Outer Range: Series Premiere

   

Created by: Brian Watkins 

Executive producers: Zev Borow, Josh Brolin, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad Pitt, Heather Rae, Brian Watkins

Starring: Josh Brolin (Royal Abbott), Lili Taylor (Cecilia Abbott), Tom Pelphrey (Perry Abbott), Imogen Poots (Autumn), Lewis Pullman (Rhett Abbott), 

Wormholes. On a ranch. 

This show disguises itself as a fairly plain Western with reviewers very accurately comparing it to Yellowstone. (Which I haven't actually seen, but seems accurate from what I've heard.) My own mind compared it to La Brea, which aired mid-last year, and this also seems to be pretty accurate from new info gleaned in the second episode. (Only two episodes are out as of this writing.) 

Royal happens upon the abyssal hole on his property

The Abbott's neighbors issue a seizure request for part of their land

These first two already present a pretty wild ride. There are precious few spare moments: between a bar brawl turning murderous, a mysterious stranger showing up on a farm, and the main plot's abyssal wormhole showing up on the Abbott ranch, quite a lot of plots are quickly introduced. 

I don't understand all of Royal's choices and they do frustrate me a bit: if I discovered what appeared to be a potential rip in space and time on my property, I'd at least want to confide in my spouse for a little advice navigating the situation. And I would not be so quick to made certain law-breaking choices he makes in the first episode that really complicate the situation. But that's drama, am I right? 

But there appears to be more going on than a simple rift in space. That aforementioned mysterious stranger seems convinced that she's being called to the rift for something special, something greater, about to happen. The first episode also highlights odd bird migrations that are implied to be tied to this rift and we keep seeing shots of a very odd buffalo--with hunting arrows sticking out of its side--contentedly roaming around the property, apparently unaware that it should be gravely injured. 

Autumn, a mysterious young woman, shows up just to make Royal's life that much more complicated

So far, Royal has used the many questionable events around him to dive straight into a lone-wolf mentality, isolating his family with shouts of "I'll take care of it!!" instead of trying to recruit their help. I dearly hope he makes a course-correction on that or this show could get very painful to watch. But as things continue to grow out of his ability to manage, it may just explode and force him to come crawling back. Either way, I hope he clues in his family, or at least his wife, soon. 

It's a pretty awesome premise, though. Especially with some vital information revealed at the end of episode 2. It's laid groundwork for some truly spectacular things to happen, especially if the writers are on their game.