Michael Chafe

The writing is egregiously macho, and the overall storyline relies heavily on violence as a way of life...like having toast or cereal for breakfast. The dialogue has moments of 'did he / she really say that'? Cowboy poets and murderers (all for good reasons of course) with the ease and aplomb of a ten year old on a bicycle. All in all, the acting is quite good and the cinematography is a shoe-in for whatever awards are available. That's not saying it isn't worth watching! I like the show, mainly due to the acting and the interwoven story lines. Beth is at turns unbelievable (stretching the boundaries of the credulous) but she is portrayed flawlessly by Kelly Reilly, who is a bit of a revelation in this role, as is Cole Hauser. Worth a watch, but the dialogue will make you squirm at times.