The Son (TV series)
| The Son | |
|---|---|
 Official title card | |
| Genre | |
| Created by |
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| Based on | The Son by Philipp Meyer |
| Developed by |
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| Starring |
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| Composer | Nathan Barr |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 3 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production location | Texas |
| Cinematography | George Steel |
| Editors |
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| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 43–49 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | AMC |
| Release | April 8, 2017 – present |
The Son is an American western drama television series based on the 2013 book of the same name by Philipp Meyer. The show was created and developed by Meyer, Brian McGreevy, and Lee Shipman.[1] A 10-episode season premiered on AMC on April 8, 2017.[2]
Cast
- Pierce Brosnan as Eli McCullough, a Texas cattle baron who takes an interest in the oil industry
- Jacob Lofland as young Eli
- Henry Garrett as Pete McCullough, Eli's youngest son
- Zahn McClarnon as Toshaway, a Comanche tribal chief who views young Eli as a son after capturing him
- Jess Weixler as Sally McCullough
- Paola Núñez as María García, Pete's childhood friend who becomes complicit in some of the escalating violence in South Texas
- Elizabeth Frances as Prairie Flower
- Sydney Lucas as Jeannie McCullough, Eli's granddaughter and Pete's daughter, who becomes a key figure in the family business
Production
Originally, Sam Neill was set to play the main character of the series, but left due to personal reasons. Pierce Brosnan was cast to replace him.[3] The production of the series started in June 2016.[4]
Reception
The first season has received mixed reviews. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes the series has an approval rating of 52% based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The Son's epic narrative and strong central performance are crippled by sluggish pacing, hasty direction, and superficial execution."[5] On Metacritic, the series has a score of 57 out of 100, based 21 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[6]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "First Son of Texas" | Tom Harper | Teleplay by: Philipp Meyer, Brian McGreevy and Lee Shipman | April 8, 2017 | 1.92[7] | |
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In 1849, young Eli McCullough and his brother, Martin, are taken captive by Comanches; the remaining family members are killed. Blaming Eli for his family's deaths, Martin becomes defiant with his captors and is killed in front of Eli. In 1915, Eli and his son Pete prepare for Eli's birthday party, while contending with cattle thieves and saboteurs of their burgeoning oil business. | ||||||
| 2 | "The Plum Tree" | Kevin Dowling | Teleplay by: Daniel C. Connolly | April 8, 2017 | 1.92[7] | |
|
In 1849, Eli's attempt to escape the Comanche camp is thwarted, and, after being punished, he becomes the Comanches' slave. In 1915, Eli and Pete debate over their captive, Cesar, whom they caught fleeing a sabotaged oil rig. Eli tortures Cesar, believed to also be linked to the thefts. Pete later escorts Cesar to a river to release him into Mexico; Cesar attacks Pete, forcing him to kill Cesar. | ||||||
| 3 | "Second Empire" | Kevin Dowling | Teleplay by: Kevin Murphy & Cami DeLavigne | April 15, 2017 | N/A | |
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In 1915, Eli and oldest son Phineas meet with potential investor William Philpott, who declines due to Eli's shaky finances and the unlikelihood of finding oil in the Rio Grande Valley. Back home, Pete experiences guilt over Cesar's death. In Mexico, Cesar's father Pedro supplies the rebel, Aniceto Pizaña, despite future backlash from the McCulloughs. In 1849, young Eli begins training as a Comanche warrior but causes trouble when he publicly flirts with Prairie Flower, who is being wooed by another. | ||||||
| 4 | "Death Song"[8] | Unknown | Unknown | April 22, 2017 | N/A | |
| 5 | "No Prisoners"[8] | Unknown | Unknown | April 29, 2017 | N/A | |
| 6 | "Marriage Bond"[8] | Unknown | Unknown | May 6, 2017 | N/A | |
| 7 | "Honey Hunt"[8] | Unknown | Unknown | May 13, 2017 | N/A | |
| 8 | "The Prophecy"[8] | Unknown | Unknown | May 20, 2017 | N/A | |
| 9 | "Scalps"[8] | Unknown | Unknown | May 27, 2017 | N/A | |
References
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "Texas Drama 'The Son' Getting Series Order By AMC". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ Schwindt, Oriana (January 14, 2017). "AMC Sets Premiere Dates for 'Better Call Saul,' 'Into the Badlands'". Variety. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- ^ Swift, Andy (June 6, 2016). "Pierce Brosnan to Lead 2017 AMC Drama The Son, Replacing Sam Neill". TVLine.
- ^ Avalos, Regina (July 24, 2016). "The Son: Three to Recur on AMC's Upcoming Pierce Brosnan Drama". TV Series Finale. Archived from the original on July 24, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
- ^ "The Son: Season 1 (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
- ^ "The Son: Season 1". Metacritic. CBS. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (April 11, 2017). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.8.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Son: Episode Guide". tvlistings.zap2it.com. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
