Watch The Son

The Son, an AMC historical drama series, ran for two seasons from 2017 to 2019. The show was one of those typical family dramas where the patriarchal character was involved in a vast business empire, making and breaking deals with absolute cunningness. This show saw Pierce Brosnan in one of his most captivating performances, and it marked his return to the American television screen after his successful stint with the hit series Remington Steele.

The son is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Philipp Meyer. The story is set in the late 1800s in West Texas, and it follows the life of three generations of a wealthy family, the McCulloughs. The series explores their evolving relationships with each other, as well as their interactions with the emerging oil industry, Native Americans, Mexican revolutionaries, and numerous other forces that would shape the Lone Star State.

The series opens with a young Eli McCullough (played by Jacob Lofland) and his family getting kidnapped by Comanches. The Comanches kill his family in one of the most gruesome opening scenes, and they leave him behind. Eli manages to survive and becomes a part of the tribe, as the Comanches raise him. The narratives then focus on how Eli adapts to their ways, grows up to become a warrior, and starts his own family, thus becoming the forceful patriarch of one of Texas's most influential families.

Fast-forward to present-day Texas, and Eli McCullough is now played by Pierce Brosnan. His family is one of the wealthiest oil and cattle barons in the state, with enormous lands and a vast business empire that reaches into the United States Senate. It’s a vast empire built on grit, determination, and bloodshed. Eli is a ruthless businessman, and his relationships with his two sons and his grandson are icy at best.

Henry Garrett plays Pete McCullough, Eli's eldest son. Pete is quite the opposite of his father, who is marked by his caring nature and his willingness to do what is right. He has the disadvantage of being the elder son to a massively successful businessman, and no matter how hard he tries, he is always judged unfairly by his father and never seems to be able to live up to his expectations.

The other storyline follows Eli's grandson, Jean-Baptiste Charley, commonly known as J.B. (played by Caleb Burgess). He is next in line to inherit the family business, but he is an aspiring artist who does not see himself handling the operations of the family empire. His attempt to find his calling and make a life for himself only adds to the family tension.

The narrative of The Son is divided into two timelines; one takes us back to Eli's childhood where we explore the Comanche way of life and how it had a profound impact on his psyche, and the other follows the present-day story of the McCulloughs. This kind of storytelling adds a layer of depth, and as each story unfolds, it provides us with a better understanding of the McCulloughs' dynamics and how they built their empire. Moreover, it offers valuable insight into the complexities of the social, cultural, and economic landscape of Texas.

The Son is rich in detail and delivers great performances, especially from Pierce Brosnan, who delivers his career-best portrayal of Eli McCullough. He is a character that you love to hate, and the acting is so masterful that you feel the weight of his presence in every scene. Jacob Lofland as young Eli captures the essence of his character's transition from a young boy to a hardened warrior with great ease. Henry Garrett as Pete, the eldest son, is excellent, providing steady yet intense performances, whereas Caleb Burgess as J.B. offers a much-needed counterbalance to the male-dominated patriarchal characters.

The show is beautifully shot, and each episode is like watching one chapter of an epic novel come to life. The attention to detail from the costume, settings, and the cinematography creates an authentic and immersive historical context of the era the show is set in.

In conclusion, The Son is a gripping drama series that captures the intricacies of power, greed, and ambition while deftly weaving in the cultural and historical elements of the period it is set in. The show is dark, violent, and poignant, and it leaves you wanting for more with each episode. If you’re looking for a historical drama that explores the flawed relationships between different generations of a wealthy family, then look no further than The Son.

The Son is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (20 episodes). The series first aired on April 8, 2017.