Hatfields and McCoys -- Your Opinions?

[C. Neil]

Rather surprised that no one's discussing the History Channel miniseries, which I have found superb (though I don't get to see part III until the wife gets home today, so I can't draw a definite conclusion.) Despite its Appalachian setting, it certainly looks and feels very much like a Western--and a darn good one, at that.

I'd be interested to see if the folks around here enjoyed it as much as I have. If part III is as compelling as I and II, it'll end up a keeper alongside Open Range, 3:10, and the Coens' True Grit. I will admit to being an easy target; if a movie has horses and handguns, I'm pretty much sold. I also have a distant Costner connection, so I'm doubly biased.

And since I have limited my 19th century studies to what occurred west of the Mississippi, I'd be interested to know your take on its historical veracity...before I get all obsessive and start reading every thing I can get my hands on. And to that point, I'd love reading recommendations.

CNW

[Mundo Osterberg]

I heard it was actually filmed in Romania and got bored during a lot of it.

[Murray A. Gewirtz]

There are some discussions of The Hatfields and the McCoys on the Forum entitled "The Last Western You Watched."

[Michael]

As  I said in the other thread Randolph McCoy and Anse Hatfield never served together in the Confederate Army. The series lost all historical credibility after the first scene. The history lacking "History Channel" sacrifices fact for entertainment. The series ratings prove that their model worked.

[Marshal Harting]

It got 13.9 million viewers. Very high rating. I really liked it. Plus I had some kin back there during the fued. If it followed the actual history it would have been very boring.

[Gay Mathis]

Tells us how you really feel, Milt...:)

Michael, that formula was still working for the History Channel as the finale drew 14.3 million viewers..It did get rather tedious with 3 nights of it..

[Sue Cauhape]

Agreed. I watched all three episodes but had become weary of the senseless killing. It only got worse. At least Johnsie had the sense to finally climb on his horse a ride west to make a new life for himself. Aside from the obvious sex-violence-mayhem aspect, though, I saw it as a treatise about following outside authorities vs. following your own instincts. Anse Hatfield followed his own sense of right and wrong while Randolph McCoy put his faith in God, the law, and attorneys. In the end, he lost all faith and never evolved out of his hatred. He literally burned in a fiery hell when he died. But Anse died in his sleep after having made his peace with the community, God, and what was left of his family. It was interesting to see how the machinations of "justice" in that time and place fed the feud.

[Wolfgang]

First episode was Ok. Some inaccuracies ( saddles, lever action rifles ) but Ok. Second eppisode . . . made it thru it. Third eppisode. . . turned it OFF.

[C. F. 'Charley' Eckhardt]

[C. F. 'Charley' Eckhardt]

[Mundo Osterberg]

You didn't have anything "nice" to say Charley?