Episode Guide
The Void is the place where nothing exists. The land is a wasteland, the time has passed, and the soil has been lost. The family is gone, and the unknown is all around them. The West is where everything began, but it’s also where everything will end.
Outer Range is a moody, atmospheric neo-noir thriller that has a tendency of meandering off in different directions, but the central mystery is exciting, gripping and utterly enthralling. ..
Outer Range is a new sci-fi thriller film that combines the atmosphere of M Night Shyamalan’s Signs, the 2016 film Arrival, ABC’s Lost and Paramount’s Yellowstone. It’s a bizarre medley of influences and it may be an acquired taste for many. ..
Royal Abbott is a farmer in Wyoming who discovers a strange mystery on his land. He’s unwittingly drawn into a sci-fi-bending plot that changes his life forever. ..
The Abbott and Tillerson families are feuding. Royal’s sons, Perry and Rhett, end up fighting with Wayne Tillerson’s boys at a bar that night. When tragedy strikes, an investigation is launched against the Abbott family. Fronting this is Sheriff Joy, who becomes a more central part of this story as the episodes tick by.
The Royal family’s complicated relationship with Autumn is further complicated by the arrival of a mysterious woman called Autumn. She convinces Royal to let her stay on the land, far away from their house.
As the episodes progress, it becomes clear that the woman known as “the girl with the green eyes” knows more than she’s letting on. By episode 4, more of her story is revealed and it becomes increasingly clear that she is an important part of this mystery.
Episode 1 is a bit of a mystery, with some interesting plot points that are revealed in the later episodes. However, episode 3 feels like a letdown, with little to no action taking place and the story feeling more like a soap opera than an adventure.
Despite the minor setback, “The X-Files” continues to deliver on its mystery and suspense. ..
The Outer Range is a well-done thriller that has a mix of tension, suspense and drama. There are light bites of comedy too, typified by Billy Tillerson’s constant renditions of “Angel in the Morning.” These aren’t laugh out loud funny though, more an amusing addition to try and add moments of levity to an already-serious story. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
The show is interesting and makes good use of its run-time to explore the characters. Wayne Tillerson in particular becomes an ever-more fascinating character as the episodes go by. ..
Josh Brolin is the glue that holds everything together in “Outer Range.” He commands the screen with every scene, and his cracking moments help to make the weird happenings on the farm and beyond stand out. Without him, Outer Range probably would fall apart. ..
This show is going to be a bit of a challenge for some viewers. If you’re looking for a cowboy drama, I recommend checking out Yellowstone or 1883 instead. If you’re looking for an outright sci-fi flick, I think Arrival is probably the closest in tone you’ll get.
The show does well in its ability to nestle itself between the two states, but it can be a bit slow at times and those impatient for answers may not enjoy how drawn out this one is.
Outer Range is a gripping mystery box series that will keep you thinking about it after the credits have rolled. Whether or not enough time has passed before the world is ready for another big mystery box series (especially given it’s only been 2 or 3 months since Yellowjackets finished) will depend on audience reaction, but there’s enough here to whet the appetite and want for a second season. ..
