I read the novel and was a little surprised at complete shift in focus- some of the characters' names and general circumstances were the same but the storylines very different. I would say the phrase "based on" when referring to the connection to the book should be applied very loosely. However, the book spans such huge time and themes that this is to be expected. The acting was fantastic, though I wish Harding and Thewlis had spent more time with a coach working on their French accents, sometimes they sounded like parody. (Thewlis in particular sounded like the Monty Python "Your mother was a hamster" sketch.) I'm hoping for a second season and for it to be more centred on the perspectives of the Indigenous characters, as Proulx did with her shifting narratives in the novel. All in all, the atmosphere, the historical precision of the art direction, and especially the performances were top-notch and I'm excited for more seasons- 8 episodes was too short.
Review of Barkskins
