This was close to a flawless episode. Even w/o Mr. Sheridan at the helm the cinematography in this episode is beautiful. The close up shots of Elsa at the end, the reflection of the water on Elsa and her mom, capturing the almost leather like face of Sam Elliot while in distress. At the hands of a lesser production this show could be something from the CW. But everything is done with so much respect for the land and to capture that authenticity of the harshness the pioneers faced there are very few campy moments in the show despite having a 20 something y/o's love story intertwined into everything.
Mr. Sheridan unabashed appreciation for how our country developed into what it is today has never been more apparent than in 1883 through the narrations from Elsa. It's there that he shows his poetic chops and romanticizes the old west in ways that Yellowstone can not. There's so many ways a narration device could go wrong through the voice of a young woman who looks like an instagram model. But it's here where the show finds itself and gives the viewer some pause w/episode 5 pushing the narration to new heights. Elsa's enthusiasm for freedom and exploration is an absolute breath of fresh air, Ms. May is phenomenal thus far in her portrayal of Elsa and I haven't seen someone light up a TV screen as she does in a while.
I just can't help but to think how many pioneers and Native Americans died and sacrificed with the expansion west to build this country; the Oregon Trail used to be just a game to me but means a lot more now. The past 2 episodes push that painful narrative hard and it absolutely works. It's devastating to think about and makes you appreciate what previous generations did to make the way for us.
1883 has touched me profoundly.
