Joe Pickett (TV Series) A Monster at the Gate (2021) User Reviews

Solid opener, a series with potential

[bosporan · 7/10 · 26 May 2022]

A good season premiere outlining the key characters, the environment and setting up the points of contention for the early story.

Picket himself (Michael Dorman) is an unrealistically overdrawn boy scout in this episode and hopefully this will be dialled back a little going forward. His wife (Julianna Guill) is initially a much more interesting and rounded character, she loves her husband and has given up a promising legal career to look after children, adding a strong skill set and personality to the show.

An intriguing start with a shocking page-turn cliff-hanger which augurs well for the season.

Ain't no Longmire

[jjsoltis · 6/10 · 16 May 2022]

I had high expectations for this series. I'm disappointed so far. If this episode had not ended the way it did I would be done with it. One more episode test. Better be good.

Pat dialog

[trudjoh · 6/10 · 14 August 2022]

Don't you get tired of writers filling their dialog with "it's gonna be ok" and "it'll be ok". So far I agree - it isn't no Longmire. Will watch a bit more. Accents are forced. Emu and scenery outstanding. Hope actors grow into their roles without forcing it.

So many errors in the first 10 minutes

[jdlainhart · 2/10 · 6 June 2023]

A WYG&F truck with Oklahoma plates. The WY plate is very distinctive and easily distinguished from every other plate in the world.

CGI Elk that look like stags. Went cheap on the CGI and recycled some junk right there. Don't run off until he fires his gun. Even high fence elk are spookier than that.

Not sure which season (spring apparently) but trees don't know it. One road is full green, not very likely in a WY April.

An April bull elk with post rut antlers. Dialog at least got the velvet antler correct even if the elk didn't have them.

The wife gets notified she is pregnant and next shot she has a 6 month belly. Trees still think it is some time before leaves arrive.

What idiot was the consultant on this junk?

It's Wyoming, not Alabama, nor Alberta

[lilamcgrew · 2/10 · 24 June 2023]

Wyoming is in the intermountain west and very much north of the Mason - Dixon line. Why, just why, do so many directors think Wyomingites speak with a pseudo southern accent. This has been a common problem for decades and I'm sick of it.

In this particular case it appears it's just the jerks, so there's another awful stereotype.

And another thing - what's wrong with filming in Wyoming? Another annoying habit of Hollywood.

Alberta - well, at least it's the right mountain range, but much different topography. Longmire - filmed in New Mexico - was the same way.

And last, but certainly not least, Oat Keely would have been arrested on the spot and in jail for poaching elk, not ticketed. There would have been no question of getting a hunting license back after that. The whole scenario is completely stupid.

AND - a hunters wife scoffing at bow hunters? They do exist, and there is nothing about them to scoff at. It takes serious skill.

There is so much more wrong with this episode/series that others have commented on, so I'll leave it there.

Books are better

[mh1974 · 2/10 · 17 July 2022]

I have been hoping for a Joe Pickett series for years. Now that we have one I can say that I am underwhelmed. It is not as good as it could be. The scenes are long and plodding which made the episode drag on. If you want to see Joe Pickett at his best pick up one of the books.

Enjoyable

[brandoncallen-58930 · 5/10 · 20 May 2022]

I have to admit I was hoping for a bit more. It wasnt anything to write home about but it wasnt a total bomb. I feel it was enjoyable enough. Very pleased to see Sharon Lawrence and to know that Jennifer Morrison of Hose fame and Once upon a time directed the first 2 episodes. The actress that plays Joe's wife is gorgeous and a decent actress. I like the girls who play the daughters. I feel David Alan Grier was a bit of a miscast and Barnum.too. Overall I would say it's worth a once over.

Not promising

[thia1234 · 1/10 · 5 October 2023]

Who wrote this episode? Why is the bad guy a ridiculous cartoon? Why does he have a bad southern accent? Why is David Alan Grier so badly miscast? Have the creators of this show ever been to Wyoming? Have they never met a game warden? I don't understand. I love the Dowdle's other stuff which is why I'm trying to watch this show but I've rarely seen a worse first episode of a new show. Why do only the bad guys and white trash have the bad fake southern accents? And why are they all different? It's not like you could even convince yourself an Alabama family moved to the area or something. I'll try another episode or two but so far this is really bad.

Too bad. I love Michael Dorman

[whatithinkis · 1/10 · 12 February 2022]

And his past work makes him perfect for this. Unfortunately this is not perfect for him. Judging from other reviews, the source material is excellent, so I will go read the books. The directing and writing here are abominable. Too bad. I cannot recommend.

Disgusting Adaptation

[mirage-productions · 1/10 · 14 March 2023]

Both my wife and myself are huge fans of the Joe Pickett books and are currently reading his new one, "Storm Watch". After watching an interview of C. J. Box on his new book, he did talk about the Joe Pickett series and that season 2 was in the can. Last night we decided to watch Season 1. We only got through 1 and a half episodes. One of the worst WOK adaptations we have ever seen. First thing my wife said was, the actor playing Pickett had no resemblance to the character. Second, Marybeth gets a call regarding a blood test, yeah blood test, saying she is pregnant. The nest day she suddenly appears to be at least 6 months along. So it takes a blood test to let these numbskull characters know that she is 6 months pregnant? We also learned that Wyoming fish and game wardens turn black after retiring. Don't let me get started on Nates transformation.