New Mini-Series: The Red Road

If you are looking for a variation on Justified, but this time set in the mountains of New Jersey, you may want to check out tonight's premiere of the Sundance Channel's The Red Road.   The term "Red Road" is a Native American concept of taking the right path, and that is quite a tall order in the story that unfolds.  Here is the story via the Sundance Blog:

THE RED ROAD is a gripping, dramatic thriller that presents two distinct visions of America today as played out through the conflict between two different men.  The series revolves around a local sheriff (Henderson) struggling to keep his family together while simultaneously policing two clashing communities: the small town where he grew up just outside of New York City, and the neighboring mountains—home of a federally unrecognized Native American tribe.  After a terrible tragedy and cover-up further divides these worlds, an uneasy alliance is forged between the officer and a dangerous member of the tribe (Momoa).  As each of the two men find themselves increasingly compromised by the other and the emotional ghosts of their collective pasts begin to emerge, the lives of both quickly unravel, leading to terrible consequences.

If you want to see the pilot episode immediately or miss the premiere, the episode is available on the Sundance Channel's website.   I already viewed this first episode and look forward to the remaining five episodes of this mini-series.  

The "Native American tribe" in question is an interesting story by itself.  The story involves the Ramapough Mountain Indians, a tribe recognized by the state of New Jersey but not the Federal government.  The tribe states it is a Lenape tribe that mixed with others in colonial times, from runaway slaves to the Dutch and Hessians.  This mix is apparent in the first scene in the series, where a Native American dance is underway while the viewers clearly come from a variety of racial backgrounds.  The open question on tribal status is clear when the main character from this tribe chastises a few kids playing cowboys and indians, noting that the stories of Native American ancestry are just that - stories.  

Given all the new shows and new seasons starting up this winter, you may feel you lack time for one more show.  If so, put this on your list of shows to see later.  It is worth your time.