The scripts were so believable. I was glad to see Jeff Daniels in a lead role though his character was brutal and, well, Godless. Who knows if any of us would be the same if we were faced with situations such as the ones portrayed in these episodes. Don't judge a man (or woman) until you've walked in their shoes.
Almost perfect
drjgardner19 August 2020
A masterpiece
biswashreepanda21 August 2021
A PC Western
johnanthonymazzei24 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
A convoluted tale of redemption and revenge with plot holes aplenty. Everyone was was referred to as sir or ma'am, even the outlaws were polite. The production company seemed to be on a mission to karmic- ally make amends for the TV series Deadwood.The Buffalo Soldiers turned farmers were never called or even referred to as n------s. The white woman who married an Indian and had a mixed race child or her son were never ridiculed. The lesbians weren't ostracized. A former prostitute was even welcomed as the new school marm. The production company ran out of love when it came to the Mormons. They were portrayed as rapists, torturers and murders with no explanation for it.
A seven part/hour show that could have been 5/5. Episode 6 only served as a vehicle to show Michelle Dockery's breasts. Jeff Daniels' (the villain) origins are never explained. He attracted an army of 30 highly skilled men willing to do anything he says. Their number remains constant to the final battle scene even though several are killed throughout the show.
It was full of problems: 1) Heroes can only be wounded, never killed. 2) The mining company bought the mine then disappeared 3) Heroes always know where the bad guys went and can always catch up to them, even with poor eye sight, while both are on horseback 4) The final battle scene was so unrealistic (See for yourselves) 5) The long awaited preacher shows up at during the epilogue and gives an all encompassing speech even though he wasn't there for any of it.
I will give them credit for one thing, most people did have to reload their guns.
I apologize if the review confused anyone. Specifically my word n--- --s. It's a racial slur used to to refer to African Americans. I had to self edit in order to submit (pun intended) you'll have to use your imagination.
A seven part/hour show that could have been 5/5. Episode 6 only served as a vehicle to show Michelle Dockery's breasts. Jeff Daniels' (the villain) origins are never explained. He attracted an army of 30 highly skilled men willing to do anything he says. Their number remains constant to the final battle scene even though several are killed throughout the show.
It was full of problems: 1) Heroes can only be wounded, never killed. 2) The mining company bought the mine then disappeared 3) Heroes always know where the bad guys went and can always catch up to them, even with poor eye sight, while both are on horseback 4) The final battle scene was so unrealistic (See for yourselves) 5) The long awaited preacher shows up at during the epilogue and gives an all encompassing speech even though he wasn't there for any of it.
I will give them credit for one thing, most people did have to reload their guns.
I apologize if the review confused anyone. Specifically my word n--- --s. It's a racial slur used to to refer to African Americans. I had to self edit in order to submit (pun intended) you'll have to use your imagination.
A Thinking Man's Western
dianeand24 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I found this series to be excellent. Scott Frank found a way to make a tired genre come alive for a more modern audience. The cast was excellent, with Jeff Daniels creating a formidable villain. Flashbacks reveal the source of his villainy to lie in the violence of his own childhood, the loss of his "mammy and pappy" and his religious extremism. That he is mentally disturbed is clear, but his childhood story both resembles and provides a contrast to that of Roy Goode in a way that moves the series toward its many lessons of redemption and love. Griffin is ruthless and obsessed --in ways that remind us of the extremism of some in today's society both here and around the world. His false and twisted idea of "family" contrasts with that of Alice Fletcher or Mary Agnes, who owns hard life experiences lead them to find real family, one based on more positive values. It is the message the late-arriving preacher gives at the funeral, one I found quite moving. It is the message Roy Goode came to find.
I found the series' treatment of minorities to be realistically refreshing-- a band of black people struggling to eke out an existence in the middle of nowhere. They remain wary of the neighboring white town, greeting each visitor with a gun in hand. That they could do such a thing testifies to why their choose to live in a god forsaken desert. That these experienced Buffalo Soldiers are admired for their past deeds and allowed to live as they choose is important to the story. Their reluctance to help the people of La Belle is clear but their humanity remains. The Native Americans in the story are human beings, individuals with warmth and humor and not just "noble savages" but people who make their own mistakes and struggle to live. I loved the character of Truckee.
I wasn't sure if the ending was over-prolonged, but have decided I like it. The series might have ended with a final shot of Goode as he left, but instead we follow him westward and I found it very satisfactory to do so. Finally, a word about Sam Waterston and Scot McNary. Each played a lawman, and each displayed a quiet and determined persistence to bring a man to justice and stop the carnage. Waterston was simply outstanding, and his final scene standing in bar, in total darkness, outlined in light, unknowingly standing amid the darkness of man's evil, was iconic. McNary found his shadow, and found a way to live with loss, and how to love his own child. I found the thematic and metaphorical material to raise the series to a level above the usual "shoot 'em up" nonsense often seen on TV. Bravo to Netflix and Scott Frank.
I found the series' treatment of minorities to be realistically refreshing-- a band of black people struggling to eke out an existence in the middle of nowhere. They remain wary of the neighboring white town, greeting each visitor with a gun in hand. That they could do such a thing testifies to why their choose to live in a god forsaken desert. That these experienced Buffalo Soldiers are admired for their past deeds and allowed to live as they choose is important to the story. Their reluctance to help the people of La Belle is clear but their humanity remains. The Native Americans in the story are human beings, individuals with warmth and humor and not just "noble savages" but people who make their own mistakes and struggle to live. I loved the character of Truckee.
I wasn't sure if the ending was over-prolonged, but have decided I like it. The series might have ended with a final shot of Goode as he left, but instead we follow him westward and I found it very satisfactory to do so. Finally, a word about Sam Waterston and Scot McNary. Each played a lawman, and each displayed a quiet and determined persistence to bring a man to justice and stop the carnage. Waterston was simply outstanding, and his final scene standing in bar, in total darkness, outlined in light, unknowingly standing amid the darkness of man's evil, was iconic. McNary found his shadow, and found a way to live with loss, and how to love his own child. I found the thematic and metaphorical material to raise the series to a level above the usual "shoot 'em up" nonsense often seen on TV. Bravo to Netflix and Scott Frank.
WOW!!!!!
musicsvoice12 February 2020
The plot is so stupid that it hurts - it's also very slow-paced
JurijFedorov15 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The story:
Goode: Hi, I'm Roy Goode. I ran away from my step-father, Griffin, to a small town. He has promised to kill everyone who gives me shelter. I knew he wanted to kill all people there, because of me, so I tried to make him run after me. But he rode back to town and made his posse kill everyone in a town plus everyone on a train they were robbing. He has promised to kill everyone who gives me shelter!!! Remember that! Please arrest me.
Sheriff: Sure, I'll arrest you and bring you to a small town with only women and just 2 guys with guns. That seems smart. Then maybe in a few months I'll transport you to some bigger town. Also, I won't keep this a huge secret. Quite a few people will know about it and quite a few people will go in and out of town while you are there making outsiders likely find out about you being there. Also, I will ride after the posse alone... and then... stuff???
Out of town sheriff: Yep, seems smart. I'll send a telegram telling the outside world about your prisoner. Sure the telegram may be intercepted, clearly as we use random people to send telegrams, but I'll ride after Griffin all alone afterwards too and then... kill his posse alone? Remember, there is no need to prepare for the posse in any major way. Just enjoy life like some idiots and then prepare at the very last moment only and without any great planning.
All outsider men: We refuse to help this town full of hot single women. We also refused to move there before as we men don't care about single women and a town with a silver mine without workers. We know they will all soon be attacked, but we are busy hunting Indians or just not caring. Let them all die. This is what happened in the real West... well, not at all, but let's just assume it did because we need this for the plot of the series. We know the attack is coming and we know we can track down and kill the posse in a day, but why bother? We are just army men...
Season finale:
Black town nearby: Griffin is coming with his 30 men. Let's just do nothing. In the morning we'll see what we can do about it. Now let's just eat without placing any guards around our town and without picking up weapons. Griffin is an insane killer, we know, but he will only arrive in the morning and not now because... horses can't ride in the dark? I don't know, who cares... oh... he is here and we are unprepared... ups, we even had a clear warning! Oh, who cares, we are so stupid that we kinda deserve to die.
Small town with women: Let's not prepare much for the attack. We can have our best shooters just stand around in the middle of the street not hiding behind any barriers because they are idiots, also, they need to come super late as we need to be losing before the 2 good shooters arrive as that will make them look like proper heroes. The women will be inside shooting out, but there is no reason to barricade the door. So the bad guys can just ride in. Barricading doors is for losers who want to live. We could place a sofa there or a piano but we'll just give them space to come in an shoot us all... because... well, it has to be a fair fight??? We are all stupid.
Goode: Wow, I came back super late with the sheriff and we won the battle nearly by ourselves by standing in the middle of the street just shooting at 20 men shooting back at us. We are the 2 heroes of the story! Of course we are the ones who got maybe 40 women killed here, but doesn't matter because they writers of this script have selected us as heroes... because... reasons. All those losers who died because of us, including a town full of black people, are just nobodies, we are the heroes! Next time we'll do the same thing again as we are heroes of the story.
Goode: Hi, I'm Roy Goode. I ran away from my step-father, Griffin, to a small town. He has promised to kill everyone who gives me shelter. I knew he wanted to kill all people there, because of me, so I tried to make him run after me. But he rode back to town and made his posse kill everyone in a town plus everyone on a train they were robbing. He has promised to kill everyone who gives me shelter!!! Remember that! Please arrest me.
Sheriff: Sure, I'll arrest you and bring you to a small town with only women and just 2 guys with guns. That seems smart. Then maybe in a few months I'll transport you to some bigger town. Also, I won't keep this a huge secret. Quite a few people will know about it and quite a few people will go in and out of town while you are there making outsiders likely find out about you being there. Also, I will ride after the posse alone... and then... stuff???
Out of town sheriff: Yep, seems smart. I'll send a telegram telling the outside world about your prisoner. Sure the telegram may be intercepted, clearly as we use random people to send telegrams, but I'll ride after Griffin all alone afterwards too and then... kill his posse alone? Remember, there is no need to prepare for the posse in any major way. Just enjoy life like some idiots and then prepare at the very last moment only and without any great planning.
All outsider men: We refuse to help this town full of hot single women. We also refused to move there before as we men don't care about single women and a town with a silver mine without workers. We know they will all soon be attacked, but we are busy hunting Indians or just not caring. Let them all die. This is what happened in the real West... well, not at all, but let's just assume it did because we need this for the plot of the series. We know the attack is coming and we know we can track down and kill the posse in a day, but why bother? We are just army men...
Season finale:
Black town nearby: Griffin is coming with his 30 men. Let's just do nothing. In the morning we'll see what we can do about it. Now let's just eat without placing any guards around our town and without picking up weapons. Griffin is an insane killer, we know, but he will only arrive in the morning and not now because... horses can't ride in the dark? I don't know, who cares... oh... he is here and we are unprepared... ups, we even had a clear warning! Oh, who cares, we are so stupid that we kinda deserve to die.
Small town with women: Let's not prepare much for the attack. We can have our best shooters just stand around in the middle of the street not hiding behind any barriers because they are idiots, also, they need to come super late as we need to be losing before the 2 good shooters arrive as that will make them look like proper heroes. The women will be inside shooting out, but there is no reason to barricade the door. So the bad guys can just ride in. Barricading doors is for losers who want to live. We could place a sofa there or a piano but we'll just give them space to come in an shoot us all... because... well, it has to be a fair fight??? We are all stupid.
Goode: Wow, I came back super late with the sheriff and we won the battle nearly by ourselves by standing in the middle of the street just shooting at 20 men shooting back at us. We are the 2 heroes of the story! Of course we are the ones who got maybe 40 women killed here, but doesn't matter because they writers of this script have selected us as heroes... because... reasons. All those losers who died because of us, including a town full of black people, are just nobodies, we are the heroes! Next time we'll do the same thing again as we are heroes of the story.
Loved It
wandernn1-81-68327417 February 2020
A good western series
ruhsa29 December 2017
Authentic, clever! All the actors are terrific.. Jeff Daniels amazing performance. Love the link to history. Outfits are well done.Music is great. Opening of the credits is artistic. really enjoy how the story unfolds and how the back stories are brought forward . just I think It was three problems: 1) Heroes can only be wounded, never killed. 2) The mining company bought the mine then disappeared 3) Heroes always know where the bad guys went and can always catch up to them, even with poor eye sight, while both are on horseback. Overall it's definitely still watchable,and a good TV western series .
Must watch for western lovers
Aesthete1824 November 2017
If someone would have told me the plot of this show, I would have said nah I'm not watching it. Since no one told me and I'm a sucker for westerns, I did and by god am I glad I did. This show is fantastic! The music is some of the best I've heard in a TV show. The flow is great, the characters have character, the story is so well told. The cast were amazing, I couldn't find anyone to dislike in terms of their character.
Listen, if you're into westerns. You should stop reading this and watch it now! If you're not into westerns and wondering about it, then yes I'd recommend it. It's a good western to get a taste of the genre. It's only 7 episodes so you don't have to stick with it for long. You'd be convince in 1-2 episodes anyway.
Listen, if you're into westerns. You should stop reading this and watch it now! If you're not into westerns and wondering about it, then yes I'd recommend it. It's a good western to get a taste of the genre. It's only 7 episodes so you don't have to stick with it for long. You'd be convince in 1-2 episodes anyway.
Very good(e), but overlong and flawed...
daniele-iannarelli26 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I was surprised on two counts...
i. ...that it was a very good throwback western, and captivating; ii....that it gained such a high - in my opinion, unmerited - rating as 8.6.
Here are my main observations of flaws:
1. Slow 2. Continuity (men count) wrong 3. Unnecessarily (directorial) political undertones
First issue - very slow in places... Why does everything have to be in the form of a box-set series these days??? A good director (maybe John Ford or Fred Zinneman) could have condensed this entire series in to a single 2- hour or so film. As it stands, although overall quite captivating, there were numerous unnecessarily long and v e-e-e-r-r-r-y slooooooowwww patches. This was the first of three major flaws I found with the series.
The second was that Frank Griffin started with a regular intimation of 30-32 men in his gang. Now, there were a few occasions in the film (BEFORE both his slaughter at "Blackdom" and his final ride to La Belle) in which he lost a handful of men (killed off). Now, that should arithmetically leave him with say - maybe, and let's be generous - about 24 men. At the gunfight in "Blackdom", I estimate he lost a further 8-10 men (let's again be generous and say 8). So that leaves about 16 men. When we're shown his gang in single file on the horizon riding to "La Belle", I counted 35...!!! At the final gunfight in "La Belle", I estimate the loss of a further 15-20 men (so much for my generous count of 16 there should have been riding into "La Belle", and yet after the count of - let's say - 15 deaths there was an obvious dozen or so left for the Sheriff and Roy Goode to finish off. It would have made more sense to have given the initial tally of Griffin's gang at about 70 men.
Next (and I have to first state that I have no problem with interracial relationships whatsoever... but why, at a time (1880s) when it would have been HIGHLY UNLIKELY that the scenario given between Deputy Whitey Winn and Louise Hobbs, the "Blackdom" township girl, would have taken place, are we presented with an interracial relationship? Again, it doesn't bother me except that I like to see REALITY rather than political correctness (ie 'positive discrimination') being forced down my throat...!
Scoot McNairy, I felt was well-cast as the Sheriff who has a realistic transformation from (not quite) 'cowardice' at the beginning into a brave man towards the end. I felt Jack O'Connell to be miscast as Roy Goode... his portrayal of a hard-nosed (although 'changed') gang member was - frankly - a bit insipid. He just didn't 'look' the part. Jeff Daniels was great - in fact perfect - as Frank Griffin. He stole the show.
It was very unsatisfying not to have found out what was happening re the mining company's purchase of the town and mine, and of what was subsequently to take place with the mining company's men. It was a bit unbelievable that supposedly 'professional' men would have separated themselves from their - probably conglomerate - company to become horse thieves. It would have made good sense to, at the end, after the gun-battle, have had the company coming into town with all their equipment etc... a new lease of life for a once dead town.
I found it also unsatisfying that the Deputy Whitey Winn was killed off by a surprise knife in the chest before we could enjoy his gunfighting skills in a gun-battle (or one- to-one gunfight)... after all, the latter was exactly what was being built up in the character from the beginning.
There were some obvious references (tributes?) to old classics such as "High Noon" (1952) and "The Searchers" (1956)... the latter reference being an iconic scene reflected in "Godless" with Alice Fletcher entering and exiting the cabin à la John Wayne (the interior of the cabin completely dark, with only the external daylight showing in the open doorway).
Overall, I'd say that - although enjoyable - the series somehow wasn't particularly fulfilling, even the end with shades of "Shane" (1953) as Goode leaves the family. The difference was that Shane was a loner, had always been a loner. Goode wasn't. He was always around people. Shane *had to* go off on his own... that was his personality, his character. Goode actively chose to go off and find, and stay with, his brother. He didn't have to leave forever. He could have said, "wait for me, I'll come back and marry you"... it's obvious that's what Fletcher wanted.
Again, I did enjoy the series, and was pretty much glued to the it. I really don't believe it merited as high an IMDb score as 8.6 when you consider the absolutely excellent box-set "Halt and Catch Fire" received an 8.4. The disparity just doesn't compute!
Personally, I'd - generously - award a 7.2 to "Godless".
i. ...that it was a very good throwback western, and captivating; ii....that it gained such a high - in my opinion, unmerited - rating as 8.6.
Here are my main observations of flaws:
1. Slow 2. Continuity (men count) wrong 3. Unnecessarily (directorial) political undertones
First issue - very slow in places... Why does everything have to be in the form of a box-set series these days??? A good director (maybe John Ford or Fred Zinneman) could have condensed this entire series in to a single 2- hour or so film. As it stands, although overall quite captivating, there were numerous unnecessarily long and v e-e-e-r-r-r-y slooooooowwww patches. This was the first of three major flaws I found with the series.
The second was that Frank Griffin started with a regular intimation of 30-32 men in his gang. Now, there were a few occasions in the film (BEFORE both his slaughter at "Blackdom" and his final ride to La Belle) in which he lost a handful of men (killed off). Now, that should arithmetically leave him with say - maybe, and let's be generous - about 24 men. At the gunfight in "Blackdom", I estimate he lost a further 8-10 men (let's again be generous and say 8). So that leaves about 16 men. When we're shown his gang in single file on the horizon riding to "La Belle", I counted 35...!!! At the final gunfight in "La Belle", I estimate the loss of a further 15-20 men (so much for my generous count of 16 there should have been riding into "La Belle", and yet after the count of - let's say - 15 deaths there was an obvious dozen or so left for the Sheriff and Roy Goode to finish off. It would have made more sense to have given the initial tally of Griffin's gang at about 70 men.
Next (and I have to first state that I have no problem with interracial relationships whatsoever... but why, at a time (1880s) when it would have been HIGHLY UNLIKELY that the scenario given between Deputy Whitey Winn and Louise Hobbs, the "Blackdom" township girl, would have taken place, are we presented with an interracial relationship? Again, it doesn't bother me except that I like to see REALITY rather than political correctness (ie 'positive discrimination') being forced down my throat...!
Scoot McNairy, I felt was well-cast as the Sheriff who has a realistic transformation from (not quite) 'cowardice' at the beginning into a brave man towards the end. I felt Jack O'Connell to be miscast as Roy Goode... his portrayal of a hard-nosed (although 'changed') gang member was - frankly - a bit insipid. He just didn't 'look' the part. Jeff Daniels was great - in fact perfect - as Frank Griffin. He stole the show.
It was very unsatisfying not to have found out what was happening re the mining company's purchase of the town and mine, and of what was subsequently to take place with the mining company's men. It was a bit unbelievable that supposedly 'professional' men would have separated themselves from their - probably conglomerate - company to become horse thieves. It would have made good sense to, at the end, after the gun-battle, have had the company coming into town with all their equipment etc... a new lease of life for a once dead town.
I found it also unsatisfying that the Deputy Whitey Winn was killed off by a surprise knife in the chest before we could enjoy his gunfighting skills in a gun-battle (or one- to-one gunfight)... after all, the latter was exactly what was being built up in the character from the beginning.
There were some obvious references (tributes?) to old classics such as "High Noon" (1952) and "The Searchers" (1956)... the latter reference being an iconic scene reflected in "Godless" with Alice Fletcher entering and exiting the cabin à la John Wayne (the interior of the cabin completely dark, with only the external daylight showing in the open doorway).
Overall, I'd say that - although enjoyable - the series somehow wasn't particularly fulfilling, even the end with shades of "Shane" (1953) as Goode leaves the family. The difference was that Shane was a loner, had always been a loner. Goode wasn't. He was always around people. Shane *had to* go off on his own... that was his personality, his character. Goode actively chose to go off and find, and stay with, his brother. He didn't have to leave forever. He could have said, "wait for me, I'll come back and marry you"... it's obvious that's what Fletcher wanted.
Again, I did enjoy the series, and was pretty much glued to the it. I really don't believe it merited as high an IMDb score as 8.6 when you consider the absolutely excellent box-set "Halt and Catch Fire" received an 8.4. The disparity just doesn't compute!
Personally, I'd - generously - award a 7.2 to "Godless".
Okay for what it is, but baffled by all the 10 star reviews
mmanville3 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I think what this series strove to be was a modern twist on the Ford/Wayne classic "The Searchers?" and/or the Leone/Eastwood trilogy. It had the same overriding theme of the former, a protagonist who is simultaneously the salvation for civilization but a necessary outsider to it himself, and the slow scenes, interesting camera angles, and mysterious motivations of the latter. Added to this are the modern themes of lesbianism, women's rights, interracial relationships, identity/"daddy" issues (Frank/Roy, Roy/Truckee), crazed spiritual mumbo-jumbo, and so on.
Unlike others with lower ratings, I didn't mind all the completely anachronistic additions. I even could tolerate the the obvious exaggeration of mayhem in the gunfight in the finale (honestly, as depicted Frank could not have had only 32 men, I feel we must have witnessed at least twice that number get shot, and how on earth did they kill everyone int he Blackdom gunfight without losing a single man?) But I think what drove me nuts was the pacing. I felt a good director could have squeezed this all into a 2-3 hour movie, which would have been much more satisfying. This felt interminable towards the end, I half watched only because I'd made a commitment to do so, even though I knew exactly how it would end (every plot outcome in the final episode was COMPLETELY predictable IMO -- well at least I anticipated it all). The big La Belle gunfight went from an engrossing climax to the series, to something I kept thinking "are they really going to drag THIS out that long too?" after 10, 15, 20 or however minutes it lasted. If I were bored I might go back and count all the bullet impacts shown, there must be many hundred.
In short, something worth watching, but hardly the "masterpiece" all these 10-star ratings imply. Even more baffling is that the paint-by-numbers final episode is the highest rated one of the seven as of the time I am positing this, it is rated 9.1, while the next highest of the other six is 8.5
Unlike others with lower ratings, I didn't mind all the completely anachronistic additions. I even could tolerate the the obvious exaggeration of mayhem in the gunfight in the finale (honestly, as depicted Frank could not have had only 32 men, I feel we must have witnessed at least twice that number get shot, and how on earth did they kill everyone int he Blackdom gunfight without losing a single man?) But I think what drove me nuts was the pacing. I felt a good director could have squeezed this all into a 2-3 hour movie, which would have been much more satisfying. This felt interminable towards the end, I half watched only because I'd made a commitment to do so, even though I knew exactly how it would end (every plot outcome in the final episode was COMPLETELY predictable IMO -- well at least I anticipated it all). The big La Belle gunfight went from an engrossing climax to the series, to something I kept thinking "are they really going to drag THIS out that long too?" after 10, 15, 20 or however minutes it lasted. If I were bored I might go back and count all the bullet impacts shown, there must be many hundred.
In short, something worth watching, but hardly the "masterpiece" all these 10-star ratings imply. Even more baffling is that the paint-by-numbers final episode is the highest rated one of the seven as of the time I am positing this, it is rated 9.1, while the next highest of the other six is 8.5
See also
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