This series succeeds on many levels. It is beautifully shot and acted with a terrific score. Emily Blunt is wonderful as always, and Chaske Spencer is just as good if not better. Their characters are lovable and watchable individually and together. The supporting cast is very strong as well.
So what's the problem? The script. The story. The premise is solid, a classic Western paradigm of an unlikely pair on a quest for revenge on the brutal frontier. There are many satisfying moments along the way. But somehow it doesn't gel.
The structure and pacing of the story often fall short. It is painfully slow at times, meandering into philosophical voice-overs by Blunt's character and flashbacks that try to put the pieces together but never quite complete the picture.
As the story unfolds at an almost languorous pace, it is punctuated by frequent moments and outbursts of violence. This wasn't a problem for me, given the subject, period and setting. Most of it makes sense, but some seems gratuitous and indulgent. And Blunt's character, admirable as she is, becomes adept at it just a little too easily.
Overall, though, the best thing about the program is the depiction of the two main characters and their relationship. That, along with the top notch visuals and music, make it worth watching. It's hard not to fall in love with them as they fall in love with each other.
On a final note, the writer of "The English" betrays some pretty strong bias in favor of....the English. Specifically, the English aristocracy. Most of the villains of the story seem to be Cockneys and Americans of Irish and Scottish descent. It's not even subtle.
My country treated Native Americans horribly. I'm well aware of that, as are most people who have any awareness of our history. Trust me, we're not proud of it. I appreciate the show shining a light on it, but Blunt's character is pretty obtuse about the blood on the hands of her own country and class.
Why are these villains of Scottish and Irish (and lower class English) in America in the first place? Because of England and its colonization of and rule over their countries and this one. They were famine victims, economic migrants, indentured servants. Their presence was meant to enrich England and its ruling classes, which it did.
I'm not making excuses for what the US did to the people who were here long before any white European set foot on the continent. But it's pretty rich for a rich English Toff to be scolding anyone about how colonization decimates native cultures and people. Come on.
So what's the problem? The script. The story. The premise is solid, a classic Western paradigm of an unlikely pair on a quest for revenge on the brutal frontier. There are many satisfying moments along the way. But somehow it doesn't gel.
The structure and pacing of the story often fall short. It is painfully slow at times, meandering into philosophical voice-overs by Blunt's character and flashbacks that try to put the pieces together but never quite complete the picture.
As the story unfolds at an almost languorous pace, it is punctuated by frequent moments and outbursts of violence. This wasn't a problem for me, given the subject, period and setting. Most of it makes sense, but some seems gratuitous and indulgent. And Blunt's character, admirable as she is, becomes adept at it just a little too easily.
Overall, though, the best thing about the program is the depiction of the two main characters and their relationship. That, along with the top notch visuals and music, make it worth watching. It's hard not to fall in love with them as they fall in love with each other.
On a final note, the writer of "The English" betrays some pretty strong bias in favor of....the English. Specifically, the English aristocracy. Most of the villains of the story seem to be Cockneys and Americans of Irish and Scottish descent. It's not even subtle.
My country treated Native Americans horribly. I'm well aware of that, as are most people who have any awareness of our history. Trust me, we're not proud of it. I appreciate the show shining a light on it, but Blunt's character is pretty obtuse about the blood on the hands of her own country and class.
Why are these villains of Scottish and Irish (and lower class English) in America in the first place? Because of England and its colonization of and rule over their countries and this one. They were famine victims, economic migrants, indentured servants. Their presence was meant to enrich England and its ruling classes, which it did.
I'm not making excuses for what the US did to the people who were here long before any white European set foot on the continent. But it's pretty rich for a rich English Toff to be scolding anyone about how colonization decimates native cultures and people. Come on.