1883

Thanks to a compelling plot and a robust cast of characters, the dramatic Western creates an entertaining chronicle that's easy to get caught up in. The story is narrated by Elsa (Isabel May), whose teenage innocence and excitement quickly dissipate as she comes face-to-face with the harsh realities of traveling across the Great Plains. While much of what transpires is seen from her point of view, the narrative also allows for other characters to reveal themselves, giving viewers the opportunity to understand and appreciate their purpose in the story world. Adding to this are the brief but notable appearances made by actors like Tom Hanks and Billy Bob Thornton.

1883 isn't a sanitized frontier series, and features lots of tragic moments and brutally violent scenes designed to underscore how truly dangerous and harrowing the journeys out West really were at that time. However, despite attempts to the contrary, the series struggles to recreate these moments without relying on some Hollywood stereotypes of Native Americans, whose war parties are featured within limited contexts. The characterizations of the German immigrants are more palatable, thanks to Marc Rissman's portrayal of Josef, the only English-speaking person in the group, who reminds us that their lack of experience or preparedness is not to be confused with unintelligence or a lack of bravery. The bottom line? It's not perfect, but a very entertaining series as far as Westerns go.