Estrada de Sangue

I just discovered this all too late. I really enjoyed the first two seasons and was pleased to watch something with a decent plot and acting for once. Really gutted that I don't get to know where the story ends as the second series ended just as things were really beginning to escalate. Such a waste.

At some points during the show it seems that there can be pointless scenes and the pacing can be slow, however, the foreshadowing of several different characters and the room for future plot lines could be immense.

Character development is spread in between the range of characters and gives us a chance to see and start to like the characters in the show, either good or bad. The different characters have deep personalities and are slowly revealed in different ways which creates a really grainy patch of the morals and decision making of these characters between either their families or moral beliefs.

The Red Road leaves room for future development but barely shows what it is capable of with just the first season. this isn't the type of show that instantly sticks, this show will develop and become more and more intriguing as time passes.

watching The Red Road is like patiently watching fog lift before your eyes. little by little we see the shape of the story and depths of these characters unveiled. father and son Kopus, Marie, Jean, and Harold are the most fascinating to discover. they are each deliciously multi-layered.

i think the direction, editing and acting are close to excellent because each scene is drawn out to perfect measure to increase tension or allow for emotional saturation. the only drawback for me so far are the segments dedicated to the star-crossed teenage lovers who may become irksome as forced interjections of sweetness in what would otherwise be a properly moody atmosphere of familial and racial turbulence.

somehow, i like the moody brooding atmosphere of this show. i'm transported by the stillness of the wide shots of woods, lakes and open fields. it's easy to become invested in the place and characters. there is no rush and i like that too. each word is measured, except of course with the character of Jean who is a force of nature in herself, so much so that her ramblings make you dizzy --awesome Julianne Nicholson. Jason Momoa and Tom Sizemore make sinister look good. Martin Henderson is a revelation for me because I have never found him to be particularly impressive. it is also so good to see Tamara Tunie in a completely different light (literally) from her drab post on L&O:SVU.

but if you're looking for weekly action, blood, profanity, sex, and breakneck speed...you won't get much of that here. meanwhile, i am enjoying the slow reveal of illicit activity, emotional disturbance and family drama. i think it's definitely a worthy watch.

I am not that familiar with Sundance's television programming up to this point, but when I learned that Jason Momoa was going to be in a dramatic series about race relations between a First Nation people and the white community I was fairly excited. For one, it seemed like Momoa would finally get an opportunity to demonstrate his acting ability. He is often characterized as a very wooden actor, but I think that is more that he is rarely given much to work with besides be big and unsettling. Secondly, it addresses racial issues that often go ignored in fiction in favor of more visible issues.

So far the acting overall is fairly good, although Julianne Nicholson's performance in the first season of Masters of Sex far outshines her work in this first episode. The direction and editing are competent. It is too early yet to tell how good the writing is going to get, but so far the show is quite engrossing and has the potential to be a great show.

In the wake of the recent wrap up of Breaking Bad and the thoroughly impressive True Detective, The Red Road may seem a bit light weight but the brief episode order (6 eps) and rather uncommon setting and perspective show a lot of promise for improvement.

This was a very good show with some stellar acting. Finally Momoa gets to spread his wings and do something other than take his clothes off. You want to hate Kopus (Momoa) for his complete creep factor yet you see the nice guy under the rough and tough exterior. Momoa plays creepy very well.

It's a slow build drama that allows you see the inter-workings of the characters; you get to know them. You start to see the way a story can unravel with just one tug and how even through good intentions, everything can go terribly wrong.

If you like those kinds of dramas, I suggest watching it. If you want bang bang, blow up things, and fast action, go somewhere else. This is a 6 course meal not a fast food burger drive-thru joint.