‘Masterpiece’ western with unrecognisable Brit child star ‘well worth the watch’

The mini-series has left a lasting impression on viewers with its "incredible cast" and captivating storyline, so much so that they're left wanting more.

Written and directed by Scott Frank, Godless is an American western set in 1884 that gained quite the attention from TV fans when it was first released in 2017. Across seven episodes, the "masterpiece" TV show explores the life of Roy Goode, an injured outlaw played by Jack O'Connell, who decides to escape from his mentor, Frank Griffin, after his unbearable behaviour.

His gang aim to get revenge on Goode after he seemingly 'betrayed' the brotherhood when he stole from them. While on the run from his boss, the young man winds up in a small town in New Mexico called La Belle, with a population made up almost entirely of women. When the residents of La Belle catch wind of Griffin's journey to the town, the women decide to join forces to defend their new arrival.

A raving Rotten Tomatoes review states: "Godless is a powerful and beautifully crafted Western mini-series that captivates with its stunning cinematography, compelling characters, and heartfelt storytelling. The performances, especially by Michelle Dockery and Jeff Daniels, are phenomenal, breathing life into a gritty tale of resilience, redemption, and community.

"What makes Godless stand out is its emotional depth and the way it centres strong, complex women in a genre traditionally dominated by men." Meanwhile, another claimed that it was "one of the best miniseries of the 2010s".

Jack O'Connell takes the leading role in what viewers are calling an "outstanding" performance. The down-to-earth, Derby-born actor manages to play a convincing American outlaw, alongside well-known child star Thomas Brodie-Sangster.

Playing Whitey Winn, a young town deputy devoted to his sheriff, Brodie-Sangster gives a standout performance, in stark contrast to roles he played in nostalgic films from the noughties. The 35-year-old is best known for playing the young boy in Love Actually, as well as starring in Nanny McPhee and The Maze Runner series.

A review says: "Jeff Daniels and Jack O'Connell are excellent in their respective roles of antipodes, as they switch between being the hunter and the hunted. The ensemble consisting of Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever and Michelle Dockery are equally good, as they hold together a story that is rightly paced.

"And yes, this is a brainchild of Scott Frank, who went on to make the more civilised and well-appreciated 'The Queen's Gambit' in 2020. The locations and the cinematography are equally valuable actors."

Another satisfied viewer wrote: "Excellent limited series and one of the best shows of 2017. Some clever writing, sweeping cinematography, and great gunfights lead to one of the best Western TV series ever made."

Many fans of Godless continue to say that they wish more episodes existed outside of the short series. Meanwhile, others are glad that it didn't drag out the storyline, writing: "Brilliant show. Unlike so many others, I love that it didn't try to be more than the 7-episode run, which was all the story needed to tell it."

Ahead of your next big binge-watch, all episodes of Godless are available to stream now, only on Netflix.