What you can expect from this mini-series is some true grit, some very valuable dramatic storylines, and of course, some nail biting action sequences that help develop the Dutton Empire which is cursed with outside sources always trying to take their land away. Being a mini-series, the directors have very little time to set forth character development, but it is done with a style all it's own and in my opinion delivers at least two characters [played brilliantly by Brandon Sklenar and Julia Schlaepfer] who dominate the mini-series with a torrent love affair that occurs in the then wild African landscapes that is perfect for the Dutton lore when dealing with passion and love. Mirren performs brilliantly with an Irish accent, that existed heavily during 1920's America when immigrants filled the land with their stubborn pride and need to share their homeland wisdom. She's come a long way once playing the role of "Morgan Le Fay" in 1981's EXCALIBER.
THE GOOD. This series has a superior cast; adding to that the talents of James Badge Dale, Jerome Flynn, and Timothy Dalton, all who are veteran actors and have been part of some previous huge productions. The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking and the detail to bringing back 1923, crossed with a western "cowboy" feel with a touch of the roaring twenties is just a sight to behold in itself...why?...because this is how it actually happened in history; no need to tear it down. At the time, the American culture was taking shape and many people were forced to change their ways to become more civilized. There's a taste of this new way of purging the "old ways" with a side plot concerning how Native American women were sent to schools in an attempt to force them to abandon their on culture and become "American." Sheridan apparently did his study and brought a new insight into U.S. History and the constant struggle to control and maintain what as earned to blood and sweat.
THE BAD. There are just too many plots and stories going on at the same time. Just when your getting the handle on one story, your thrust into another, then back and forth, and then you won't see what's happened with the story you truly want to follow until the next episode. And of course, this being Dutton lore, don't get used to seeing a character you like for far too long...some of them people you like might get killed off.
POST MORTEM. Taylor Sheridan has brought forth a new and fresh breed of scripts to the Hollywood Universe and his “Urban Legend Tall Tales of Yellowstone” are surely the best things being taken from script to screen in a unique, down to earth style, that many have been hoping to see for a long time. 1923 was way better produced, acted, and presented than the 1883 series launched two years ago. There's quality here, not only with big names, but the trust to present good storytelling with veteran actors who actually give a damn about how their performances can make a mini-series show BIG!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ [5 of 5 Stars]
