Don't approach this show as a western, don't look for complicated narratives, but if you want a delightfully surprising show that will surely lighten your mood and bring a genuine smile, then I recommend spending time with The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. for a real treat! ...and who doesn't appreciate Bruce Campbell at his physical and chinful peak?

Like I said, don't come at this show thinking it is a western, the fact that it is set in 1890's California lends for adapting archetypical stories and recycled scripts into a western-based motif that can utilize a lot of standard Hollywood backlots very cheaply. But I don't mean that as a negative. When I watch this show, I can't help but recognize a lot of setting that have been used in other shows and movies, but that's more a reflection of my own production career background. Keen eyes will spot several locations from the first two seasons of Westworld, not to mention every other spot in California where TV shows and movies are regularly shot. If you live in L.A., you will appreciate a lot of the sets that were lost to the fires.

Not every episode is challenging as far as the plot goes, but every single episode is full of tongue-in-cheek turn-of-phrases and eye-rolling anachronistic jokes and sight-gags that are sure to bring at least one LOL moment.


A quick bit about the cast; the show was definitely a showcase for Bruce Campbell, but Julius Carry does an excellent job of fleshing out Brisco's foil/sidekick Lord Bowler with a funny interpretation that is both unique and reminds me of cartoon characters like Yosemite Sam. Billy Drago as the big bad guy, John Bly, could be misconstrued as overacting, but on subsequent re-watching, I've come to really respect what Drago was trying to do with the character. He's not in every episode, so I enjoy the ones when he shows up. Finally what can I say about the beautiful Kelly Rutherford as Dixie Cousins? The producers really wasted their chance at having her in more episodes.