I found the show lengthy but interesting. The story is told in flashback sequence...a style I find particularly annoying. It also does not contain subtitles which add to viewing. Diane Lane is magnificent and Southerland does well also. One foible is that the boy Marsden shown in many of the Civil War battleground sequences has dark brown eyes while the adult Marsden (Southerland) clearly has light blue eyes. Tyson does a great job in her role as the housekeeper/former slave girl. The character of Marsden shows little or no love or care for his wife and children just doing whatever he pleases whenever he wants to...pretty accurate and indicative of a husband from the South at this time in history....