23/22
A Montana ranching family faces off against others who encroach on their land. Forrie J. Smith, who plays Lloyd, is a seasoned hand in the world of rodeo. John Dutton (Kevin Costner) often seems to “forget” his Montanan accent and slips back into his usual SoCal voice. Featured in WatchMojo’s Top 10 Summer TV Shows That Aren’t on the Radar (2018). (Reviews are for the first two seasons only) I wasn’t expecting to like this series, but the story, acting, and cinematography are excellent. It’s basically Montana’s Mafia Wars with a dose of testosterone (cowboys with guns on their horses while fishing)! Costner is a master actor as the Duttons. The show is at its best when it shows the chessboard moving for the Duttons and their enemies getting involved. The show starts off as a bit of a dud in the beginning of season two, but picks up again in the middle of season two. Kelsey Asbille is the weakest link as Monica and she’s poorly acted, the story falls flat, and the acting just misses the mark. I think Cole Hauser might be the strongest actor as Rip (along with Costner himself), and I’m looking forward to the rest. There were a few scenes Rip was in. Thomas Rainwater is great too. The story is riveting and the scenery is beautiful. Just as Cormac McCarthy’s "All The Pretty Horses" was a bit more raw and brutal than the title suggests, this show hits me in a similar vein. I highly recommend it, and I wish I hadn’t waited so long to watch it.