Absolutely silly in some ways, yet the first season has held my attention well.

keelhaul-80856

I have only watched a few episodes from the 1st season, but I like the show on the surface. It has a lot of good elements-- Good actors you actually recognize, rugged mountain people, violence, creepy old matriarchs/patriarchs, a vague suspicion of ancient magic or ritual stuff going on, funny hillbillies, romance, and old world folks colliding with modernity. It is very different and unique in some ways, and has done just enough to keep me watching so far.

However, I fear that the plot and the fantasy world of it all may start to lose traction in coming seasons.

If the coal companies or a town want people off some land, they aren't going to be deterred in 2018 by 50 viking dudes with ATVs and a few weapons. Especially when you look back at what happened with people at Ruby Ridge, Waco, etc. and especially if the families in this show had killed police(as mentioned several times referring to an older fiasco). The law is going to go in there with heavy firepower and SWAT teams or any other means and start killing everything that moves. They even shot a woman holding a baby at Ruby Ridge, a teen boy, and his dog. They got lots of people killed in Waco and other tense situations, so I find this totally unbelievable for more than a few episodes.

They also seem like a poor representation of Southern people or rugged self-reliant mountain people, because they talk about codes and survival, but then rob people and loot stores like a bunch of ghetto teenagers in WalMart looting videos. What kind of rugged mountain people come to cities and drive four-wheelers inside and steal everything without consequences??? Absolute nonsense.

The jousting on ATVs? Hilarious. Reminds me of stuff we used to do in the country as teenagers trying to film our own Jackass video. However, it seems a bit contrived and ridiculous for adults in a serious community.

Everyone is afraid of them, but they barely have enough guns or ammo to go around in one episode. So, unless the plot includes them actually having magical Celtic powers or something, I doubt they would have much firearms training or capability. which seems funny for Southern mountain people.

I don't see how this can run for more than a season or two with this coal mine in the balance. The law is either going to drive them out or they are going to have to make concessions.

The dude who wants to date the black girl just seems very random. Not that rednecks are all racists who don't like blacks(I am sort of a redneck who married a black woman), but these people are so remote that it seemed odd he would pursue this one random girl(who is totally different) with such vigor. However, it could happen, and the girl seems sweet, so maybe it will develop into an interesting romance. The boy getting his fingers chopped off for stealing shine just seemed stupid and overboard. There is a good chance he would get infected or be less effective as a fighter and worker in a tough terrain, where every man helps their cause.

The drug dealer dating a crossdresser or transgendered dude was just weird. I feel this is overly presented in every show today, because it is a hot button issue for some reason.

Anyway, I really like the show, and it has potential, but you will have to suspend your disbelief quite a bit, and after a season or two, I really don't know how long they can stretch the premise out without bombing the whole thing.

score 7/10

keelhaul-80856 19 August 2018

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw4292172/