Scott,

I wrote about Lone Star on my blog in my premiere week reviews, but I'll copy an excerpt here to add my voice.

Er, if people *haven't* seen the pilot, I talk a lot about the ending, just to warn you, because I think that's the most interesting part.

So--


This was an hour of good television. You have a likeable character [in MY opinion, though people will disagree with me] caught in a terrible situation that is mostly the fault of the emotional manipulating of his father where he is really trying to do the best he can and follow his heart. This kid is morally CONFUSED yes, but you can still see him trying to do the right thing, which doesn't make him completely reprehensible.

At first I was annoyed that his dad let him out of the con that easily. And then confused and disappointed by the last minute where he takes his girlfriend to Vegas to marry her. Then I realized why I had a problem -- I wanted to story where a reforming con man must struggle with his oppressive, manipulative, and blackmailing father to establish himself as a legitimate businessman with a sacred marriage.

This is not the story the writers are telling.

Instead, they're telling a story about a morally confused man who's trying to do the right thing by one part of his life while following his heart at the other end, REIMPLICATING himself in the con. So now the con isn't externally forced upon him by his dead. He's making his own choice, WILLINGLY returning to his double life and moral ambiguity, all the time thinking that he's going to be able to do right by everyone. And honestly, that's way more interesting than the story I thought I wanted them to tell.

Amy,

Great analysis. And I agree with you about his choice. A fascinating one for a lead character in a TV series.

Hm. Sounds like Mad Men meets Giant. That could be interesting, if done well. Based on the above post, it just sounds confusing.

For me, I'm rarely home during prime time, and don't TiVO. That's why I'm often two or three seasons behind most shows, and they're piling up in my Netflix queue. So unless it has some serious buzz, I just don't take the time to try to watch it.

I thought the pilot episode was one of the best pilots I've ever watched for a series. Unfortunately, none of my friends or buddies on message boards took the time to watch it and enjoy it.

Everyone's comment has been: I did not like the concept. And as I mentioned elsewhere, it seems that the concept is getting twisted which leads me to believe that FOX marketing ruined this series.

I, at first, was hesitant to even give this show a chance but did because the wiki breakdown was more intriguing than the FOX ads. There are people I speak to that think this is a show about a guy juggling two women and trying to keep one away from the other.

That's not a show my demographic (28-year-old male) wants to watch. What the show is really about - what Amy pretty much said in her post - is a show I know most of my friends would love to watch.

To me, it's James "Sawyer" Ford in Texas and who doesn't want that?

Brilliant pilot. It's a travesty that shows like this are on the chopping block and shows like Bruckheimer's CHASE will be given multiple chances. Even THE (NON) EVENT will probably given ample time to find its audience because it's a LOST/24 clone.

And the networks wonder why people tune them out....

Thanks for posting this, Scott. Lonestar is amazing and needs to be watched. I hope the Neilson homes tune in on Monday cause I would hate for the show to get cancelled.