At the center of it all are the Farrells, a rural clan that lives by its own brutal code, traditions and rules, have occupied Shay mountain for 200 years. The group exists under what amounts to an uneasy truce with the townsfolk below, with members occasionally venturing down to thieve some necessary supplies, but otherwise minding their own business.
Enter, a corporate bad guy in Big Coal: A mining group is determined to evict the family – a plan that draws an uneasy, maybe even scared disapproval from the local sheriff, Wade Houghton (Thomas Wright), who has an unspecified history with the Farrells that prompts him to warn,
“You do not want to mess with these people.”
The politics in town are mirrored by discord on the mountain, which includes the return of the prodigal son, Asa (Joe Anderson), who has spent time living in the modern world and now wants to help his kin hold off the interlopers. None of that sits particularly well with Big Foster (Morse), the apparent heir to tribal leadership, who chafes at waiting for his domineering mother (Phyllis Somerville) to step aside. General decor looks to be right out of Deliverance.
Created by playwright-novelist Peter Mattei, working with Rescue Me veteran Peter Tolan, the show does have some situations that have a ring of familiarity, such as the triangle created by Asa’s return with his ex, G’Winveer (Gilllian Alexy), and Lil Foster (Sons of Anarchy’s Ryan Hurst), Big Foster’s bruising boy. As well as the subplot involving Hasil (Kyle Gallner), who becomes infatuated with a shy townie (Christina Jackson), to the point of selling moonshine to get his hands on money – a commodity for which the Farrells have no use. But even with it’s familiarity, you still are intrigued enough to want more, and to see how it all plays out.
Outsiders, is a little slow on the opening, but has enough intrigue and subplots, that leave you longing for and wanting more. You want to know why Asa left, why Big Foster is the way he is towards his son Little Foster. More importantly the history of this clan living on the mountain for all these years, that time and society has forgotten and wants no part of.
Morse is compelling as always – boozing, scheming and defiant by turns – the real standout is Wright as the stammering, weary sheriff, perhaps the most conflicted rural lawman since One False Move.
Outsiders has delivered some extremely solid characters. And in the series game, if not the mining one, unearthing a few of those nuggets can be half the battle.
What did you think of this episode FANdemaniacs? We want to hear from you in the comments below.