‘1923’ Fans Should Watch This Epic ‘Texas Rising’ Miniseries

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  • Critics on the Portrayal of Characters Within ‘Texas Rising’
  • Acknowledging the Inaccuracy of ‘Texas Rising’

As Taylor Sheridan’s Season 2 of “1923” premieres on February 23, there’s no doubt that fans will look for something engaging to hold their attention until the next episode arrives each week. If you’ve already been hooked by “Yellowstone” and “1883,” it might be a great moment to dive into another historical drama series!

The five-episode series titled “Texas Rising” originally broadcasted on the History channel. Starring Bill Paxton, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson, this production offers a portrayal of the Texas Revolution, shedding light on the origins of the Texas Rangers. Despite having a 55% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes and some historical inconsistencies, viewers who enjoy Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” universe may find appealing similarities between the two productions.

The “Historical” Narrative of ‘Texas Rising’

As a devoted cinephile recounting the narrative of Texas Rising, I find myself immersed in the tale of General Sam Houston, the brave leader who rallied the Texan army against Santa Anna and his advancing troops, personified by Olivier Martinez. The story unfolds post the Battle of the Alamo, a battle that claimed the lives of dear friends, inciting General Houston and his comrades – among them Captain Deaf Smith, portrayed by Jeffrey Dean Morgan – to abandon Goliad in search of unity with other soldiers regrouping in Victoria.

Beginning here, the miniseries propels its audience into a series of intense, brutal conflicts with minimal pause. Amidst this ongoing struggle, we also follow Emily D. West (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), a survivor of the Alamo, as she covertly gathers intelligence for the Texas Rangers by spying on Santa Anna. General Houston and his troops are resolute in their determination to triumph over Santa Anna, ready to endure any hardship and fend off any adversary who dares obstruct them.

Critics on the Portrayal of Characters Within ‘Texas Rising’

Although there were criticisms about the character development in the miniseries, it’s worth noting that the actors themselves were generally not blamed for these issues. In fact, multiple critics pointed out that the miniseries was bolstered by its talented cast. However, at times the actors’ brilliance was overshadowed due to the somewhat stereotypical portrayal of their characters, which tended to appear as overly rowdy, tough, and even slightly caricature-like in the script.

The show similarly delves into a multitude of characters, finding it challenging to provide adequate development due to the brief five-episode span, especially since many of these characters are based on actual figures from that particular era. Critics have raised questions about the script for the characters, but Cynthia Addai-Robinson and Ray Liotta (playing Lorca) were recognized for their performances with nominations at the Women’s Image Network Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards respectively.

Acknowledging the Inaccuracy of ‘Texas Rising’

While Texas Rising might offer an enjoyable viewing experience for fans of the Yellowstone series, it’s important to note that historical accuracy isn’t one of its strong suits. Most criticisms aimed at the miniseries didn’t stem from technical aspects but rather from its simplification of the Texas Revolution’s intricacies. In some instances, Texas Rising is said to have oversimplified characters, failing to depict the nuanced perspectives present in the intensely dramatized conflicts. This issue seems particularly pronounced in the portrayal of the Mexican Army and Indigenous groups who clash with the Texas Rangers during their hunt for Santa Anna. These groups are often depicted as one-dimensional instead of displaying the complexities that likely existed.

Although there are valid criticisms to consider, the series has received accolades for its exceptional cinematography, superb sound design, and impressive casting choices. Notably, the cast of extras played a crucial role in enhancing the battle scenes’ authenticity by making them feel more lifelike. On top of that, the sound design and musical score of the series were particularly well-received by critics, garnering numerous nominations and awards. For instance, it won a Golden Reel Award for sound editing in television, along with three Emmy nominations for outstanding sound mixing, sound editing, and main title theme.

Although Texas Rising may not always excel with its characters, its impressive performances, cinematography, and sound design make it worth watching for fans of the Western genre. You can stream Texas Rising on Amazon Prime Video. Meanwhile, if you’re interested in another Western series, 1923 is available to stream on Paramount+.

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2025-03-02 05:02