Weird westerns emerged as a genre mashup with Science Fiction, horror, and westerns thrown into a literary blender. In Outer Range, James Brolin plays Royal Abbott, a Wyoming cattle man trying to keep his struggling ranch afloat. But Royal Abbott harbors two Big Secrets.
Imogen Potts plays Amy, a strange wanderer who camps on Royal Abbott’s land. Amy holds a lot of secrets, too.
And the under-rated Will Patton plays the wealthy ranching neighbor who wants Royal’s West Pasture any way he can finagle it. So far, this seems like a conventional contemporary western.
But Royal discovers something in his West Pasture that upends everything: a circular hole about 100 feet in diameter…that’s a time tunnel.
My major complaint about Outer Range concerns its glacial pacing. I watched all 8 hours and realized the plot–after all the filler (love story, murder, various social and church gatherings)–could have been told in 2 episodes. And, of course, Outer Range ends with several cliffhangers so a Second Season seems likely. I’m not sure I’ll watch it.
Oscar Isaac stars as Marc Spector / Moon Knight and Steven Grant / Mr. Knight, two alternative personalities of a man with dissociative identity disorder (DID). Marc Spector has bound himself in service to the Egyptian Moon God, Khonshu, as his avatar.
Ethan Hawke plays Arthur Harrow: a religious zealot and cult leader associated with the Egyptian goddess Ammit looking to exact justice and judgement based on future crimes. Harrow was Khonshu’s previous avatar before Spector.
So basically it’s a fight between Marc Spector and Arthur Harrow with wimpy Steven Grant thrown in for comic relief. Once again, there’s a lot of filler in these episodes. I’m not sure I would watch a Second Season of Moon Knight if there is one. So, here are two misses. Are you disappointed in the quality of programming on some of the streaming services? GRADE: C (for both)
Six episodes into Outer Range. You are right about the pacing. Don’t get Disney so I have to pass on Moon Knight. Finished Ozark which I loved. Also liking Under the Banner of Heaven on Hulu. And Handmaids Tale also on Hulu. Barry on HBO is also a favorite. And on AMC enjoying Better Call Saul. All of these are A or A- shows. Outer Range is probably going to be a C.
Steve, friends keep encouraging me to watch THE BATMAN on HBO Max, but I’m resisting. Three hours and tepid reviews. You are missing nothing by not watching MOON KNIGHT. What a waste of time! I’ll check out some of the series you’ve listed as A or A- shows.
We recorded THE BATMAN because Jackie wants to see t, but haven’t watched it yet (and I’m not sure I will).
Jeff, I’ve had friends rave about THE BATMAN and others tell me it sucked. I’m on the bubble.
I was bored with the first twenty minutes+, and Jerry House would want you to see the Pitch Meeting about this one and wonder why everyone’s shooting at him but not at his unprotected lower face, as he stands there or moves slowly toward him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F1B7fdT5H8
Todd, Jerry House–like you–is very perceptive!
I think we’re going to see the streaming bubble burst, or at least severely deflate, in the next two years. The amount of money being spent for big, effects driven shows and on big “stars” (kind of a meaningless term these days) was unsustainable and now that people are going out again TV is increasingly on the back burner.
On top of that, Netflix has stupidly been spending tons of money on instantly forgotten movies and shows they cancel after two seasons. This has left them without a single piece of legacy programming unlike everyone else. Peacock, once a joke in the streaming world, has THE OFFICE and FRIENDS, both of which are cash cows worth billions and has quickly amassed a substantial subscriber base of people who just want to watch reruns of decade old shows.
Most surprisingly, now that people are pouring back into movie theaters, Sony has shown that extending the theatrical run of its features actually increases viewer interests when these films hit pay per view months down the road and is doing just fine without its own streaming service.
I also think people are getting tired of high concept shows and are increasingly hungering for a mix of comfort food and more traditional drama.
There has also been a substantial resurgence in book reading, primarily fueled by Tik Tok. Much of it is YA drivel but a good chunk of it is surprisingly more substantial, from Austen to Murakami and a lot of other serious writers in between. Barnes & Noble is rolling in cash and is going to start opening about 25 stores a year for the next decade because of the surge in young customers.
Sony has had its own low-rent streaming service for years, Crackle. They might pour more into it as the current big-budget streamers stumble (much as Sony has one relatively low-profile but probably profitable US broadcast network, getTV).
Todd, CNN+ just folded after millions were poured into it. As the Recession approaches, more and more cable channels and media websites will crash and burn.
Probably. They’ve been collapsing for some time. Though if the content providers start demanding more money from cable (which is handing a Whole Lot of their customers’ money to Disney for ESPN and NewsCorp for Fox News) in a concerted effort, that might help matters there.
Todd, the Pandemic artificially inflated the subscriptions of the streaming services like Netflix, HULU, etc. Now, with things getting back to “normal,” people leave their houses and seek other entertainment. Plus, the Inflation forces content providers to demand more money from the streaming services who, in turn, increase prices for subscriptions. People have to decide on whether they want Netflix or a tank of gas.
CNN+ was a remarkably stupid offer in terms of execution and programming. And not bothering to support it beyond the baby-step stumbles is even more stupid.
Todd, CNN+ will be a case study in business schools for decades. CNN’s rating started to slide once Trump retreated to Mar-a-Lago, but instead of looking at the projected audience numbers, CNN executives doubled down with CNN+. If you find yourself in a hole…stop digging!
Byron, once again your media analysis is spot on! Netflix stock is tumbling. You’re right: Netflix spent a lot of money hoping to get lucky with another SQUID GAME. Netflix subscribers are dropping like flies. HULU and the rest of the streaming services face the same prospect during this time of Inflation. Gas will be $5 a gallon soon and people will have to make tough decisions on what to cut. Streaming services will at the top of the list.
I agree on Netflix. Where is the next MONEY HEIST or SQUID GAME? Recent shows have mostly been mediocre at best.
Jeff, Netflix is desperate for a hit series. Subscribers are dropping them in droves.
Well they had Ozark but that has just ended. No really good new series.
Never understood the popularity of Friends. Never found it funny.
I haven’t watched much streaming stuff since baseball season started, but with the new Bosch and the final season of STRANGER THINGS on the way the streamers will get me back for a while. I don’t have, and will never have Disney +, so MOON KNIGHT isn’t on the menu. I do sort of have a thing for weird westerns, so it’s pretty likely that OUTER RANGE will get me eventually despite your review.
Michael, I’m a big fan of James Brolin. I love the cast of OUTER RANGE. But the writers seem to dwell on much ado about nothing in many of the episodes.
I think you mean Josh Brolin.
Steve, yeah, I meant Josh not James.
Yes, the streamers have been seeking too much that’s flashy over good, and volume over quality. I suspect even Disney’s bubble is going to burst as Marvel and STAR WARS properties grow attenuated.
But I suspect we’ll keep seeing at least as many services, and will see cable-style bunding becoming more common, as we see with cable stations on the likes of Pluto now.
Todd, the Pandemic forced people to resort to the streaming services which increased the profits…temporarily. Now, economic conditions are changed.
Haven’t tried either of these two but am watching UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN (HULU) and THE STAIRCASE on HBO MAX. Liked the first two eps of BOSCH but the third one took me back to why I quit it. Too many plots I don’t care about. Esp. his daughter who isn’t much of an actress to get that much screen time. I don’t have AMC or I would be watching SAUL. Is there another season of HANDMAID’s TALE or is Steve watching older ones? I am so-so on Barry. Thirty minute shows that aren’t funny seem off to me. WE OWN THIS CITY-scared me too much.
Patti, I’m about to give up on BOSCH: LEGACY. Like you, I not enamored with Bosch’s daughter and her antics.
The last season of Handmaid’s Tale. Apparently, there will be another season. Disappointed in We Own This City. No likable main character. Jon Berenthal just isn’t a likable actor.
Correction: it’s Josh Brolin, not James.
Otherwise, agree on OUTER RANGE. We’ll watch the rest of the season (Jackie’s favorite s Lili Taylor), but not sure about series two. Brolin’s behavior is secretive to a ridiculous degree – he doesn’t tell his wife anything! – to the extent where he doesn’t tell anyone about the huge hole, he never confronts Poots about her (SPOILER ALERT) pushing him in the hole (END SPOILER), etc. It’s hard to tell his sons apart at times. Poots still annoys the heck out of me. Why doesn’t anyone just tell her to get the hell off their land? She wants “her” necklace? Well, you lost it playing cards, so it isn’t yours anymore! Annoying is probably the word I’d use, overall.
No Disney +.
Jeff, you’re right. I meant Josh (although I like James, too). You’re as annoyed with OUTER RANGE as I am. Plenty of craziness, anger, and a failure to communicate.
streaming is beyond my technical skills or at least that’s what I tell myself. I don’t have amazon or netflix streaming, but did reup for discs on netflix to keep my queue intact.
At a friends, I watched the last episode of Reacher 1 (all I’ve seen) but loved it, and liked seeing Lee Child’s cameo. We then watched the Reacher movie made from the book One Shot. Gary W. Niebuhr & I were characters in the book, but didn’t make it into the movie. I’d seen the movie before, but had forgotten so much it was like seeing it for the first time.
I’m keeping busy with high school alumni stuff: co chair of the 55th reunion (lunch), Coordinator of the lunch bunch (next up Amtrack to San Juan Capistrano for lunch and tour), and for the school alumni foundation, co chair of the Hall of fame. We have some real notables: Joan Embry of the San Diego Zoo & Johnny Carson show, Valerie Ziegenfuss, tennis star, Greg Bear SF writer, musicians Steven Bishop & Jack Tempchin and many sports figures. There are so many on the list that have us wondering who approved them, including a playboy centerfold who only attended our school for a very short time, and self published writers.
Maggie, with a line-up like that, your Reunion will generate a lot of memories! I remember that you and Gary were characters in that Lee Child book! Maybe you’ll make it into Season Two of REACHER.
https://www.vulture.com/2022/04/netflix-bad-decisions-have-caught-up-with-it.html
I prefer my cowboys and Indians without aliens! That said, I enjoyed the movie Cowboys and Aliens, but once is enough for me! I don’t get streaming so none of that talk is relevant to me!
Bob, the streaming services are struggling now. I’m sure, if you’re interested, you could bargain with Netflix or HULU for a rock-bottom subscription price.