Journey the Rivers of Iron

Last week I rated that episode a 4, this week an improved 6, for several reasons: Elizabeth Stratford (Michelle Randolph) finally stopped whining about her rabies shots; Alexandra (Julie Schlaepfer) finally quit acting like entitled Royalty; and most importantly, more time was spent focusing on Montana and the Dutton Ranch, and the two people I consider the heart and soul of this series: Harrison Ford (Jacob Dutton) and Helen Mirren (Cara Dutton).

However, the interminable and completely uninteresting journeys of Alexandra and Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) continue, hence my Rick Steves reference.

And then, it revisits a storyline I care absolutely nothing about, the Native American on the run, Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves) which completely detracts from what should be the central focus: The Dutton Ranch!

This is a great episode, although we still know Spencer and Alexandria are on their journey to find each other the twists & turns have you literally on the edge of your seat.

1920's America was very cruel. We might look to this part of history with Rose tinted glasses thanks to the likes of Downton Abbey however 1923 retains all of the splendour & grandeur of this time period but delivers the stark reality. Its unforgiving, cruel & genuine bigotry is alive and well. How society treats its fellow man & woman is harrowing in this story but it's a stark reality of a bygone time

1923 delivers a classic episode here. Its a fantastic series.

There is a lot to like about this show.

Call me sentimental, naive and delicate. I am SO tired of not having any enjoyment watching this series. As I said in the subject line, I'll keep watching because I'm so invested.

The actors are giving a master class. Too bad the story goes on & on without even a brief moment of happiness or accomplishment.

(In order for me to post this I have to be all wordy. I am not "all wordy". I have said my bit. My frustration has been documented. I hope that it is clear that I really, really (shameless attempt to be wordy), am trying to like this) This diatribe serves to exemptlfy my application and frustration.

While season 1 was a wonderful story of drama, happiness, and surprises, season 2 is a succession of disasters that occur one after the other. It was simply too much to swallow and tolerate.

When one crisis ends, one is naturally prepared for the next.

While the acting is brilliant, I can't remember anything except danger, taking the form of rape, theft, wolves, lions, snow, etc. Life was harsh in the past, but not all these hardships occurred within the span of two months without any sign of joy or light.

Hope the journey to Monata finishes one day and we see a pivot in the story with new ideas.

Painting his story on a wide canvas, Sheridan gives a revisionist view of the gritty history of not merely the Duttons and even the villains who oppose them in the fight for land, but the background of what American expansionism was based upon. One might quibble with the CliffsNotes approach and simplification, but it's impressive how his narrative skills can turn a Penny Dreadful series of graphic incidents into the semblance of an epic.

On the human side, we get to see the wry humor of our central protagonists played by Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford as well as the emotional travails experienced by their extended family. Both Spencer and Alexandra, still apart, demonstrate their amazing survival skills and tenacity in well-staged violent outbursts.

For me, the cogency of Taylor's writing as he has Timothy Dalton explain the tourism theory of conquering the Duttons' land to prospective investors is a highlight here, definitely a thinking man's Western, balanced by the red meat exploitation movie elements of his depiction of Dalton's sadism and even a rather provocative, against the grain showing of the prohibition-crusading women mistreating a prostitute with the old tar & feather treatment. I suspect that the cult classic "Lash of the Penitentes" movie from 1936 is one of the writer-director's inspirations..