Published on: January 26, 2018
It was with mixed emotions that I watched the 10th and final episode in the sixth and final season of “Longmire,” the contemporary western that began life on A&E and then, after three seasons, moved over to Netflix. I was sad because I’ve come to love this cast of characters and the unfolding and intertwined plot lines, many of which came together in the final hour, but I also felt a sense of satisfaction and completion - “Longmire” rode out of town with head held high, having maintained a high level of quality.
If you’ve never seen “Longmire,” I would recommend it as entirely binge-worthy. The series is built around the towering performance of Robert Taylor as Walt Longmire, sheriff of fictional Absaroka County in Wyoming (though the series was shot in New Mexico for some reason). Longmire is a literary cousin to Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone, as played on TV by Tom Selleck - taciturn, lonely, independent, but righteous to a fault and brimming with integrity. “Longmire” has had moments when it even has become a comedy of manners, as the titular character has struggled to understand and express his feelings, or even admit he has them.
Taylor is exceptional in the role, and the supporting cast is great - Katee Sackhoff, A Martinez, Cassidy Freeman and especially Lou Diamond Phillips.
Much of “Longmire” focuses on the tensions emerging from the intersection of Native American life with local communities - the battles are cultural, economic and legal, with Longmire at the center of many of them. It was a strong through-line for the series, providing a backbone upon which to build a network of interconnecting and complex stories.
I’ve never read the Craig Johnson books on which “Longmire” is based, but I may have to add them to the list … but it is hard to imagine that they’ll top what has been a wonderful television series experience.
It was fun to head out to Seattle last week to get the personal guided tour of the new Amazon Go store … and the bonus was that I got to make an unexpected trip to Etta’s - which, as longtime MNB readers know, is one of my favorite restaurants and home to Morgan, the best bartender on the planet. (If you go to Etta’s any Tuesday through Friday evening, go to the bar, ask for Morgan, and tell him Kevin sent you. In about 30 seconds you’ll feel like a regular. Trust me.)
Going to Etta’s meant that I sat down and Morgan poured me a glass of wine. I never ask for anything specific, and he just pours a glass in front of me and pours something that he likes. It’s always great. In this case, it was the Gilbert Cellars 2014 Left Bank Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, from Washington State’s Columbia Valley. Delicious. Ton eat, I had my usual - a double order of tuna sashimi, served with green onion pancakes and tobiko.
It was a rainy night in Seattle. I’d been to the future at Amazon Go. I was enjoying a lovely evening at Etta’s. It was good, I must admit, to be me.
That’s it for this week. Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you Monday.
Slàinte!