Critic Reviews

These pauses, so skillfully executed by director Ben Richardson in the first three episodes, are what make “1923” especially cinematic. Even with so much ground to cover, these scenes rarely exist to just get you to the next scene. There’s more here than just plot, even though there is a ton of plot.

Sklenar's performance as Spencer is nuanced, with the beast of a man displaying a lot of heart. As for Schlaepfer, she shines in some of the season's most dramatic moments. 1923 season 2's start is sublime.

With the iconic duo of Ford and Helen Mirren (reunited after starring in “The Mosquito Coast” back in 1986) heading an impressive cast, cinematic-quality visuals, sprawling set pieces and a myriad of promising storylines, the pilot episode of “1923” holds the promise of yet another addictively compelling project from Sheridan.

While the initial episodes of Season 2 are slow ones, there’s undoubtedly a propulsive undercurrent and steadily building emotional tension that the show’s first outing largely lacked.

Paramount+ only made the first episode available for review, and it’s a taut hour of drama with a few moments of levity courtesy of Ford’s trademark, low-key sarcasm.

Mirren and Ford – both 80-ish, neither a stranger to action badassery – make for such a potent pairing, their chemistry alone is enough to make “1923” feel like an elevated version of Sheridan’s neo-Western fare. ... “1923” keeps a lot of plates spinning, consistent with Sheridan’s plot-forward style. (The pilot is bookended with two violent deaths and concludes with a jump scare, lest anyone think being set in such a bummer of a time makes the show any less pulpy or fun.)

Just take it on its own merits and it’s a classy product. ... Ford and Mirren have a comfortable chemistry as husband and wife.

It is the subplot of 1923 that most interests me. The scenes from a cruel school for indigenous young women run by the sadistic nun Sister Mary (Jennifer Ehle) and a strap-happy and possibly pervy priest, Father Renaud (Sebastian Roché), were horrific and brilliantly done. ... Helen Mirren is always hugely watchable and here she also does a decent Irish accent as Cara Dutton. ... Ford is reliably weighty too.

At times it can be a tad soapy, but overall this is classy storytelling led by two veteran talents.

It’s hard to tell how well “1923” will build its universe based on the one episode made available to critics. But its level of ambition is clear. ... If “1923” can manage to juggle its personal dramas, action and historical scope, it could strike another “Yellowstone”-size mother lode.