http://127.0.0.1:8000/reviews/tv-series/last_modified/en-ukTue, 14 May 2013 20:59:35 +0000http://127.0.0.1:8000/reviews/tv-series/article/hatfields-and-mccoys/ <p>A reasonably short (6 part) TV series starring Kevin Costner, among others and detailing the infamous feud between the Hatfield and McCoy families. Possibly not a western in the absolute sense (I think the events depicted took place quite far east), but it has many of the trappings of a Western, so is included here.</p> <p>As a quick summary, this is definitely on the upper side of good: it's entertaining, well-produced and with good acting. [A word about acting too: I'm generally a fan on Kevin Costner in Westerns. He's clearly not a fantastic actor, but he fits the roles he's in well OK, and so I have no complaints.]</p> <p>There are some negatives though. While the start of the series is excellent, dealing with the feud's origins in the civil war and the various double-dealings of the peripheral family-members, the end of the series is less good. Firstly because the families are completely isolated from each other and so there's no real plot or dialogue between them and secondly because it mostly just degenerates into recriminations and killings for little stated reason. Finally, the feud just seems to tail of with no real resolution. This is probably all historically accurate, but it does not really make for good TV. The second&mdash;more minor&mdash;criticism is that there's a reasonable number of vaguely related family-members, only shown once or twice who suddenly appear later and can be difficult to keep track of. The probably wasn't helped by a three-month break on my part before watching the last couple of episodes, but even in the first few episodes I found myself getting slightly lost occasionally. It's not a huge issue, but a bit of pruning to focus on the core plot might have helped in places.</p>Tue, 14 May 2013 20:59:35 +0000http://127.0.0.1:8000/reviews/tv-series/article/hatfields-and-mccoys/http://127.0.0.1:8000/reviews/tv-series/article/deadwood/ <h2>Deadwood (2004)</h2> <blockquote> <p>Boy, have you ever had <strong>Nebraska pussy</strong>?</p> </blockquote> <p>(As a slight disclaimer, I've only watched Deadwood through once, and it was a while ago)</p> <p>Deadwood is consists of three series set in the town of Deadwood during the gold-rush at the time. It's largely based on historical characters&mdash;with a certain amount of embellishment. It primarily focusses on "saloon" owner Al Swearengen, Sheriff Seth Bullock, and favourite prostitute Trixie. The first season deals with a smallpox epidemic and the preparation for annexation as a state. The second and third seasons are mostly about the arrival of the mining company run by George Hearst and his increasingly aggressive attempts to control the town.</p> <p>Probably the biggest issue with Deadwood is that it is largely unfinished, since the planned fourth season was never made, meaning it stops of a cliff-hanger. I also felt that the second series seemed like it was treading water slightly and not really moving on. Some have criticised Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock for being a bit wooden, although personally I think it fitted the character well enough.</p> <p>Ignoring that though, it's pretty much universally excellent. The character of Al Swearengen in particular is very well written and played; balancing both self-interest, ruthlessness, and an interest in the progress of the town.</p>Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:27:58 +0000http://127.0.0.1:8000/reviews/tv-series/article/deadwood/