Godless (2017)

This languorous and quite brilliant new western allows Michelle Dockery to deliver a fine study in no-nonsense doughtiness as Alice Fletcher while deftly weaving contemporary issues into a gripping narrative. The critic singles out its lyrical yet crisply understated quality as making it one of the best Netflix dramas.

The critic highlights the depth of character moments, superb and unexpected casting, and how the series plots a vigorous new path through Western terrain with contemporary relevance. It concludes that Godless shines and has earned its stripes as a must-watch.

The seven-part miniseries is grim, exciting and visually arresting, with standout performances and a slow-burn classic western plot that builds to a violent confrontation. The critic singles out the lyrical, impressionistic cinematography and aesthetic pleasure as its strongest elements.

Godless is so good that even those who do not like Westerns will enjoy it. It offers gorgeous landscapes, fascinating characters, and a modern take on the genre with strong performances from the entire cast.

The series starts as a classic revenge story but becomes a progressive, semi-pacifist character study. It highlights strong performances, especially from Merritt Wever and Jeff Daniels, in a visually striking feminist Western.

The review lauds the series as an excellent dust-up of the Western genre that is both smart and entertaining, with exceptional performances, a feminist bent, and strong character drama balanced with action. It honors genre conventions while delivering fresh energy.

The series remains just good enough despite flashbacks and a softer side to the villain. Solid performances and beautiful scenery keep it from sinking lower, but it lacks substantial depth or improvement.

The critic praises the cinematic quality and execution of the Western series created by Scott Frank, highlighting strong performances and atmospheric storytelling. It notes reliance on familiar clichés without much originality but finds it satisfying for Western fans.

The critic finds the miniseries visually beautiful with strong performances but regrets that it romanticizes a complicated era and prioritizes male archetypes over deeper context or character development for others. It calls the result a long, pretty but trite and outdated fairy tale.

Netflix’s Godless is a captivating take on the Western genre with bloody, pulpy tension and standout performances. Jeff Daniels delivers one of Netflix’s best villains, supported by a strong ensemble and visually stunning direction.

The series gives the classic Western a modern twist with strong female characters and stunning visuals. A first-rate cast and dense plot are carried by the performances and cinematography, making it a thrilling feminist frontier drama.

The miniseries is a very good entertainment with a strong cast bringing charisma and depth to familiar Western tropes, elevated by natural direction and masterful pacing from Scott Frank. It remains an engaging if somewhat conventional take on the genre that could have explored its themes more deeply.

The critic finds Godless a beautiful but unoriginal Western that fails to capitalize on its intriguing all-female town premise, instead focusing on conventional gunslinger stories. She praises the nuanced portrayal of the ineffectual sheriff Bill McNue but notes the series prioritizes familiar clichés over innovative elements.