by Melissa Parkin
The first thing a casual viewer
thinks of when hearing WGN America is either sports programming or off-air
sitcom reruns. It’s not until the past couple years that the forty-year-old
network has stepped outside its comfort zone and into original programming.
Since making headway, WGN America has produced the highly acclaimed period
drama Manhattan and the dangerously
sexy supernatural series Salem. Added
to the roster this year comes the Paul Giamatti/Kurt Sutter original show Outsiders.

This distressing news comes at an
opportune time for Asa Farrell (Joe Anderson, “The Grey”), who has been imprisoned upon his return to the clan
after spending a decade in ordinary society. Given that every other member of
the clan is illiterate, Big Foster (David Morse) regrettably sets Asa free for
his abandonment, as he needs him to read the eviction notice stapled at the
bottom of the mountain. In town, widowed Deputy Sheriff, Wade Houghton (Thomas
M. Wright, “The Bridge”), tries to warn his superiors regarding the inevitable
bloodshed that will follow if they try to force out the unruly mountainfolk.
His concerns are overlooked, and he’s now saddled with the ill-fated
undertaking of having to remove the Farrells from their land.
News of the eviction results in a
power struggle in the clan as monarch Lady Ray (Phyllis Somerville) delays
turning over her authority to Big Foster. As retribution, Big Foster leads a
raid in Blackburg against a mobster that goes sideways, resulting in a tailspin
of events.
In the hands of lesser minds,
“Outsiders” could quickly dissolve into a ridiculous attempt to glorify
violence with the use of hillbillies as a catalyst to convey the evils of coal
mining. As a welcomed surprise to the network’s growing catalog, the series surpasses
expectations with deeply layered subplots, compelling performances, and
cleverly crafted dialogue. Its true endowment, however, rests in its perfect
cast of character actors. Kyle Gallner (“The Walking Dead” and “AmericanSniper”) proves only further just how underrated he truly is with his portrayal
as the charming backwoodsman Hasil Farrell, holding his own amongst a very
talented, eclectic troupe. Accompanying
him is “Sons of Anarchy” alum Ryan Hurst, who steps back in to familiar territory
as another ruffian outlaw, and David Morse as the aggressive and psychotic Big
Foster. Thomas M. Wright, however, claims the title as the series’ official
scene-stealer in his turn as the depressive Deputy Houghton.
Plenty of comparisons can be
drawn between “Outsiders” and Kurt Sutter’s prized “Sons of Anarchy,” which is
an amazing accomplishment for such a fresh faced series. Just as “SOA” paid homage
to Hamlet, it’s impossible not to
note the undertones of Macbeth in
“Outsiders.” With copious amounts of moonshine, hunting, and criminal undertakings,
fans of “Sons” and “Justified” will revel in WGN America’s unyielding newcomer.
It’s definitely a must-watch.
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