Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War

Although there are plenty of documentaries that do the acting along the way as they're explaining the history, the pacing and overall storytelling is just really fun. It's different than other acting documentaries I've seen for that reason. I especially love how the historical context gives more support to the acting. And they really did a great job casting Wyatt Earp. He's borderline perfect. Even if he is Australian ;)

It's different than other acting documentaries I've seen for that reason. I especially love how the historical context gives more support to the acting. And they really did a great job casting Wyatt Earp.

As a TOURGUIDE in Arizona that visits Tombstone often, I was fascinated by the pauses during the programs re-enactments while listening to Ed Harris' explanation of the backstories and politics that were involved with the situation. It was fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening - if not jaw dropping.

Most of us know the Wyatt Earp/Tombstone story and have probably seen the 1993 Kurt Russell/Val Kilmer TOMBSTOME film...This is not a Glamorized Hollywood movie. It's much like a documentary, where the backstory and "dots" connected were jaw dropping at times. It was quite the Spiderweb. You'll watch this and recognize the parallels consistent with today's corruption in the media, with Politicians, and big businesses.

I promise you, you will sit up in your chair, put your hand over your forehead and realize, WOW...SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE!

I've recommended this to my entire team of Tour guides, and they agree - It's very informative, entertaining, fascinating and very WELL DONE!

This docudrama about the West, and more particularly, Tombstone and the Earps, is one of the best written, if not the best written, stories about what really happened. Through multiple sources looking at multiple aspects, we get a full idea of what was happening. How London to New York to Washington to Arizona all come into play between the Civil War, the railroad, the stagecoach, cattle, the newspapers, etc. Is a wonder. Marvelous writing and homework on the part of the producers and writers. It's literally like nothing you've ever seen before.

Why not a 10? Well, it's the acting. The acting isn't up to a 10 level. Everything else is, so that's why it gets a 9. The acting isn't bad, but when everything else is perfect, it could use a slight boast.

Well, if you only know Wyatt Earp from the movies, such as Tombstone (which is a great movie, BTW), then this will open your eyes to the complexity of the real Wyatt Earp.

It wasn't all so cut and dried as the movies make it out to be. And events didn't quite go down the way the movies claim. It's actually much more interesting than that!

This docu-drama does a great job of layering in the events, all the way from the local events in Tombstone, to the reverberations they caused politically and economically.

The drama parts are well acted and the story rattles along at a great pace. They manage to end each episode on a cliffhanger, too.

And a special mention for Ed Harris' outstanding narration!

I binge-watched it in one evening and i highly recommend it!

When clicking play on a title like this you settle in to learn some history, spoken by a dry cowboy sounding narrator and a series of academics who don't seem like they'd last 5 mins in the west and then finally the occasional cut scene which.... well. Yeah.

From the moment this series starts you can tell things are going to be different. The slick editing, great music and scenes which frankly wouldn't look out of place in "Deadwood", Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War pulls you in and keeps you there.

It feels like watching The Defiant Ones for the first time, knowing that what you are watching is redefining a genre.

Ed Harris's narration is spot on, casual and humorous, keeping the story going in a nearly 'telling you over a beer' kind of a way. Meanwhile the cut scenes are lavish, cinematic and captivating.

The guy who plays Wyatt Earp (Tim Fellingham) is the perfect casting to counter Ed's chilled vibe as he blasts his way through the west with a quick draw and a chilling stare. Surrounded by a great supporting cast they bring this little known and vastly complex story to life in a way that feels new and bang on the times.