Which I did. I agree that it was fast-paced (especially part 1) and excellent. And yeah, Costner is never better than when he does westerns. Not a bad rider either--something refreshing after years of seeing some famous (cough, cough Wayne) actors sitting a saddle like a lazy-boy recliner.

It is so weird that you can ONLY watch the first three seasons on Peacock app (NOT paramount) and only season 4 on the broadcast Paramount channel (first) followed in a day or so on the Paramount app (but not Peacock for at least several months).

But, thus far, season 4 is worth the hassle to find a way to watch.

I couldn't continue. None of the characters were people that I would want to know in real life, which makes it really hard for me to want to watch them on a regular basis. And I actually like Costner!

However, I will give 1883 a try. I'd watch Sam Elliot read the phone book.

any Montana or Wyoming or Dakota, or any western state I have ever known. Sorry.

You are absolutely right!

I believe the show pays tribute to the land, the boundary wars, encroachment of the 21st century.
Plus, its not intended to be a perfect documentary.
It's a story of a family & what surrounds them.

Taylor Sheridan & Costner are story tellers.

I love the drama, the lay of the land that is familiar to my personal experiences & every character cast to create this entertaining series.

I didn't expect a documentary, those have already been made.

True, we have unfortunately swung pretty hard right here in Montana but we aren't quite the wild west knuckle draggers being portrayed. The scenery if beautiful. Oh well, I guess it's great fun and entertainment and we can all use that these days, as long as people realize it's fantasy.

So Dak hides money for foreign mobsters.

The Governor sent the National Guide to the border, funded by some rich GOP asshole.

GO-ED scandal. Richard Benda. The attorney general hit and killed a man who dies. Left him on the side of the road because the AG "hit a deer". The sheriff lent the AG his car, and drove off. They won't impeach the AG or send him to jail.

Noem's daughter got an appraiser's license, despite not being able to pass the test. SD had to settle 200K for the lady they ousted while she was the head of the appraiser's office.

Russian spy Maria Butina had a GOP "boyfriend" (rat fucker operative) who lives in So Dak.

I cannot speak to how Montana does or does not resemble the TV series. But So. Dak. definitely does.

Texas probably also does (Bush Crime Family etc.)
Idaho, most def. has militias, with guns.

He was in prison, probably met many members of "the militia" (who kidnapped tate) while they were in prison too.

Jamie had no idea what his sociopathic biological father was up to.

The father had the motive (take over the empire), the sociopathic traits, and time to plan with the militia to carry it out.