Godless Season 1 Review: Come For Michelle Dockery, Stay For A Beautiful Western

If you're like me, you starting watching "Godless" because of Michelle Dockery. After her time as Lady Mary on "Downton Abbey", Michelle continues to explore other challenges. Check her out as a grifter in TNT's "Good Behavior". See my reviews here. "Godless" gives her an opportunity to act in a Western as well.

There are lots of other reasons to watch "Godless" besides Michelle though. The show takes place near La Belle New Mexico (a town populated almost entirely of women). An explosion in the mine wiped out most of the men (83 to be exact) several years ago. The women are doing well fending for themselves. That is until a stranger seeks refuge on Alice Fletcher's farm. Roy Goode (Jack O'Connell) stole some already stolen money from his one armed surrogate father Frank Griffin (played to chilling perfection by Jeff Daniels). Frank and his gang search for Roy and leave a trial of death in their wake.

Besides Alice and Roy, there are a number of other interesting characters. Alice's mother-in-law is a Paiute Indian named Iyovi (Tantoo Cardinal). I would liked to have seen more of her as well as Alice's son Truckee. Amongst the townsfolk, we have an almost blind sheriff Bill McNue and his sister Mary Agnes. She was previously married to the town's mayor. Since his death, Mary Agnes (the always wonderful Meredith Weaver) has donned pants and doesnt give a s#$t what anyone thinks of her. The local madame Callie Dunne (who incidentally is the richest person in town) is now a teacher (and also has a thing for Mary Agnes).

There are a number of other plots but I won't go into all of them here. The main ones include mine reps trying to swindle the ladies out of the mine. A group of African American Civil War veterans live in a settlement called Blackdom. The young new sheriff Whitney has a thing for a girl there named Louise. Mary Agnes and Callie have a lover's quarrel. A newspaper writer comes to town (and published where Roy is hiding). Roy and Alice's relationship deepens. Alice teaches him how to read and write. Roy takes Truckee under his wing and shows him how to break horses.

We learn how a young Roy came into contact with Frank. We also learn some of Frank's background. Mormon's killed his family and then raised him. Frank thinks God has shown him how he will die (so he's not afraid of anyone).

The final confrontation between Frank's gang and the heavily outnumbered ladies of La Belle is a tense battle. The women, having no to run since their horses are stolen, make their last stand at the Hotel La Belle. Mary Agnes and Alice camp out on the roof. The other ladies including Martha (the crazy German painter) are stationed inside. Meanwhile the children and old folks are safely hidden in the mine entrance. It looks like all is lost when Bill arrives, followed by Roy. After some twenty minutes the tide turns. There are a number of casualties but at least some survive including: Martha and her new beau, Callie, Mary Agnes, Alice, Roy, Bill, Louise, etc.

Griffin escapes but Roy finds him in the woods with Truckee and of course shoots him dead. After Roy leaves, Alice finds the money Roy left her for along with a thank you note. Roy is off to California to find his long lost brother. We last see him sitting atop his horse looking at the ocean.

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5 total) "Godless" unfolds over seven episodes. Just dont expect this to be a quick shoot-em-up or you will be sorely disappointed. Its a sloooow burn. Each episode is typically 70 minutes. There are long scenes of nothing by a guy riding a horse. The cinematography is breathtaking though (so it's well worth a watch). The show feels more like a major motion picture than a streaming series.

The key players are engaging to watch. Sure there are tons of Western tropes but I dont mind. It has what I was looking for-- a battle between good (well actually "Goode") and evil (with good triumphing).

My only criticism is that "Godless" was marketed as a progressive/feminist Western (since the town is run by women). Unfortunately we didnt get to see a lot about them. Most of the time is spent on Roy's story instead (which is fine but just dont inaccurately suggest that the series is something it's not). Any chance there will be season 2? If so, I'd like to see more of the women's stories explored.