1883 (TV Mini Series) Behind Us, a Cliff (2021) User Reviews

Wagon Train

[douglasmcbroom · 8/10 · 20 December 2021]

Two episodes in and I'm hooked. This is not 'Gunsmoke' or 'Bonanza' this is the nitty and the gritty. It looks like we'll be treated to interesting guest appearances along the way (Tom Hanks and Billy Bob Thornton, thus far).

Sam Elliott and Isabel May are the standouts, thus far.

"You fancy yourself a gunmen?!?"

[slak96u · 9/10 · 20 December 2021]

"There's only one killer in Ft. Worth and that's me..." Billy. Bob. Thornton.

Isabel May(Elsa D.) continues her radiance, her narration is fantastic, her femininity truly shines, and is needed, with the hyper masculinity from the male cast. The contrast truly makes her, and the show, shine. Faith Hill was also excellent, I expect her character will be given more to work with throughout the season. As good as the first episode, some really, really good T. V.

Excellent so far

[mumbeecee · 10/10 · 27 December 2021]

This is beautiful to watch. Violence is horrifying but authentic. Acting is fine. Love the characters that have been introduced so far.

This is to answer the question about the age of Tim McGraw's character. The numbers in an earlier review are questionable. The show takes place in 1883. Elsa is 17 giving her a birth year of 1866. Her father would have returned from the war/prison camp in 1865. If he was 18 in 1862 (writer's assumption) he would be 39 in 1883 not 60. Tim McGraw is 54 so he is playing a character much younger than his actual age but someone who has been through a lot and may appear older. I disagree with an earlier reviewer who thinks he is a bad casting choice. I think he is doing a good job with a complex character.

Another enjoyable episode!

[dave42c · 21 December 2021]

Great, unexpected guest stars.

I couldn't believe who that Union soldier was, had to re-watch that part twice.

And the marshal was cool AF.

The tragedy of sister Claire.

I hated Claire's negativity, hatefulness & rudeness.

But it made me wonder, did her bad attitude cause many of the problems in her life? Like it seemed to in this episode.

Or did she become that way because of the many, tragic losses in her life?

Very sad.

Really liked Isabel, Sam & Tim's characters, and the realistic situations they're placed in to prepare for their long and difficult journey.

A right smart series.

[notanaxkiller-107-287911 · 10/10 · 21 December 2021]

1883 sounds like a long time ago, and to most, it was. But my Paternal grandfather was born in 1880, and I heard stories from him about the way things were. He lived to be 94, and sired his last child at the age of 67. It took a different breed of people to survive those times. When he was young, he was a riverboat gambler. He killed a man once, and hid out in Oklahoma until interest in him had passed. Later in life he was a landowner, and made and lost a couple of fortunes. Most of the people in those times lived hard lives, and died young...but we owe a great thanks to the ones that survived and built us a Country. I'm happy to see them portrayed in this series. The good and the bad.

Whoa.

[lindalysaght · 10/10 · 20 December 2021]

This is an amazing show.the acting, the story, everything about this series is well done. I can't wait to see the rest. I can't believe I love it more than Yellowstone.

What a surprise Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are

[rjmeredith3382 · 10/10 · 1 November 2022]

I was expecting dry acting and stiffness from the country music stars. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill surprised me. Now, Sam Elliot, he brings a depth to his characters, as always. And the "out of nowhere" addition of Billy Bob Thornton was a marvel. He has such a range of ability. He can be the nicest of guys and the meanest and nastiest. I was totally looking forward to Sam Elliot, but McGraw and Hill caught me off guard. I am already totally in awe of Tim McGraw and his mastery of the role. Taylor Sheridan could not have chosen anyone better. Already, in only episode 2, I am finding more to love than Yellowstone. Kevin Costner move aside, Tim McGraw just stole the show.

Unspoken

[zapotec008 · 10/10 · 16 January 2022]

Tom Hanks is such a powerful presence as General Meade. He didn't have anything in those opening moments. The pain and yet understanding between two bitter rivals is incalculable and yet those words still do not bring reason to what it feels like to be an American. It is a form of destructive chivalry. An impossible place to be but yet here they are and here we still are...

Great episode and series so far

[851222 · 9/10 · 25 June 2022]

Greetings from Lithuania.

First two episodes of highly anticipated series 1883 were amazing. They were epic in every way. I loved the story, characters, directing, acting and pretty much everything so far. The setting is a character itself.

Overall, i will definitely will watch remaining episodes. Loved it first two very much.

The journey begins

[aboalhyjaa · 9/10 · 20 December 2021]

The best thing you can do as a director or a writer, is making an emotional connection between the viewer and the actor/actress. And in this show its a 10 out of a 10.

Very good episode, better than the first and very unexpected events take place only in 50 minutes so that is a response for anyone said this is slow or boring.

High rating in spite of language

[sawznhamrs-1 · 10/10 · 17 February 2022]

The series is well written, the acting is superb, and I like the variety of characters. The constant use of the f-word stands out in an awful way. People did not speak this way during that time and it's fairly well documented. I am not a prude, but it is just not appropriate for the period. It keeps drawing me out of the past into present day crudeness.

don t look at the Ds!

[ghici-24310 · 10/10 · 14 January 2022]

Well the show is sooooo gd, but the way they dug up the graves in episode 2 where uterly abysmal. Can the actors make an efort and accct!

The show is great anyways and i really liked it.

The feeel of the show is perfect, just watch it!

Episode 2

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 18 January 2023]

I am not sure if we needed 1883 to be honest, but it looks like we are getting a decent series whether we wanted it or not. They did not hold back as we already got a somewhat shocking death here and they did a quality job of making it clear that there are going to be real stakes with this series.

A lot of the characters are a little like-minded, the dialogue too, I guess that is the gaping flaw of this show so far, but I think there is potential here. I also am fine with them not knocking us over the head that this is tied to Yellowstone, other than Tim McGraw trying to act like a clone of Rip.

Stupid european emigrants

[ozmashketa · 5/10 · 24 December 2021]

Overall descent episode beside depiction of stupid sheltered emigrants who can't do anything useful to save their life's and have brains of a dodo.

*Did they bring oxen all way from Germany?

*Europeans vaccinated population from from smallpox in beginning of XIX.

*Germany states fought with Denmark and France.

*And i pretty sure would not drink water from dubious sources.

So how old was James

[yichenzou · 10/10 · 27 December 2021]

In the beginning, James joined the war in 1862. Elsa was bornd in 1883 and she is 17 now. Let us say James was 18 in 1962 so I asume he is 60 now. Thus it is too yong for the character.

Boring! No story. Ridiculous casting

[hpcmakeup · 1/10 · 6 March 2022]

There is zero story. There is no interesting characters. Everyone is nasty to each other. Faith Hill looks ridiculous with dirt on her face and frizzy ratty hair but her daughter has perfect brushed hair and clean clothes and face. In 1883 a 54 year old woman would not have a six year old and a 16 year old...she would have a 36 year old son or daughter and a bunch of other children to help out. This show is so bad I could write for days about all the ridiculous things but I will just say I'm annoyed I wasted my time watching it. It doesn't get better it gets much worse.

Earthy and illuminating

[lor_ · 19 June 2023]

Our hero McGraw's Civil War flashback was an inspired way to put this prequel into context -it's not merely abou a Western dynasty built by rugged folk that led to Costner's sprawling Yellowstone ranch, but of course has a background of its own. , adding other dimensions to these archetypal characters.

I suspect it's the sincerity of Sheridan reimagining pulp genres (how far from Dime Novels has this come) that makes his middle-brow entertainments compelling to a jaded audience. Especially because he avoids the fake-hipness of s omuch post-modern tv.

Isobel remains the central character, existing in an optimistic, fanciful universe beyond the survival rough & tumble story swirling around her. It's a key element of expanding the audience for this Western beyond the basic all-male love for the genre. The contrast of the natural beauty, Eden-like visuals of many of her solo scenes provides this episodes most powerful imagery.

It's a cliche to put the pioneers and settler on some sort of pedestal, or to create a tract eminding us of the genocide umdergordomg the Manifest Destny spirit -Taylor manages to find a balance without ovrwheming the forward narrative of the story. As he branches out into other genres ("Lioness" a prime example), I look forward to the results.

Of special note is the character Clare and her fate: stereotypical as first presented but carefully weaved into the central story.