This is a review of the first season of Joe Pickett, but note I am in the middle of season two and loving it.
I was hesitant to try Joe Pickett as I feared it would be a 2nd-rate knockoff of Yellowstone. I was totally wrong. It is a well-written and acted show that has a very satisfying story-arc, and the first season could stand alone just fine if there hadn't been a second one (sometimes I think shows would be BETTER if they truly were a limited series, but I'm glad that there will be more Joe Pickett to watch).
Some reviewers criticized elements of the first episode, and I agree with some of the complaints about the tone and not knowing if it is a serious show or one with light-hearted humor. While it does have some funny and light moments, make no mistake: Joe Pickett is a dark drama in a modern Western setting.
Comparisons to Yellowstone are of course made, but to me it shares much more DNA with Justified. And while I really enjoyed Justified, I would give the nod to Joe Pickett as the main character is more flawed and vulnerable. For example (and I do not consider this a spoiler), there is a scene in season two where Joe has some hot coffee in his truck. He decides to stick his finger in the coffee as a reflection of his state of mind and mental anguish he is suffering. I like those touches, and while I am fairly confident they won't just suddenly kill the main character, there is satisfaction and mystery watching a more "normal" guy navigate the complexities of his law enforcement job versus characters in Justified or Yellowstone who are badasses and nobody can possibly stand in their way. I like all of these shows, but Joe Pickett certainly has earned a place at the table of great Western dramas.
So watch a couple of episodes, and you likely will be hooked. They only get better and better as the season goes, and again the writers do a great job of tying things back together at the end in a masterful storytelling experience that was FAR better than I expected.
I was hesitant to try Joe Pickett as I feared it would be a 2nd-rate knockoff of Yellowstone. I was totally wrong. It is a well-written and acted show that has a very satisfying story-arc, and the first season could stand alone just fine if there hadn't been a second one (sometimes I think shows would be BETTER if they truly were a limited series, but I'm glad that there will be more Joe Pickett to watch).
Some reviewers criticized elements of the first episode, and I agree with some of the complaints about the tone and not knowing if it is a serious show or one with light-hearted humor. While it does have some funny and light moments, make no mistake: Joe Pickett is a dark drama in a modern Western setting.
Comparisons to Yellowstone are of course made, but to me it shares much more DNA with Justified. And while I really enjoyed Justified, I would give the nod to Joe Pickett as the main character is more flawed and vulnerable. For example (and I do not consider this a spoiler), there is a scene in season two where Joe has some hot coffee in his truck. He decides to stick his finger in the coffee as a reflection of his state of mind and mental anguish he is suffering. I like those touches, and while I am fairly confident they won't just suddenly kill the main character, there is satisfaction and mystery watching a more "normal" guy navigate the complexities of his law enforcement job versus characters in Justified or Yellowstone who are badasses and nobody can possibly stand in their way. I like all of these shows, but Joe Pickett certainly has earned a place at the table of great Western dramas.
So watch a couple of episodes, and you likely will be hooked. They only get better and better as the season goes, and again the writers do a great job of tying things back together at the end in a masterful storytelling experience that was FAR better than I expected.