Blood & Oil

Loved the first show.... I found it powerful. I could have easily watched another hour of this. Don Johnson continues to capture his audience with a bold and demanding character. I have enjoyed his work over the years and will in this series as well it appears. All of the actors supplied electrifying performances which kept my attention from the get go. The outdoor scenery supplies a freshness to the show however the brassiness of the writing gives it a superb twist. Never thought of South Dakota as a place of drilling for oil, one thinks of Texas, so this show could provide that area of the United States with a new look. The thrill of what would happen next kept my sense alert and attentive in the moment. I look forward to the next episode.

This is one of the best new shows ever. My husband and I watch it every Sunday and the way the episodes end with you hanging we can't wait for the next one. So glad to see Don Johnson back on TV and these characters very believable and interesting. Twists and turns all appreciated, keeps the story moving and captivating. Right from the start I was ready to compare it to Dallas, but I think this one is even better, more edgy and dark. I think this could be the one new show of 2015 that actually makes TV worthwhile again. I like these types of shows that grab you and you just can't wait for the next episode. There hasn't been one of these in a long time - welcome back Sunday night TV.

This prime time drama isn't a typical soap. People expecting a "Dallas" or "Revenge" glamour with high fashion and mansions won't find it here. It's set in rural oil fields. An ambitious young couple arrive in a town set to boom from oil discovery and tangle with local big wig couple. Quite a bit happens in the pilot with some things that seem a bit over the top to grab your attention like cars going off the road twice in 1 episode.

The main cast is watchable and attractive. Newcomer Rebecca Rittenhouse is pretty enough - not too glam to be unbelievable. Chace Crawford transitions well from Upper East Side to blue collar. Don Johnson has always been quite watchable and hasn't let himself go. Amber Valetta plays the ultimate second wife well. She was great in Revenge and looks to be a scene stealer here.

You want to see what happens hopefully it won't give into irritating clichés - the bad son seems a bit clichéd.

Interesting setting - check. Great chemistry between lead actors - check. Solid supporting cast - check. Story moving along briskly - check. Great cinematography - check.

This promises to be just the right kind of slickly done action-soap-opera, a world with modern-day-Wild-West intrigue. This show reminds me of Hell On Wheels, despite the obvious anachronism of being set in modern times.

It is filmed well, the couple who are the main protagonists have genuine chemistry. They don't seem like "actors", "acting to be a couple" - at all.

The characters have believable motivations, and the show has heart.

Heart is something that's been present in many shows of the 90s and earlier, regardless of their objective quality, but in the cynical age of today it has been lost. "Breaking Bad", for example, a great show otherwise, didn't have heart. Many shows of today find it safer to stick to cynicism and negative humor.

"Blood & Oil" is refreshingly earnest - it doesn't twist itself into a pretzel to manipulate the viewer. As result, its emotion is simple and therefore relatable. When you feel for someone in this show, you feel it with them.

Whoever's in charge of this show, has a clarity of vision. Let them never lose it.

For all intents and purposes, I found this show to peak my initial interest. Yes, it feels a lot like the old Dallas show, but frankly, I kinda want that, a bit. I wasn't around when the old show aired and I wouldn't mind getting a similar feeling from more modern showing.

Pros: The chemistry of the characters. Hod-damn, they work extremely well together. I mean, REALLY well. They come off as very believable group of people to the viewer. Either from modest or wealthy backgrounds, each character is individualized to the point of strong believe-ability, which I cannot stress enough is something I've longed for in a show for some time. And while it's only been the first episode, I look forward to seeing it develop into something entertaining to, perhaps, re-watch in the future.

Cons: Yes, there is certainly a Dallas feel to it. So what? Dallas was great, why can't this be? I see too many people crying about how it is similar to one show that they can't appreciate it for that fact alone (that's more of a personal irritation, I'll admit). I guess a negative would be that the aspect of the whole town hasn't been thoroughly shown yet in the first episode, aiming instead to focus more on the main characters, initially. Not necessarily a bad thing, and it is only the first episode, so I mostly let it slide. But the action of the first episode - can they make it last? That's another worry. I found it to be a solid opening, so I wonder if they can keep that strong approach going.

In the end, Blood and Oil does have my recommendation. Yes, it is not a perfectly original show, but heck, if Dallas never existed, I'd find this show to be a good contender for best pilot episode of the year.

So, by the end, give it a chance, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.