Television programmes like “Westworld,” “Yellowstone,” and “1883” have revitalized the Western subgenre, although “The English” is stylistically closer to “1883” than the others. “The English” is ripe with potential to be added to this line-up in the not-too-distant future. The bar is set high with the opener, “What You Want and What You Need.” It invokes a style that blends elements of the Coen brothers and Taylor Sheridan's work, and I mean that in the best possible way. With Emily Blunt in the lead role and Hugo Blick (The Honourable Woman) at the helm, the show is ambitious and promises plenty. Plot-wise, despite the fact that the story looks to be a relatively straightforward vengeance story thus far, “The English” feels as if it may go in any which way, and that is what pulls you in. Definitely worth checking out.
Their relation is pretty much only about them pitying each other and being impressed by the resolve of the other.
On top of that there are silly and/or brutal actions, with frequent lecturing about how people are doomed.
Shame, this could have been a lot better.
Storytelling that does not assume the audience is incapable of thought and reasoning.
An unvarnished look at the unsettled west and the way it hardens, or spits you out. Worlds and cultures collide in this richly woven tale that keeps it close to the vest as it doles out it secrets deftly.
It is beautifully shot and acted and won't disappoint any who don't need a spoon-fed story.
Normally westerns are a easy watch the fight between good and bad but this is more complicated than quantum physics, when it flows its excellent but half the time I didn't have a clue what was happening.
The English (2022): 8/10 (Great)
“The English” is a beautifully composed and uniquely told western that is worth watching.
The series is sure to captivate you thanks to Hugo Blick’s unique storytelling and near-poetic dialogue, as well as the breathtaking cinematography and some stills that are works of art in their own right.
Emilia Blunt and Chaske Spencer do a fantastic job of bringing genuine warmth to their roles and developing convincing chemistry with one another on screen. Especially Emilia Blunt, who gives a powerful yet subtle performance that really brings the character to life. The supporting ensemble does a good job as a whole, and Rafe Spal, in particular, is a highlight anytime he appears on the screen.
While it’s not without flaws, it’s certainly worth watching. The show’s stunning cinematography and brilliant performances bring the story to life, making it a beautiful and emotionally powerful watch. “The English” will undoubtedly appeal to those with a taste for westerns and period dramas.
If you like to watch a series that takes it time, that draws you into the moments by great performances, which recreates worlds forgotten and misrepresented over time, that is set against a beautiful palette of prairie colours, then this is the series for you, as it was for me. I give this series a 9 (breathtaking) out of 10. [Unlikely Western Drama]
Western drama mystery, I'd say. Horror tag perhaps. Decent watch albeit slow throughout. Stomach churning at times, the blood and violence especially the ending with the calamity.
I'd rate it, 7 maybe 8 if you're really into the native american/early America genre.
I can't believe Emily Blunt married the guy from the office. Talk about luck
a classic, honors the other great westerns.
A visually ravishing production. A small story, but with so much impact. Great acting, great design and great camera-work. The dialogue was often quite distilled and arcane, but very poetic. A feast for the heart and mind. It has been on my mind off and one for a few days. The ending was odd, but in the end the tragedy was uppermost, not really unfolded to the final episode where pieces interlocked. Some narration at the beginning sorts it out really. Good job I read the subs after each episode. 8/10
When I saw the opening I thought for sure, I'm going to see a beautiful western series. And then the theme song played, I was for certain this is going to be amazing. Then after episode 2, some mistakes were made but nothing drastic. But as it continued, I scratched my head and wondered what the hell is the story? What's the plot? And if you don't know that, it can get difficult to care for characters and really the show itself. Anyways, I haven't seen The Honorable Woman, but it doesn't appear I will now if it's the same storytelling as this series. Chaske Spencer is amazing! I'm glad he got a juicy role like this one, I just wished Hugo Blick gave as much enthusiasm for the story. I'm still scratching my head but there is a beautiful series here, it's just stuck in a rubbish plot.
[HBO Max] One of the most interesting contributions to the Western genre in recent years, which is reflected in the classic Fordian landscapes to create a story that has a certain psychoanalytic background, which reflects on racism, miscegenation and the tragic sense of American natives. An operistic classic Western with the backdrop of gorgeous Spanish landscapes and an extraordinary soundtrack.
I love Emily Blunt. In any century.
"You didn't blink."
"At mother's love?"
loved the story & the cinematography, absolutely brilliant. Emily Blunt exceptional!
What makes The English one of the best Western-set TV series is the ability to juxtapose the human brutality of the Wild West days with the rare feelings of love, justice and a dash of vengeance that allowed people to survive those times. The gigantic interpretation of Emily Blunt and that of the hieratic Chaske Spencer make it an authentic masterpiece. Furthermore, the choice to make it a single season was the right decision, because it will deliver it to the Olympus of cinematography.
I’m in love with Hugo Blick since The Honourable Woman came out so of course I was super excited about him making a western centered on Emily Blunt. And what a beauty it is. A revisionist western that shoots in all directions, mixing melodrama, adventure, some very silly stuff, tragedy, humor, grandeur, while showing some amazing vistas, incredibles skies and a very strong cast of actors. Emily Blunt, Chaske Spencer e Rafe Spall are astonishing and everybody else is so good too.
Finally, something not written by an AI, or by humans trained by one. Thank you, Hugo Blick, for an interesting story. And thank you everyone involved for the splendid work.
Kinda boring western show. Way better ones out there.
Wonderful story about the horror that was the west in America.
Takes a while to get into the rhythm of Hugo Blick's style, but even though I come to enjoy his dense, florid dialogue, I still feel the story is too overstuffed with subplots and detours for a six-episode miniseries, to the point of its world's real geography and timelines coming off as choppy in-story sometimes. Maybe I'm feeling this because its many tangents takes time away from the core story concerning Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer, whose individual characters and developing bond are both so captivating. The nuances of their interplay throughout are so gorgeously rendered and almost unbearably melancholic, which makes the finale -- in which both the two characters and their relationship snap into tight focus -- the miniseries' best episode, a bittersweet heartbreaker.
I loved every single episode except of the last. Highly recommended, nevertheless.
Four episodes in and I still don't have a clue what this show is about.
It was ok, ending was predictable but the set up was weak.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/emily-blunts-the-english-on-amazon-review-a-punishing-stunning-western
you've been warned.
I'm looking forward to this. I'll have a pad and pencil ready. :smile:
Shout by moscowmikeBlockedParent2022-11-13T18:16:28Z
Loved it great performance from Emily Blunt and ChaskeSpencer