04/18/17
The latter 1900s only had a handful of worthy western series following the decline of the broad insurgence of the weekly western in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80s. For nearly four decades, the western genre soared with regular primetime selections. Among them, greats such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Roy Rogers prevailed...just to name a few. Over the years, the genre declined. Perhaps audiences tired of the weekly western heroics. Or perhaps networks assumed their demographics were bound to fluctuate. Either way, the cowboy hero waned dim over the modern decade of the 80s and 90s. That is, until a brief resurgence gave us several treasured classics to add to its many predecessors. Well, if they aren't known as classics yet, just maybe we and the next generation will see them as such today and never let their memory fade.
The latter 1900s only had a handful of worthy western series following the decline of the broad insurgence of the weekly western in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80s. For nearly four decades, the western genre soared with regular primetime selections. Among them, greats such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Roy Rogers prevailed...just to name a few. Over the years, the genre declined. Perhaps audiences tired of the weekly western heroics. Or perhaps networks assumed their demographics were bound to fluctuate. Either way, the cowboy hero waned dim over the modern decade of the 80s and 90s. That is, until a brief resurgence gave us several treasured classics to add to its many predecessors. Well, if they aren't known as classics yet, just maybe we and the next generation will see them as such today and never let their memory fade.
 |
| The Young Riders Season 2 cast (Source: Google) |
One such result of the short-lived modern western series revival involved a look into the lives of a group of young men all thrown together to serve as brave riders in the historically significant troop known as the Pony Express. Presented with a job that required each rider to risk their lives daily, they sacrificed comfort for the sake of the written word to be conveyed from one part of the United States to the other. Each member of the Pony Express had their own unique traits that made them who they were and added to the daily saga of their lives. Some members could easily be recognized as younger versions of their historically famous older counterparts while others were fictional, introduced into this timeless series to make up what would become far more than a "western workplace" but a FAMILY. A family that loved each other and would do anything to help their fellow man. If you were to ask me who is the lead character in YR, the simple answer is there isn't one. But actually...there is. The Pony Express is the main character. And the very heart from its mark in the years of history gone by is exhibited through the lives of such an exemplary ensemble cast. (Warning: Some spoilers ahead.)
The Young Riders was first welcomed into homes across America on September 20, 1989, and introduced a young man who simply went by the name "The Kid." In the opening scenes, The Kid (Ty Miller) is first seen with little belongings except the clothes on his back. And by the looks of him, he has clearly traveled far. When a beautiful mare catches his eye, The Kid risks his life in the fighting ring to win the funds necessary to make her his own. By a narrow victory, he and his horse Katy sign on with the Pony Express soon after. Humbly yet with prized courage tucked behind his quiet exterior, The Kid meets the other riders, discovering the family he'd soon come to love. Leading the Sweetwater, Kansas, Express Station is an eccentrically unique character named Teaspoon Hunter whose heart of gold and fighting ambition stemming from his years as a Texas Ranger more than makes up for his lack of proper manners on occasion. Among the rest of the express riders is portrayals of historical figures such as William F. Cody (Stephen Baldwin), James Butler Hickok (Josh Brolin), and a teenage Jesse James (Christopher Pettiet) in the final season. Although they are somewhat fictional representations in certain ways, The Young Riders is faithful to portray these figures from history throughout the series in a way that explores what could have happened in their lives that gave them the such notable reputations that we remember them by still today. The rest of the riders include Buck Cross (Gregg Rainwater), a half-Kiowa who oftentimes helps bridge the gap between the white man and Native American when unrest arises. His best friend, Ike McSwain (Travis Fine), although without the use of speech never lets this keep him from excelling as an express rider and protecting those he cares about. Louise "Lou" McCloud (Yvonne Suhor) introduces herself into the fold under the guise of being a man in order to prove herself just as good and make a life for herself and her family in a male-dominated world. She quickly succeeds at this but fears for her future when her secret is discovered. Little does she know that she is surrounded by family who would never turn their backs on her just because she's a girl. Rounding off the riders in season two, the station welcomes a new rider named Noah Dixon (Don Franklin), a free black man in search of justice both for his people and within himself.
In addition to the express riders, the station and its dwellers were well cared for by two dynamic women over the course of the series' three seasons. In season one, Emma Shannon (Melissa Leo) kept the station fed and going while also keeping the boys in line. While she didn't take any flack from the boys, she was also a kindhearted woman with the heart of a mother, ready to comfort a broken heart without hesitation. This can also be said for Rachel Dunne (Claire Wren) who after much trial and error was kept on as Emma's replacement when Emma would marry Sweetwater's U.S. marshal Sam Cain at the end of season one.
The Young Riders is easily one of the best westerns I have ever seen. It is faithful to the classic spirit of the west and embodies the way storytelling was meant to be done. Each story is filled with raw emotion and realities of the west with a clear deference between good and evil...and good always overcomes in one way or another. No, the ending is not always rosy and nice. But good prevails. Of course there are struggles as always. But when push comes to shove, the riders are always there for each other to ensure that the right thing is done and justice prevails. These characters are relatable and imperfect, struggling and victorious. Each twist and turn they take in life leads to a lesson learned for both the character and the viewer. And as a result, they are better person for it unlike modern dramas which solely play on drama and emotions without giving you a strong prevailing theme to take with you in life. TYR addressed many of the issues that faced the fledgling west just prior to the Civil War. From slavery to the budding conception of the war that tore our country in two, TYR did an excellent job of digging into the heart of the era before the war, searching hearts and situations while exploring what could have happened in people's lives leading up to the insurgence of battle. TYR doesn't just simply tell a story but reveals real life as it was in the west to a new generation of viewers in the early 90s.
Unlike today's unstructured method of television, TYR held to the classic non-serialized format of storytelling just like its predecessors. Each episode equaled a different story. I personally believe that this format should have continued into today. But somewhere along the line, that was abandoned. Costuming was well-done and very accurate to traditional western television settings. I also must commend the commitment to letting the characters get dirty. I know some people may think this sounds odd; but getting dirty was a part of everyday life in the west. Even today it's hard not to get dusty when you're walking around your yard in the summer. So now I make it a point to look for this quality in television shows. Do the characters get dirty? Yes! They get dirt smears on their clothes, and you can tell they've been sweating. It's life! And it makes television greater when you keep it real...just like life. Sometimes they just simply aren't perfect. Welcome to life as is in reality. They wouldn't have worn makeup and fancy clothes all the time. Especially considering the hard lifestyles they lived. And to the actors, thank you for sacrificing a bit of dignity for the sake of authenticity. Know that it does not go unappreciated!
Content wise, you can expect a typical western atmosphere from this series. Gun fights and fist fights...it's got them all! But if you know me and have read my previous reviews, you know how I feel about this. Sometimes violence is necessary. It all depends on the context. Is it being used as a righteous tool to overcome evil in this show? Is it the last resort for the characters? And is it clear when it is been used wrongly by the villain? Absolutely! Therefore, I have no complaints here. Good news, there is no graphic violence. You don't see the wounds up close, and vicious acts of murder at the hands of the enemies usually takes place off screen. This series is very faithful to the traditional makeup of the classic westerns. My only major warning to you about TYR is mainly for language. It is very mild and there is no cursing of God. But many various uses of D and H are commonly used throughout. Therefore, I can only highly recommend this series for more mature audiences. Also, Rachel tends to wear low-cut blouses. In addition, sex is avidly addressed in one episode; and you briefly see the before and after of an implied intimate scene during two characters' wedding night. Very few episodes also have some implied comments. There are also many saloon scenes and implications of what goes on in such an establishment from history as is usually portrayed in most western productions.
I am very happy to recommend this series to you all! It is one of the great examples of how to do a western the right way. The stories are filled with rich western nostalgia and the true spirit of the west that has been lost over time. If you are looking for a television series that takes storytelling seriously and doesn't leave an emotional stone unturned while also being faithful to history, then The Young Riders is right for you.
As of this post, The Young Riders airs weekdays on Starz Westerns (previously Encore) at approximately 7:15 p.m. EST and on getTV every weekday at 6 p.m. EST.
Look for further insight into the world of The Young Riders in the future with more blog posts as I look into many of its individual stories, episodes, and characters to discover just what it is about TYR that just perhaps gives it a place among our western classics.
No comments:
Post a Comment