Parents' Guide to Go West

Parents need to know that Go West is a goofy comedy about pioneer life on the Oregon Trail from the Utah-based sketch comedy troupe behind Studio C, a BYUtv show that's built a reputation as a family-friendly alternative to SNL. With a light tone, it touches on many factors that made the westward migration treacherous, from dysentery to the fate of the Donner Party. Given that it makes light of things that were quite awful in reality, it can't be considered educational -- but it could be a fun supplement to what U.S. kids learn in school. And even though it's silly, it communicates the pioneers' astonishing grit. The (intentionally) low-budget production values help remove any "reality" from the iffy content. So whether it's a buffalo in cowboy boots charging the settlers or a traveler sinking in quicksand, nothing is particularly scary. A team of pistol-wielding bandits disrupts the activities at a saloon where customers drink something in bottles that looks like beer (or possibly root beer), and there's an over-the-top shoot-out. Expect loads of toilet (or should that be chamber pot?) humor. Women are portrayed as smart, capable, and independent, and the group of pioneers includes a Black cowboy. But there's also some stereotyping in the depiction of a potentially queer captain, and the impact of migration on the United States' Indigenous population isn't addressed.

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