JCA1 said:
All in all, I thought it was a good show. And Tim and Faith did a much better job than I was expecting.
While I understand that it needs to retain some historical accuracy to make it believable, I don't get all of the nitpicking on here. It's a TV show. If you want an accurate account of wagon trains, there are, no doubt, plenty of books that can provide that.
So was Lonesome Dove, which was arguably the best western ever made into a movie/series.
I'm reading Lonesome Dove right now (nearly finished), and it's probably why I think most of the last couple episodes were corny and unrealistic.
I thought it was silly that James took the Indian's advice on where to settle, but was easily willing to say he'd give it up in seven generations. Is that supposed to be foreshadowing for Yellowstone losing their ranch? At least they didn't have Elsa live from some magical native American healing.
I just had difficulty with Elsa's character over the last few episodes. Her selfish, know-it-all attitude was a hard sell for me. Picking the spot for their ranch was more important that spending the last hours of her life with her mother and brother?
I will admit James holding her at the end got me emotionally. I also thought Sam Elliott taking his life on the beach was sad. But damn this show started off really strong (thought it was easily the best show on television) and then got sloppy at the midway mark imo. The finale seemed rushed as well.
Oh well, all in all I enjoyed the show. But I enjoy most westerns even when they aren't particularly done well.