My thoughts on the limited series Godless. (Part I).

*Over this past Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Uncle D and I decided to start a new show on Netflix.... Godless.

It's a limited series (seven episodes in total) and he's actually the one that suggested it. I had only got to see little snippets on social media and such, so I wasn't real sure on anything about it, but he had apparently seen a few commercials advertising it and wanted to check it out.

We managed to watch the first three episodes on Saturday night and the final four on Sunday evening.... and I would 100% recommend this series to any and everyone.

I know that there are alot of people that don't care for westerns (seriously y'all, what's wrong with you?!), but this is one of those shows that make you like it even if you don't give two hoots about the "framing."

Besides, it has actors like Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterson, Merritt Wever, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Michelle Dockery, and Jack O'Connell (whom I name last only because he's the newest to me), so you really can't go wrong.

I don't think that I've ever watched Thomas Brodie-Sangster in anything (apparently he's of Game of Thrones fame? and I only watched the first couple of seasons of that), but his way of portraying Whitey Winn made me an instant fan.

And I've been a fan of Jack O'Connell ever since I watched the movie Unbroken and quickly fell in love with the true story that he brought to life. The man is impressive to say the least. The very least, that is, because he is incredible.*

Episode One: An Incident at Creede

Official Synopsis: "Roy Goode disrupts a payroll robbery by Frank Griffin's gang, provoking them to lynch all the citizens of Creede. Wounded, Goode flees to La Belle- a town inhabited principally by women after a mining disaster. He takes refuge at Alice Fletcher's ranch."

My thoughts: I love that one of the first things that you see in this show is Roy Goode being shot in the neck by Alice Fletcher and falling off of his horse, because "I told you I was gonna shoot you." And watching Sam Waterston ride up on the town of Creede and looking at everything that Frank Griffin and his gang have done is truly devastating. But what really drives it home for me is how closely Alice watches Roy and sees that there's more to his story (outlaw tuned hero). Not to mention, horse whisperer party of one. Alice's mother-in-law seems to be enjoying this whole "healing Roy with fire" thing a little too much. What kind of name is Truckee? Oh, who cares, that kid is adorable and watching him learn how to read is mesmerizing. HO. LY. SHIT. Did y'all see Roy shoot that coiled up rattlesnake? Y'all can think what you want, but he totally just saved that baby's life. Excuse me for a minute..... what up, Sheriff?! Is that poop in his eyes? No seriously y'all, that doesn't look like mud. So, what I'm gathering so far is: Mary-Agnes is amazing but people think she's too manly since becoming a widow, Frank Griffin is insane and had to have his arm amputated, his gang is a crowd of lunatics, Alice Fletcher was married off when she was seventeen and a "flood" killed her first husband, Roy Goode is the kind of man westerns were made for, and Frank and his gang are "gunning" for Roy, because he "betrayed" them.

Episode Two: The Ladies of La Belle

Official Synopsis: "The women of La Belle agree to deal with a mining company to restart the mine. Bill seeks a dangerous way to prove himself. Frank shares a story with a captive audience as he relentlessly pursues Goode."

My thoughts: Clearly this is going to be one of those shows that build up until the final episode and everything is just going to go down then. Everything is going to be dealt with then.... if it's not dealt with before. What I'm seeing with this mining company coming in on the ladies of La Belle is that Tig Ed Logan is the kind of smarmy gent that you feel terribly uncomfortable around. AND THAT'S THE POINT. Mary-Agnes is clearly trying to have the ladies best interests at heart and take care of them, but those women are TERRIFIED that they don't have men anymore and are practically throwing themselves into this shady ass deal. Sorry Mary-Agnes, you tried. It's moments like these that really drive home for you that there was a time, not so long ago, that women couldn't even fathom how to go on without a man. They were 100% dependent on them and see no other way to go on. It's sad, really. I kind of wish Frank would have killed that newspaper guy, because I'm not on #TeamFrank, but I REALLY don't like that dude. And here we meet Whitey Winn.... the hilarious, good-hearted Deputy that has his Sheriff's back and is fast on the gun (and sarcasm). I love it. How is it that Roy can see that Sheriff Bill is losing his sight and isn't a coward he just legitimately can't see, and all of these townsfolk can't? Like, he's trying his best and all these bitches are just throwing stuff at him. Granted, he's a bit of a dick when he finds out his sister is a lesbian, but I really want to believe it's not coming from a hateful place, but a concerned one. Frank is a sociopath and rapist.... yeah, totally didn't see that coming. But no worries, Sheriff Bill is headed out to track down Frank and he finds a guy that sells him glasses. HE'S BACK, Y'ALL.

My favorite part of the episode? Alice holding Whitey Winn at gunpoint so she can take Roy Goode home with her. Alice: "I wanna take him home with me." Whitey: "Yeah, you and every other woman in town." Roy: "..........." And the she breaks him out, puts Whitey in, and Roy rides behind her back to the ranch. He agrees to help her break her horses if she teaches him to read and I am here for it, people.

Episode Three: Wisdom of the Horse

Official Synopsis: "Bill envisions Roy's fateful stand. A reluctant Truckee learns to ride a horse. Whitey tries his hand at making music, and John spreads the word."

My thoughts: Sheriff Bill reenacting how Roy Goode held off the entire Griffin Gang in that canyon is the kind of thing that you want from a good western. Sure, we want to see the things happen, but we also want our characters to be able to "see it happen" so to say. Sheriff Bill sees how Roy pulled off his "miracle." He shot his horse in the head (out of mercy), leaps behind said horse, uses it as a shield and takes down "seven men in the time it takes to spit.... all dead before they hit the ground." And then, knowing that wounding the leader will force the entire gang to leave, he shoots Frank instead of just killing him. Smart move, Roy. Is it just me or do y'all think that this Native American guy following Sheriff Bill around is a ghost that he conjured up to "get his shadow back" after his wife died in childbirth? While Roy is breaking the horses, the ladies of La Belle come riding up on Alice and want him back. (#dontblameyall) Alice cuts them a hell of a deal and Mary-Agnes takes her up on it.... outdrawing Whitey in the process. Oh, a little follow up with the family that the Griffin Gang tormented.... that lady is all about spilling the beans and wants them dead. You go, girl! Mary-Agnes goes to Whitey later to bring him some food and make sure that he didn't let her outdraw him.... and you get the feeling he kind of did even though she's damn good. Speaking of Whitey, he goes out to the old fort where the black Buffalo Soldiers reside to take violin lessons from a young lady.... but really, he's just there to flirt, because these two are adorable together. Roy accidentally (accidentally?) puts on Alice's dead husband's clothes and his mother is PISSED and starts whooping up on him.... and he totally just takes it. And then teaches Truckee how to ride a horse and conquer his fear, because Roy is amazing, that's why. Sure, they run into smarmy Tig Ed Logan and take a little shit, because Roy is unarmed, but he is teaching this kid valuable life lessons. Can Tig Ed Logan just decide to be the law? Is that how it works? JEFF DANIELS JUST SHOT SAM WATERSTON IN THE FACE.