Godless - Season 1
Godless is a classic western that shows past events in a present setting. An example is that there is no racial tension between Native Americans, Caucasian people and African Americans. A lesbian relationship between two women is also ignored. Something that was unthinkable in those days. But on the other hand, Steven Soderbergh knows his classics. A community, which appears to be weak, is threatened by a large and brutal gang. A gunslinger with a past, a sheriff with flaws and beautiful scenery. Godless has it all.
The story mainly revolves around La Belle. A small mining town where most of the men have passed away. The women therefore determine what happens in the town. On a nearby ranch we find Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey) who lives there with her half Native American son Truckee and her Native American mother-in-law Iyovi (Tantoo Cardinal, Frontier). When a wounded stranger suddenly walks into this ranch, that's when the real story starts for La Belle and its residents.
The wounded stranger turns out to be none other than former gang member Roy Goode (Jack O'Connell, Skins). Roy left the gang of his surrogate father, Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom). Frank, alongside all of the 30 members of the gang, lose their minds once they figure out that Roy has abandoned them. One of the consequences is that Frank has lost his left arm after a gunfight with Roy. Frank's vengeance is gruesome. He kills everyone in a town and starts a hunt for Roy. Frank also announces that everyone who will provide shelter to Roy can expect the same kind of treatment as everyone in the small town he just obliterated.
The show, however, isn't perfect. The final struggle depends on various coincidences and is also not flawless. It greatly diminishes the credibility of the show. There isn't any strategy involved and the end is (naturally) predictable. Next to that, the romance is slightly over the top, especially in a scene where all the women take their men to the mine. A pity, because everything considered, Godless is a decent traditional western with a couple of quirks. To conclude, despite its flaws Godless is a solid western. Mainly due to beautiful scenery, the actors and the drama.
The story mainly revolves around La Belle. A small mining town where most of the men have passed away. The women therefore determine what happens in the town. On a nearby ranch we find Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey) who lives there with her half Native American son Truckee and her Native American mother-in-law Iyovi (Tantoo Cardinal, Frontier). When a wounded stranger suddenly walks into this ranch, that's when the real story starts for La Belle and its residents.
© Netflix
The wounded stranger turns out to be none other than former gang member Roy Goode (Jack O'Connell, Skins). Roy left the gang of his surrogate father, Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom). Frank, alongside all of the 30 members of the gang, lose their minds once they figure out that Roy has abandoned them. One of the consequences is that Frank has lost his left arm after a gunfight with Roy. Frank's vengeance is gruesome. He kills everyone in a town and starts a hunt for Roy. Frank also announces that everyone who will provide shelter to Roy can expect the same kind of treatment as everyone in the small town he just obliterated.
Godless takes its time to tell a story. Flashbacks provide some background information for various main characters. It also takes its time to establish or provide more depth to relationships. It is pretty obvious that Roy and Alice slowly start to feel more for each other. This traditional western story is, however, mainly told from Alice's perspective. Frank is also more than just a brute. He doesn't just talk about the bible, he also acts accordingly. The relationships between the women of La Belle and the men who work in the mine also receive a lot of screen time. Characters such as sheriff Bill McNue (Scoot McNairy, Halt and Catch Fire), his lesbian sister Mary Agnes (Merritt Wever, The Walking Dead) and deputy Whitey Winn (Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Game of Thrones) also provide us with some solid scenes.To conclude, despite its flaws Godless is a solid western.
© Netflix
The show, however, isn't perfect. The final struggle depends on various coincidences and is also not flawless. It greatly diminishes the credibility of the show. There isn't any strategy involved and the end is (naturally) predictable. Next to that, the romance is slightly over the top, especially in a scene where all the women take their men to the mine. A pity, because everything considered, Godless is a decent traditional western with a couple of quirks. To conclude, despite its flaws Godless is a solid western. Mainly due to beautiful scenery, the actors and the drama.
