Under the Banner of Heaven

Andrew Garfield is such a nice surprise in this series demonstrating a depth and range I didn't know he had - he was totally believable as a complex, conflicted Mormon detective.

Daisy Edgar-Jones was another strong performer among an almost flawless cast as an enigmatic woman trying to combine her faith and her ambition in a world that has stood still but now is trying to propel backwards. A progressive woman is not welcome or valued.

This plot is intricate and emerging so if you don't appreciate a slow build and want something simplistic, don't watch and certainly don't review. Every episode gets better as we are immersed more deeply in a world digging backwards to a dark history.

Let me start off by saying I'm an active Mormon and I rated this a 7 so no, *all* Mormons aren't giving this the lowest rating.

I was raised in "the Church" and still attend, although I've never been die-hard religious so maybe that's why I can view this show at least somewhat objectively. I also lived in the Utah Valley for over a decade so I definitely got the full "Mormon experience" 😂

First off, let me start by saying that I've talked to a LOT of Mormons and at least in my experience, NO Mormon actually talks like they do in the show. I actually laughed out loud several times when they kept quoting scriptures or prophets or said "Heavenly Father" in almost every sentence. Lol. No. I get that this is a dramatization but oh my, it was so cheesy.

Also the portrayal of Brigham Young was a little bit of an eye roll. He was kind of a weird dude for sure and made some questionable decisions (as every human does btw) but making him out to be this scheming villain (again, for dramatic effect I'm sure) was a little over the top.

Overall the cinematography was great, the acting was phenomenal, and the story was shocking and engaging, although it was told a little too slowly. Bottom line, really good, interesting show with a few flaws.

Anyway, definitely worth a watch, and if you're Mormon and considering watching it, just relax, enjoy it for what it is, and maybe learn something. "Fundamentalism/FLDS" is obviously an extreme offshoot of mainstream Mormonism and most people know that, if they're not ignorant. Also, every single religion has done some pretty messed up stuff and justified it in the name of a higher being. I'm not saying it's okay because it isn't, but churches are run by humans and again, humans are flawed. Doesn't mean your whole life is a lie and God isn't real.

What an amazing show. Whilst I agree with all the other reviews stating Andrew Garfield being superb you can't forget the rest of the cast, they are all fantastic and make this show a definite must see. It is infuriating at times that there are actually people out there like this but that makes it even more gripping and keeps you hooked. If you're a fan of crime dramas/thrillers and/or love shows that you can binge in a few days and not worry about if they're going to drag as many seasons as possible out of it then this is for you. Well worth 7 hours of your time. Know some reviews have said it's a slow burner (I disagree)

Under the Banner of Heaven was a very well made series. As most people here have already pointed out Andrew Garfield is absolutely brilliant here. He's such a good actor in just about everything he's ever down and has been nominated for major awards throughout his career but he definitely deserved the Emmy nomination he got for his role in this. Garfield isn't the only one to shine in this though, almost the entire cast is terrific and is the reason why this show is so highly rated. Sam Worthington, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Wyatt Russell, Billy Howe and Gil Birmingham all deserving of recognition for their job in this. The writing and acting for this show is fantastic and I binged through the entire season in just a few days.

The series is very good. I read the very good book years ago and this adaptation is worth watching. Not sure I understand the reviews that say it's boring. Certainly not. It's actually quite absorbing.