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When the cable network A&E cancelled Longmire after the third season, it demonstrated a depressing—if not wholly unexpected—lack of vision. While not its lowest-rated original offering, the series skewed toward an older demographic and lacked the critical acclaim of certain other basic cable dramas. The network decided to cut it loose and faced a larger-than-expected backlash from fans who appreciated its unique setting, strong ensemble, and lightly serialized storyline. Judging by the deluge of social media commentary, people weren’t keen on seeing it replaced with more reality-style programming, especially considering that it ended on a cliffhanger.
Season three picks up after Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor) has been re-elected as the sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming, but all is not right in their sparsely-populated corner of the world. Deputy Branch (Bailey Chase) faces a painful recovery from a near-fatal ambush, while Vic (Katee Sackhoff) tries to salvage her disintegrating marriage. Meanwhile, Henry Standing Bear (Lou Diamond Phillips) has been arrested in connection with the death of a man suspected of killing Walt’s wife several years earlier.
At first glance, Longmire is only one of the many police procedurals that dot the broadcast and cable landscapes. A closer look quickly gives the lie to that assumption, as the rural western setting lends the series a distinctly different feel than its urban-centered brethren. Walt Longmire eschews business suits and crowded streets for a beat-up pickup truck and wide open spaces. He’s the kind of guy who can’t even be bothered to carry a cell phone, but he fits right into the Old West aesthetic the show aims for. Add in the frequent tension with the nearby Native American reservation, and you end up with a show that feels completely distinct, even as it draws its structure from a very familiar well.
Also helping the series stand out from the crowd is the exceptionally good cast. Taylor anchors the proceedings as a man slightly out of step with the modern world but possessed of a deep sense of right and wrong. Chase and Sackhoff could have been simply positioned as the devil and angel on Walt’s shoulders, but each brings some nuance and rougher edges to their roles. All the while, Phillips provides dry wit and wisdom as the local bartender.
A third element that helps to elevate Longmire above the standard procedural is the balance it strikes between the case of the week and the serial elements that drive the narrative. The biggest ongoing storyline concerns the murder of Walt’s wife, a mystery that not only informs the characters but also continually resurfaces to ensnare the plot. That it may be tied in with the various power plays occurring in regard to the self-regulated reservation adds another layer that draws the viewer back.
Rewatching the third season of Longmire may have been a bittersweet experience, considering that it concludes with new information on the central mystery and the possible death of one of the main cast members. Fortunately, Netflix came to the rescue and has picked the series up for a fourth season to air later this year. It may not be the flashiest cop show on the market, but it does its own thing remarkably well—and that’s reason enough to go along for the ride.
DVD Review:
Perhaps in sync with the show’s austere settings, the third season shows up in a fairly basic package, with ten episodes spread over two discs. The only extra included is a 30-minute feature, in which members of the cast and crew discuss the themes and character arcs of the season. It’s a surprisingly deep discussion, and it’s definitely a case where quality trumps quantity.
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