Emily Blunt’s BBC and Amazon Prime western series is being hailed by fans as an overlooked gem — and it’s available to stream right now
Emily Blunt stars in The English(Image: Getty)
Hugo Blick’s expansive western transports audiences through the dying days of the Old West across six compelling episodes, with Emily Blunt delivering a formidable performance that has led viewers to hail this as an underappreciated gem alongside American Primeval and Yellowstone.
The programme follows Eli Whipp (Chaske Spencer), a resolute Pawnee former U.S. Army scout travelling to Nebraska to claim territory pledged in return for his military service, facing treachery, displacement and the hollow assurances of a disintegrating empire, alongside Lady Cornelia Locke (Emily Blunt), an Englishwoman arriving on American soil in pursuit of vengeance for her son’s murderer.
The English, which broadcast on BBC Two and Amazon Prime in late 2022, comprises six episodes that have received acclaim from established western fans and fresh converts to the genre, as the format experiences a notable renaissance with the arrival of Yellowstone, American Primeval, and 1923.
“Fans of American Primeval should watch The English. Both are great Westerns featuring a strong female lead,” Emily Long says for Screen Rant, noting “though each of the shows have their own stories and unique characters, The English and American Primeval are surprisingly similar.
“Both shows centre on a woman trying to make her way across the American West with a travelling partner, encountering numerous challenges along the way.”
The cast of The English at the show’s New York premiere(Image: Getty)
Despite these parallels, devotees of The English have queried why it hasn’t garnered the same recognition as other recent offerings, despite being “Western in all the right ways”, reports the Express.
“Instantly, The English has made my top 10. I have seen a lot of movies and series over the many many years I’ve walked this earth. And seldom have I been struck so profoundly,” one IMDB reviewer said in a glowing 10-star appraisal.
“Every scene, every word, each gesture, to a person reaches out, aiming for the heart. Relentlessly uncovering a story that weaves beauty and horror in equal measure.
“It never waits for you to catch up. But rather pulls you along as you follow- never really knowing what will happen and carefully doling out what has happened.”
The extensively lauded series secured substantial recognition for its principal performers, with Chaske Spencer and Emily Blunt receiving nods at the British Academy Television Awards for Best Actor and the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series respectively.
Stephen Rea also secured an Irish Film and Television Award for his mesmerising interpretation of Sheriff Robert Marshall.
The Western has completely captivated the 67,000-strong Reddit community r/Western, with user apswim22 saying: “This was an amazing under-the-radar series. One of the better Western series in a while.”
Many viewers have lauded the show’s storytelling, with BeautifulDebate7615 posting on the Western subreddit: “We did not see the twist coming but kept wondering why things weren’t developing the way we expected. Then the twist perfectly explained things.”
In addition to the outstanding performances, the show showcases Arnau Valls Colomer’s breathtaking cinematography, perfectly complemented by Federico Jusid’s classical soundtrack to create the ideal atmosphere.
Some critics have raised concerns regarding the show’s pacing, describing the first episode as rather slow. However, these reservations generally dissipated once the second episode picks up speed.
The English is available to stream on both BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime.