The Son (2017–2019) User Reviews (109)

high hopes

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 1 July 2019]

In 1849 central Texas, young Eli McCullough (Jacob Lofland) is the sole survivor when his family homestead is attacked by Comanche warriors. Tribal leader Toshaway takes him as his property. Prairie Flower takes an interest in him which makes her suitor Charges the Enemy a foe. Ingrid is another captive. In 1915, Eli (Pierce Brosnan) is a cattle baron and independence war hero. He sees the coming change and searches for oil on his property. His son Pete is heir apparent. They battle Mexican revolutionaries who are fighting to return Texas to Mexico. They have a long complicated history with their Garcia neighbors. Pete has his wife Sally but also has a history with Maria Garcia. When Eli suspects oil under the Garcia property, it sets off a series of tragic events.

AMC is trying for prestige television and Pierce Brosnan is very much the biggest part of that effort. The ambition is great but it never reaches the heights. The biggest issue is that it's hard to care about this family. Eli is evil and Pete is pathetic. It is not the most likeable characteristics. It's like Breaking Bad but starting at the end when Walter White is a brutal drug dealer. It's a completely different journey and it's off-putting. One can't revel in his evil brutality because of his inner moral conflict build up over his lifetime. It's hard to know whether to root for the man or not. It would help if Pete is not so weak and the father son rivalry has a better balance. Pete's many hangdog retreats are repetitive and infuriating. It's hard to care about him and his inner conflict. I can see the young Eli story as a compelling first season. The time jumping takes away the character growth of Eli. It's a hard conundrum. Brosnan needs to be the lead of the show. This show has high hopes but gets canceled after two seasons.

This years best kept secret

[Br4ve-trave1or · 8/10 · 25 May 2017]

If you're reading this maybe your like me and your late to the party too! For whatever reason I held off on this show. Maybe it's because none of the reviews really sold me or I just simply put it off. HUGE MISTAKE! In hindsight best mistake, because I was just granted the luck of watching the best 8 hours of pure brilliance and all the while I kept asking myself, how is this series not a massive, massive hit! It's like a watching a great old fashion novel. I'm not writing this to tell you what it's about, no I'm writing this to sell you this series like I wish could have been done for me. There's flashbacks to the main character to his earlier years where he's held captive and it reminds me of dances with wolves in essence, and I literally yearn for the Flashbacks. Zahn McClarnon from Fargo season 2, plays an incredible part in the flashbacks as young Eli's captor, but what that relationship becomes is a prize to watch unfold. Both timelines are so fascinating and captivating that each one can have its own TV series! each timelines plot is so stunning and stellar and the way they both intertwine is beautiful. That's the only flaw with this series is I don't want to leave a particular time period because the story is told so richly. When we leave 1850 to return to 1915, I yearn for the earlier time period. It's absolutely riveting and captivating! This series has every key ingredient to mold a masterpiece of a series! pierce brosnan is incredible as well as the additional cast! so prepare yourself for a binging experience like no other! so whatever your doing right now stop and watch The Son! You'll thank me

Great western show! Sad to see it leave

[Kendena · 8/10 · 14 April 2019]

After only 1 season and 2 years later AMC is releasing the FINAL season of The Son here soon. Frankly I don't get it, and can't for the life of me figure out why these good shows end up canceling great TV shows. I mean come on, 2 seasons of the Son and these writers can't come up with a new narrative? Gimme a break! These networks need to get it together! On some level they owe to the fans. Very selfish Network Bigwigs

Gritty & Raw Account of South Texas Frontier Life

[marthabliner · 10/10 · 9 April 2017]

I am only through the first two episodes, but I created an IMDb account just so I could review this program. It's awesome. Don't let the negative reviews keep you from watching it. I'm a seventh generation Texan from South Texas. It's as if the mythology of my family history has come to life. For anyone doubting the historical accuracy of the writing, simply google Mary Hefferman of Beeville, Texas for a brutal account of the violent clashes between whites and Indians. Or read up on the legacy of the famous King Ranch, whose Running W brand no doubt provided the inspiration for the McCoullough family ranch brand. The mythical depiction of the oil, the politics, the violence, the opulence, and the toughness of the people is all very real. Don't let some dumb dumbs who aren't from Texas tell you it isn't, because it is.

A storytelling masterwork.

[James_Camacho · 10/10 · 16 April 2017]

This is a top-tier production in terms of acting, writing, directing, cinematography and the effort put into to accurately recreate 1915 south Texas. At first, I was a bit uncertain about Pierce Brosnan's seemingly self-conscious portrayal and iffy accent (he's an Irishman playing a Texan), but he quickly, comfortably settles in to his compelling character. The other actors are of the highest caliber, particularly the show's namesake played by Henry Garrett. The scenery is also beautifully shot. And the biggest surprise is the story itself, which becomes engrossing within 30 minutes into the pilot episode. I expect very, very good things from this show. Once again AMC proves they are serious about quality television, and I do hope viewers reward "The Son" because it entirely deserves your attention.

I should add a few people have noted some time-line discrepancies. These may exist, but they are completely unimportant. Some of the other reviews here seem to nitpick over ridiculous irrelevancies. I do not know how these people can enjoy television! We have to remember a product like this costs tremendous money for a television studio trying out an unproven new show without any guarantee of ratings, and we should at least be admiring of the effort put in.

Does time span make sense?

[pjsagg-50801 · 7/10 · 10 April 2017]

The series opens with what I would say is at least a 14 year-old boy being taken captive in 1849. The future is identified as 1915. That means the boy would be 80 years old. Seeing him on a horseback posse and being very physical in many ways doesn't make sense to me. Am I missing something?

Authentic accounting of Indian raid

[karenhargus · 8/10 · 9 April 2017]

Well, after one episode, this series looks promising. Mostly I would like to speak to it's authenticity, at least in regards to Indian raids. My husbands's great grandfather was Dot Babb, an Indian captive taken very much like shown in this series. His family was one of 3 ranches in northern Texas and while his father was away on a cattle drive, the Comanche Indians raided his ranch, brutally knifing and shooting an arrow through his mother to death. His baby sister was left to die (neighbors rescued her). Dot and his sister, Bianca, and the governess were taken as captives. At one point, he tried to help the governess escape and he was tied to a tree and the Comanche braves tried to break him down by shooting arrows very close to him. Then he was tied up and they put brush around him and made it look like they would set it afire. He was so stoic and showed no fear that they decided to make him a brave. He lived as a captive until his father rescued him. He was a friend of the Comanches all his life. Anyway, this part of this series is historically accurate. Dot authored a book about his captive experience and his early years as a Texan rancher, In the Bosom of the Comanches, available online through the Library of Congress. There are other captive stories similar to his and it appears perhaps these stories were used as reference for this series. So those unfamiliar with Texas history should read some actual first hand accounts by Texans.

A Brutually Honest Western

[marshall-26857 · 10 June 2017]

I really did not want to become involved in another AMC show. However since Hell on Wheels finished its run and enjoying Westerns I decided to give The Son a chance. This is an excellent western well written and acted. Pierce Brosnan and cast are outstanding. Although the western frontier was considered "closed" in 1890 there seems to be issues that need to be settled even in 1915. I look forward to seeing how this series goes forward. Although Gunsmoke & earlier TV westerns were good drama The Son takes the Western to another level. At times brutal unflinching and unvarnished The Son probably presents a better idea of what the old West was really like. I enjoy the juxtaposition shown between the young Eli and the 1915 Eli. This isn't Dallas and with all due respect to the late Larry Hagman as good as he was in the role of JR Ewing, Pierce Brosnan's Eli would give JR a real run for the money.

not bad

[nalwro · 6/10 · 19 September 2020]

Wish there were more parts with young eli among comanche cause those were really interesting part (especially it had Zahn McClarnon in it). other parts... sure Pierce Brosnan was good but they were just standart bs family drama, nothing special. minus 2 stars for destroying one's of brothers characters by making him... u damn know what.

Great first episodes!

[dawnrzr · 8/10 · 9 April 2017]

Yes, this series is a bit cruel, which is only realistic since it's set in early 1900 (and before). A show must be able to show topics like racism and savagery without people shouting "it's a racist show!" like one person did here. It has nothing to do with racism. The whites are not portrayed in a very favorable light at all many times, far from it.

The pacing is slow compared to more "actioney" shows like Hell on Wheels. It has a main and a secondary plot, both of which are very enjoyable. So far it does not contain any cheap nudity or such, which i think is welcome.

It's leaning far more towards realism than being over the top - everything from clothing to language e.g the native Americans speak their own language. So if you're expecting Xena in Texas, well, you'll be disappointed ;)

Like always I really enjoyed Zahn McClarnon's performance, great actor with such great presence.

Looking forward to see more.

A sprawling, time-hopping Western show from AMC

[swilliky · 7/10 · 11 June 2017]

The new AMC Western tells the story of a man and a boy, the same person at two different pivotal moments of his life. Eli McCullogh is shown as a young boy (Jacob Lofland) and an old man (Pierce Brosnan) who crosses the 19th Century into the 20th Century. As a young man, Eli is captured by Comanches as his family is killed. The older McCullogh lives in Texas and wars with a rival family from Mexico as he discovers oil on their land. The early story takes place in 1849 as the push West has threatened the native civilizations and the Comanches deal roughly with the invaders. Eli is a slave who grows to learn the ways of the Comanche under Toshaway (Zahn McClarnon). In 1915, Eli clashes with the Garcia, especially the patriarch Pedro Garcia (Carlos Bardem).

It is not fully revealed all that Eli went through in his life right away but we slowly learn of his troubled past as people seeking vengeance come to take that in his old age. McCullogh did spawn a large family including Pete McCullogh (Henry Garrett) who is having an affair with Maria Garcia (Paola Nuñez). Pete's wife Sally (Jess Weixler) has left her life in Dallas behind but gets along more with Pete's brother Phineas (David Wilson Barnes) than her husband. During an attack on their house, Pete's daughter young Jeannie McCullogh (Sydney Lucas) rides through the Garcia land and returns after the chaos with oil on the horse's shoes. Eli discovers this and becomes obsessed.

Check out more of this review and others at swilliky.com

Transitions

[drjgardner · 9/10 · 23 April 2017]

This show's focus is on the relationship of a father to his son, only in this case we have several father-son relationships, including the young Eli McCullough (Jacob Lofland) and his Comanche captor (Zahn McClarnon), the elder Eli (Pierce Brosnan) and his two sons (Henry Garrett, David Wilson Barnes), and Eli's son (Henry Garrett) with his own son (Shane Graham).

Add to the father/son relationships is a West in transition, with the end of the Buffalo hunts in mid 19th century, and the faint beginnings of the oil industry in Texas in 1915.

If this isn't enough to entice you, throw in race relations, between the whites and the Indians and the whites and the Mexicans, and within the races, between those who practice compassion and those who do not, and those who have power and those who do not.

Onto this broad landscape we have marvelous photography, great location shots, and terrific acting. This is TV at its near best, and I think it may be Brosnan's finest role.

The computer scene belongs to the 1988 part

[Hazu29 · 6/10 · 10 September 2019]

I was not going to review this show, but as I saw someone, that is not paying attention at all to the show, giving a bad rate because he/she saw a computer in one scene, I had to clarify, so people don't get lied to. In the first episode of the 2nd season, there's a part where they fast-forward to 1988. It's quite obvious, but anyway, people nowadays don't really watch TV, they turn it on and keep using their smartphones to check what other people are posting on social media. That's why we see reviews here like that one. Now about this show The Son, I'm a big fan of western but the action here is kinda slow, I love the parts back where Eli was yong thou, they are muhh more interesting than some land dispute with Mexicans. But it still a pretty decent show. Cheers.

Clunky melodrama - A Man Called Pierce meets The High Chaparral

[joachimokeefe · 4/10 · 15 May 2017]

Visually lush, ambitious docu-soap along the lines of "Boardwalk Empire" set in 1849 and 1915; but no gangsters, just (no offence intended) pesky Injuns and pesky Mexicans. Parallels drawn between the struggles of the 1840's Comanche (who have captured Young Eli), and those of 1915's Old Eli as the Mexicans and the banks try to take his farm away - except his over- acting granddaughter just discovered oil.

It's about time! After six episodes, I've seen all the ambushes, bodies, beatings, shootings, torturings I need. How about some PLOT, guys? The outright bad guy, an obviously racist troublemaker, is so two- dimensional that he disappears if he turns sideways. And of course, there's a Magic Black Man. Very slow buildup,and only four episodes of this season left. If there's to be a second, they need to sharpen up.

Pierce Brosnan sort of works as the patriarch of the Old Texas farm, but he hasn't quite mastered the accent. And others have pointed out that if as indicated, he was kidnapped 66 years ago he's looking very sprightly for a guy who must be in at least his mid-70's. In 1915 that was OLD.

Good to look at - CGI has come along way since Boardwalk Empire. The Son looks a lot more expensive than it must have been, but that's about it. Plot- wise, it's sub-Dynasty. Things happen because the script says they do, not because the characters are driven by anything apart from killing Mexicans or Indians.

The Son is probably strongest on its sympathetic, uncompromising depiction of the Comanche, and its staging. It's weakest on everything else.

Pierce's golden years

[iaminevitability · 10/10 · 21 May 2017]

Pierce Brosnan has really come into his own. He looks ultra cool and has a powerful voice & presence. He makes the show. There are so many shows to watch today but not enough of this period in this setting. I like that the natives aren't only being portrayed as nature loving hippy victims. It's a mildly accurate and semi-realistic portrayal. I watch on my iPad while smoking cigars and dream of being as cool as Pierce. :)

Sad to hear the show was cancelled.

[amysbakerydelights · 10/10 · 2 June 2019]

I loved the series; I was disappointed to hear AMC canceled it. But I had a feeling they would, AMC was just trying to draw in the fans from Hell on Wheels. But it was a very interesting show and I will miss it, There aren't a lot of true Western shows or movies made anymore and the ones that make to the screen, at the first sign of bad or dropped ratings they pull the plug.

Timeline fail!!??

[ettglass · 12 May 2017]

Unless "young Eli" is actually Eli's father I can't see the time-line fitting? Did they just think the viewers would not give a #¤%# that Pierce Brosnan is playing the world's fittest 80 year old. If you were lucky enough to reach 80 years of age in 1915's cattle ranch Texas you wouldn't look like Brosnan's 63 going on 55.

Hope it get's better, the bones are there!

Not bad, I'll watch the 3rd one.....

[Davidisaacson69 · 7/10 · 9 April 2017]

This is a good show in that the acting is good and the period is interesting. But.....

There are flaws that seem to come up in these shows depicting the old west. First, granted that it was before my time so I can't say for certain, I really don't think people swore as much as this show makes it seem, and especially not around ladies. Secondly, families had a father and a mother, and they had defined jobs and roles. Wives were likely not consulted (I'm not saying this is good) on family business matters. They raised the children, prepared meals, ran the household, etc, and likely girls were raised to do the same. Plus, why do things seem so well lit when there is only moonlight (including tracking a horse through grass)? Seems Nike nit-picking, I know, but these little things are important to me.....

Great new series from AMC

[benjiboy-84491 · 9/10 · 9 April 2017]

After watching the first episode I think that this show has a lot of potential, the acting is great, the scenery, the soundtrack, it has all the ingredients to be a great western although some people may not appreciate the time jumping from 1849 to 1915, It doesn't bother me because I enjoy a good story and so far so good, looking forward to the rest of this series!

And

[Headturner11 · 7/10 · 6 January 2023]

Just that! I have run out of things and have tried this a few times to no avail. Then I did finish the first episode and it intrigued me! The best parts are of him and his time with the Comanche. The acting is awful to ok. The women are horrific and I have to fast forward thru most of their parts! Seems the norm now a days that the women actors are horrible! It's decent and ( I think have 2 episodes left in season 1) when I'm without anything I'll revisit it and see how it goes but they are in need of better female actors because they're atrocious and are ruining the whole series. That is all!

Wonderful storytelling!!!

[cpena-18690 · 10/10 · 9 June 2017]

I love the show, but I'm confused about the title - The Son. The title implies that Eli was born the year Texas became a state. Texas entered the Union in 1845. That would make Eli three years old when his character was introduced in Episode One (1848). Clearly he appeared older than three. What was probably meant was that Eli was born the year Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836. In that case, Eli would be twelve years old when his character was introduced in Episode One. Young Eli did look about that age. A suburb show, nevertheless.

Good solid story. Kept me watching.

[rbrtgrc · 6/10 · 31 July 2020]

It was good. Even very good at times. I started watching this almost immediately after reading the book. The series has very little to do with the storyline of the book other than the main characters. That's not a distraction. The TV series was good in and of itself.

Must Watch!

[eyadjabri-59322 · 8/10 · 21 May 2017]

"The Son" excellent series offering a violent, gory and amazing story. The story revolves around a particular family focusing both on there past and present time which they encounter certain difficulties making their lives very difficult. The acting the show offers is amazing and spot on and makes it even more fun to watch and enjoy. Overall i hope this show continues to strive as i would truly enjoy to see it evolve in the coming years. - lots of action - amazing story - great acting - violent - 8/10

Goodbye Mr Bond Hello Mr McCullough

[fletcherm-56155 · 7/10 · 16 July 2019]

This was a well written series that I thoroughly enjoyed after watching it back to back. It's well written storyline kept me glued to the screen and Piers Brosnan played an absolute blinder. Definitely one of the better series outside the top 10

Old Eli

[carsonm-98303 · 1/10 · 7 May 2017]

Eli McCullough was captured by the Comanches in 1849 when he was about 14-16 years old. This show takes place in 1915. That makes Eli about 80-82 years old. Pierce Brosnan is nearly 64 - he needs some adjustments to make him Eli's correct age. Instead of riding his horse, maybe a wheelchair?

I don't think the writers/producers/director did their math.