Musings on Longmire In Its 5th T.V. Season

For the past few days Sharon and I have been watching the 5^th season of the Netflix series, Longmire. I knew she was enjoying the latest episodes when at the end of the first couple of shows she turned and said to me “is it over already?”

We like to watch 1-2 episodes an evening and occasionally skip a few evenings. Our sons, now in their 30’s, and their partners more often will binge watch a series often viewing several episodes during a day or evening.

Sharon and I grew up on T.V. that had weekly episodes and do not normally binge on a series though Sharon may watch several episodes of a series during a day that has a marathon of a series.

I noticed in particular in watching Downton Abbey how our anticipation grew during the week between episodes as we spoke about what had happened and guessed what might take place in the next episode.

Getting back to Longmire we have enjoyed the recent seasons on Netflix more than the earlier seasons on A & E.

The last few seasons have had true continuing story lines that carry through the whole season of 10 shows. While the episodes are self-contained there are real themes.

A year ago we watched the saga play out involving deputy, Branch Connally, who ran against Walt for the position of county sheriff.

This year the casino on the Cheyenne reservation has opened and there is continuing interaction between Walt and Jacob Nighthorse, who runs the casino. Neither trusts the other but they must deal with challenging criminal issues connected with the casino.

I found the continuing story lines have allowed for far more character development and blessedly less violence than most American police shows. I now enjoy the T.V. series as much or more than the books.

In watching the series on Netflix I have come to reflect on some of the main characters.

I better appreciate Lou Diamond Phillips as Walt’s Cheyenne lifetime friend, Henry Standing Bear. Where he does not fit my physical image of Henry (he is smaller than the Henry of the books) his actions and languages accord with my expectations from the book.

A Martinez as Jacob Nighthorse is a terrific character. Not many current series are willing to have an indigenous American as a bad guy. It remains a challenge for Hollywood to have politically correct villains. As the series has developed Nighthorse has become a more complex character. Originally just a self-interested businessman on the Rez he has become a business leader providing work opportunities for band members previously unemployed or under employed.

It continues to irritate me how unprofessional Katee Sackoff as deputy, Vic Moretti, appears with her uniform shirt almost half unbuttoned and a top underneath. I have never seen a real life female officer who dresses like the T.V. Moretti.

Unfair or night I find it easier to accept the casual dress of the T.V. Walt. As the Sheriff I expect he has greater leeway. Maybe Vic could become Sheriff and just discard the pretence of a uniform.

Robert Taylor become my mental image of Walt. The casting was as perfect as many English series have in choosing a lead character. The Walt of the books always had a presence from his physical stature and strong, though quiet, personality. He is clearly in charge of situations. Taylor has that same charisma.

I just read that Netflix is committed to making a 6^th season but has already decided that will be the final season.

Originally the series was cancelled by A & E after the 3^rd season because the demographics of viewership were too old with the average age of viewers being 60 rather than 40. While the series remains very popular on Netflix it appears there are still not enough younger viewers. Our time has truly passed when a good T.V. series is axed because Baby Boomers are no longer a prime time audience.

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Johnson, Craig – (2007) - The Cold Dish; (Best Fiction of 2007); (2008) - Death Without Company; (2008) - Kindness Goes Unpunished (Third Best Fiction of 2008); (2009) - Another Man’s Moccasins; (2011) - The Dark Horse; (2011) - Junkyard Dogs; (2012) - Hell is Empty; (2013) As the Crow Flies; (2013) - Longmire T.V. Series; (2014) - A Serpent's Tooth; (2015) - Radio in Indigenous Mystery Series; (2015) - Any Other Day;  (2015) - Where is the Walt Longmire Series Headed; Hardcover