dita-66793 Historical drama is unbelievably entertaining. You can really feel like you are there, back in time. Well done.

daveryanmoore Frontier can't decide what it wants to be: an extremely violent action series or a politically correct rewrite of history that delivers a positive social message. Hmmm...Episodes begin with quotes from cool contemporary people like Nelson Mandela and the rapper Ice Cube on weighty themes such as social justice. But don't let that fool you. If you want to see men gutted, flayed alive, and decapitated, you've come to the right place. Also, if you want to see bosomy barmaids serving half-wild fur trappers, you won't be entirely disappointed. On the other hand, if you want to see women occupying positions of authority and contemporary racial politics disguised as character development circa 1700s, you're also going to be pleased. For the most part, it's nation v nation with no multiculturalism tolerated. The exception is a band of indie fur-trading mystery tramps who dress straight out of Central Square in Cambridge, Mass. Their leader, one Declan Harp, is what you'd expect to get if Fabio and Charles Manson had a baby. When he's acting all loyal and altruistic, we're told his Native genes are at work doing the right thing; conversely, when he's going all murderous rampage on us (Hello red coats!) it's his Euro-trash genes acting out. Shades of Fenimore Cooper!The show has been criticized for its historical inaccuracies, but my sense is that this misses the larger question of why this program was made in the first place. Actually, it's hard to figure out why such as strange series was made in the first place. Was it to avenge the European invasion of the Native lands? If so, mission accomplished, especially in the case of the English red coats who are on the receiving end of some spectacularly rough treatment here. The producers seem to have decided that if one English soldier is going to get bumped off then, dagnabbit, we might as well bump off six or seven!I began to watch Frontier largely in hopes that the setting would be grand in the mold of Bruce Beresford's magisterial Black Robe. But even this disappoints after the first episode. The one good part is the deliciously evil main bad guy, Lord Benton. He's so evil he's actually funny, which is fitting because this show wants to be dramatic and high-minded but is actually funny and ludicrous.

meneermalik-1 I live in Canada and ventured to James Bay and I love history....so it's somewhat interesting to me only because through watching the show I ended up researching a bunch of things about that time period. That being said. haha. I wanted to like this show (and I do) but it's really just something to watch while I'm doing other things. 6 episodes a season with 2 out so far isn't a big commitment too. Blasted through the series in a few days. The biggest problem for me which instantly takes me out of the moment or the story is the teleportation that seems to take place when they travel from the north (which I think they actually don't mention but it would have to be on James Bay or Hudson Bay) and Montreal. It is so ridiculous. "Ok I just got here but I'll going back to Montreal tonight". Cut scene - the next day (seemingly) ok I'm in Montreal but I forgot something up is Fort James so I'll be heading back out shortly". This is a voyage that would have taken weeks if not months to undertake and one character feels that travelling from the north to Montreal to sell a few pelts is totally fine? What?! There would have been trading posts that he could have sold those too without making a trip to Montreal. Another problem - They travel between the North and Montreal like it's two blocks down the road (as mentioned). No one ever carries any provisions, packs, etc to make this long trip. They're basically dressed up like they're taking the dog for a walk down the street in a manner of speaking.Also....canoes for fur traders were massive. You see them supposedly transporting fur in these 16 foot long canoes when they're suppose to be transporting mega quantities of fur. They would need thousands of canoes (really)...just doesn't make sense. GOOD STUFF. There's potential here for something decent. it's not too late. Costumes are great. The lighting is fabulous actually. The story is super interesting though I think the writing is missing out on a lot of interesting story/plot lines. Acting for the most part is good. BOTTOM LINE - If you're looking for a light, fluffy series to kill some time and that's decent this will do the job. If you're looking for a jaw dropping, leave you at the edge of your seat type thing....you won't like this.

rickwalker-37475 The setting (and cast) for this show has so much potential yet time and again I found myself jarred out of the story by lazy writing and research. I wanted to feel engrossed in the story, instead I winced at the 20th century slang, poorly researched accents, basic historical errors, and stereotyped characters. I'm not looking for a documentary, but it's difficult to emotionally invest in a series when you're constantly evicted from any state of immersion. What's left is just another predictable and clichéd fantasy drama which feels cheap and tacky.