Damnation

I measure how well done a show is by whether or not I think about it in the days between episodes. This is one of those rare shows that caused me to think about it with anticipation. Damnation will definitely be on my short list of new favorites. The character development drives the story. I took off a star because the pacing wasn't perfect, but for the most part it was spot on.

I do not usually review shows, but I decided to review this one because I was surprised that the overall user rating was so low for the quality of the series. As I suspected, when I read other user reviews I saw that they lowballed it because they do not agree with the political slant, as a result it jaundiced the overall rating. The acting was well done, the cinematography is first rate, I adored the costuming and sets. Basically, I do not understand how anyone could give this show a 1 star because they do not agree with the politics. Do yourself a favor and watch for yourself and decide, unless of course you are too much of a snowflake to watch programming that disagrees with your political views.

FINALLY something to look forward to on TV! THANK YOU! I don't understand these people who give bad reviews based on historical details or compare it to real life government, THIS IS A FICTIONAL DRAMA TV SHOW NOT A DOCUMENTARY people!! This is a great show and I'm sick of all the great shows getting dropped! If one more good show gets dropped I'm leaving cable TV for good. For the USA network: ratings would probably be so much higher but all At&t customers can't record shows ahead of time anymore. At&t now only allows us to setup recording of a show a few hours before the show however most people WORK and have children and busy lives therefor aren't in front of the TV a few hours ahead of any showtime whereas before we could look ahead many hours even days/weeks to schedule upcoming shows we wanted! We tried using At&t's search option and it didn't come up that way either and it's not on demand, therefor it's impossible for most people to record this show!! We had to watch it on our black box/android box. We did however purchase this show on Amazon in an attempt to try and help its ratings in hopes it will stay on TV but its not likely what most people are going to do. At&t's has the worst on demand services for its high tier customers.

I've really enjoyed the first two episodes. The cast is attractive, can act and the script is well done. The premise of the rich vs the poor is fitting in the current time of our country. There is enough action to keep it exciting, plenty of questions that need answering and enough drama to keep you watching.

I binge watched Damnation during lockdown and thoroughly enjoyed it. I can't believe it passed me by when first released, but then lockdown has given most of us a bit more time on our hands. The first couple of episodes were a little slow, which is why I gave it 9 stars. However, the storyline and action ramped up after this making Damnation an action packed series. The acting was top notch, especially the brothers, Seth and Creeley. I really hope Netflix commissions another series.

If you liked "Deadwood" you might like "Damnation." Both "Damnation" and "Deadwood" are about power politics and corruption in western settings, "Deadwood" being set in the 19th Century Gilded Age in South Dakota, "Damnation" set in rural Iowa during the Great Depression (1931). FYI, the writers and director of "Damnation" have worked on projects like "Longmire" and "Office Space." The writing is well done (if brutal), and the acting excellent. Filmed in Calgary, Alberta, the scenery passes well enough for some parts of Iowa.

One of the differences between the two series is that "Damnation" is, while set in the past, deliberately intends to comment on our current state of affairs in the early 21st Century. The 1930's, like our time now, was a time when the economy failed millions, institutions such as the press, law enforcement and the courts appeared to have been corrupted, and the answers to these problems seemed they could only be solved by revolutions either by the extreme right or the extreme left. The comparisons can be taken a little far: one character, representing the "Big Business" interests coming after the small farmers, reveals that the interests he represents wants to eventually kick the farmers off their land to not only mechanize agriculture, but also mechanize factories and warfare (I think with our fears of Artificial Intelligence, this is more a fear of our time than the 1930's).

Another difference between "Deadwood" and "Damnation" is that the ruthless business interests are actively being opposed. The farmers are attempting to unionize and strike to protect themselves (though two of the main characters, who are the main labor organizers, would likely really prefer a workers revolution). Also, media like the investigative press and radio may also end up playing part in opposing "Big Business" and their enforcers. So far however, the local paper in "Damnation" is covering up the attempt to drive the small farmers off their land by price fixing and violence by strikebreakers.

The USA Network provides excellent video interviews with the director and writers, who make clear this is their intent. "To understand the present, go back to the past," one of the writers says, or that the series, while set in the 1930's "Mirrors the Past (director Adam Kane)." USA also provides a couple of good mini-documentaries "Legacy of the Heartland: The One Thousand" and "Legacy of the Heartland: War of Words." The documentaries and the interviews put the characters and the action in better context, and really make this interesting, well thought out series more understandable.