1883

Starring: Tim McGraw (10 episodes), Sam Elliott (10 episodes), Faith Hill (10 episodes), Isabel May (10 episodes), LaMonica Garrett (10 episodes), Marc Rissmann (10 episodes), Audie Rick (10 episodes), James Landry Hebert (10 episodes), Gratiela Brancusi (10 episodes), Anna Fiamora (10 episodes), Malcolm Stephenson (10 episodes), Amanda Jaros (9 episodes), Jordan Walker Ross (9 episodes), Konstantin Melikhov (8 episodes), Eric Nelsen (5 episodes), Noah Le Gros (5 episodes), Josef Bette (5 episodes), Eric Bear (5 episodes), Dawn Olivieri (2 episodes), Taylor Sheridan (2 episodes), David Midthunder (2 episodes), Emma Malouf (2 episodes), Billy Bob Thornton (1 episode), Rita Wilson (1 episode), Graham Greene (1 episode), Tom Hanks (1 episode)
Directed by: Ben Richardson (5 episodes), Christina Alexandra Voros (4 episodes), Taylor Sheridan (1 episode)
Rating: TV-MA
Genre: Drama, Western
2021-2022

Seasons Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: The Dutton family face many obstacles and dangers on their journey West.

Review:
Tim: I've been a huge fan of Taylor Sheridan for many years now. I was ecstatic when he made his first foray into television with the incredible Yellowstone. That show quickly became appointment television for me. I loved the idea of spinning off from that show with a prequel that told the story of how the Dutton family traveled west to eventually settle in what would become the Yellowstone ranch. However, to think of 1883 simply as a prequel or spinoff series is inadequate in capturing the stunning miniseries that Sheridan creates. These 10 episodes connect to his larger Yellowstone narrative, yes- but they completely stand on their own. This series does perhaps the best job I've ever seen of capturing the experience, the dangers, the fears, the beauty of traveling across America in a covered wagon, venturing away from civilization and into the true wild. You can watch and appreciate this series without any knowledge of Yellowstone and nothing is lost.

That is true because of what Sheridan does here. The longer form of television allows him the space to create these unforgettable characters and give us plenty of time to get to know them. By the end of the 10 episodes, these characters felt as real to me as any in recent memory. I loved taking this journey with the Duttons and like them, we're changed by the experience. This is top tier television here.

I have to give so much credit to Sheridan's writing, as well as the cast for bringing these characters to life. I have to admit I was a tad nervous when I heard that the husband-and-wife team of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill would be playing the leads. I've been impressed with McGraw's performances in Friday Night Lights and Flicka, so I felt a bit more comfortable with him. Any concern was unwarranted, however. McGraw does indeed deliver a powerful, pitch-perfect performance as James Dutton. I honestly can't imagine another actor playing this role. His demeanor, his ability to slip into lightheartedness as the heaviness of the world around him pushes down, it was a beautiful, mesmerizing performance. I loved his role here. Faith Hill isn't as talented (or experienced) as an actress, but I appreciate how fully she committed to the role. She's never close to the level of McGraw, but she doesn't hurt the series with her performance. You can tell she put her all into the role and that deserves credit. She's definitely a weaker part of the cast, but never actually detracts from it. I loved the casting of Sam Elliott. Elliott was the absolute perfect choice for Shea Brennan. He brings his decades of experience to the role and elevates it beyond what you would expect. I loved every second of Elliott's screen time and would watch him in this role forever. He was gruff, complex, flawed. It's a brilliant characterization of a hard-lived survivor. LaMonica Garrett was a standout as well. I started out thinking his character of Thomas was just "the sidekick", but Garrett's performance with Sheridan's writing allowed Thomas to emerge as one of the best characters on the show. By the end of the series, I truly loved this character and the impact he made on those around him. In a cast filled with great performances, Garrett is absolutely one of the standouts. Marc Rissmann added a terrific supporting performance, too. He had a smaller role, but was so enjoyable in this part.

Now, as much as I've been raving about the cast, I need to separate Isabel May for what she accomplished here. As great as the cast was, none can touch what May achieves here. Her Elsa Dutton is the heart and soul of this series- we see everything through her eyes. She is able to give a performance where she seems simultaneously stronger than we can imagine and yet fragile, still finding herself. She is wise beyond her years, delivering a performance that feels like her character can see something that we can't, has this iron will that may bend but never break. Her performance is so mesmerizing, so spellbinding that I routinely couldn't believe what I was seeing. It's the kind of performance that buys lifetime goodwill for May- I'll always love seeing her in any role because it will remind me of the masterclass she delivered in 1883. This may seem like hyperbole, but it's not. May's performance here is one of the great all-time television performances. I loved what she did and how she delivered this character into our hearts. She does small things well, but then there's moments like with the piano, or riding confidently past onlookers, like she owns the West- all of these things combine into something truly remarkable.

As if all this isn't enough, Sheridan pulls in some other big names for small but memorable roles. I was most excited to see Tom Hanks here. I love that Hanks worked with Sheridan and even though it's one scene in one episode, it felt important to me. Hanks plays George Meade in a flashback and in a few short moments, shows why he's one of the all-time greatest actors. I desperately wished he got more screen time and I hope this leads to more collaborations with Sheridan. His wife Rita Wilson shows up for a bit more time later in the season and manages to be funny and memorable. She brought a nice, new energy to the series when it needed it. I loved seeing Billy Bob Thornton in a small role. He's so good in it, you just wish he was a main character in the series. I also loved getting to spend a little time with Graham Greene, another all-time great. It speaks volumes that Sheridan was able to get this level of talent for small roles in his epic.

1883 is a masterpiece of television. It portrays an incredible journey filled with joy, sorrow, danger, loss, and love. It transforms everyone who undergoes it. It's a series that is filled with real tension- you know that not everyone is going to make it out alive. It was beautiful, poignant, a journey I truly loved taking. The cinematography was jaw-dropping. This is truly one of the most beautiful television series I've ever seen. It balances intense action sequences with powerful character development. It does all the things right. It further cements Taylor Sheridan as one of the greatest writers of our times. I'm glad this series ended with its 10th episode- this story of the Duttons is complete. I'm so excited to see Sheridan will continue his storytelling of the Duttons in other time periods. As far as 1883, I wouldn't wish for anything else. The series is incredible and complete.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



If You Enjoyed This Series, We Recommend: Yellowstone