Today's Entertainment

2 J uly 27 - August 2, 2014 Br ainerd Dispatch By Cassie Dresch TV Media W alt Longmire is living in rela- tive obscurity. You won't see his name splashed across huge billboards or shouted from Hollywood's highest towers commanding attention and acco- lades. In fact, you won't find it on any Golden Globe, Emmy, Critic's Choice, People's Choice or one of the countless other major awards that spring to mind. And yet, there he is. Dusty cow- boy boots, sturdy Stetson hat and the stern introspection of a sheriff who's seen so much and says so lit- tle. He's the title character in A&E's Western-inspired crime drama "Longmire," which airs a new epi- sode Monday, July 28. Based on the "Walt Longmire Mysteries" novels by best-selling author Craig Johnson, the TV show has been a major success for A&E since the get-go, despite the sore lack of recognition. The series pre- miered in June 2012 and set a re- cord for the network, becoming the most watched original series launch of all time with 4.1 million total viewers. The first season finished even stronger than its premiere, notching 4.3 million total viewers, and season 2's premiere and finale numbers were higher yet. Now in its third season, "Long- mire" picked up where it left off and continues to boast strong numbers and a dedicated fan base ... but still no hype. It's odd, though, that it continues to dwell in anonymity. The writing is top notch, the acting is spot on and overall it's been very well received since the beginning. In a review for "Newsday" back when the series premiered, Verne Gay said it "arrives as silently as a dust devil kicked up by a high wind on the Wyoming plains (where the show is set). With little in the way of fanfare and a lead actor unac- quainted with household name sta- tus, it must instead rely on a quiet fortitude, much like its namesake. Unassuming 'Longmire' doesn't shout 'LOVE ME!' but instead works its charms subtly, quietly." And worked its charms it has. Leading the charge as Sheriff Walt Longmire is Australian actor Robert Taylor, most well known for his role as Agent Jones in the sci-fi action flick "The Matrix" (1999). He is, as Gay pointed out, quite unac- quainted with being a household name — at least in the U.S. — but that doesn't take away from what he brings to the role. Johnson has described Walt's character as "a detective for the disenfranchised, a man whose se- cret weapon is his compassion for the less fortunate or forgotten members of society." Taylor epito- mizes all of that, to the point that Johnson was brought almost to tears when they first started bringing his books to life. "My eyes started welling up, and I had to turn away and walk off the set," he said in an article for "CriminalElement.com." "There was something about watching these characters, these people I'd created, going about their lives and discuss- ing the innermost workings of their hearts that hit me like a war lance." Starring alongside Taylor is a cast that brings poise and experience to the fictional Wyoming town of Ab- saroka County, and since the first season, they've each seen their characters grow and develop. Katee Sackhoff ("24," "Battlestar Galactica") plays Walt's deputy Vic Moretti, who, it turns out, kick-start- ed an investigation into corruption against a former colleague in Phila- delphia, causing her to flee her for- mer job hoping for anonymity. It seems to have been all for naught, though, as her colleague's former partner has found her in Wyoming. Absaroka County's other dep- uty is Branch Connally, Walt's top deputy who challenged him for the sheriff's job but found himself in more pressing situations — namely a life-or- death one. The man be- hind Branch is actor Bailey Chase (who also went by Bailey Luetgert early in his career). Chase is most recog- nized for his role as Det. Butch Ada in TNT's crime drama "Saving Grace." He's also seen time on TV in "As the World Turns" and as Graham Miller in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Of course, no show is complete without some personal drama to mix in with the professional. As Walt struggles to move on from his wife's death and — spoiler alert! — tries to find out who actually murdered her, he has to contend with his law- yer daughter Cady, played by "Smallville's" Cassidy Freeman. Throw in the fact that his oldest friend and confidant Henry Stand- ing Bear (Lou Diamond Phillips, "La Bamba," 1987) is in some hot water legally (albeit for an honorable rea- son), and there is no shortage of storylines to follow as the show bar- rels towards the season finale. There's some light at the end of the tunnel for anyone who is hoping to see "Longmire" catch fire even more and finally garner the respect it deserves. Adam Bartley, who's had bit parts in shows such as "Chuck" and "Justified," plays Deputy "The Ferg" Ferguson, and he's seeing it grow in popularity before his eyes. "Me and the sheriff (Taylor) will go to the gym in Santa Fe (where the show is filmed), and people will recognize us," he said in an inter- view with "Albuquerque Journal." "That's a really cool feeling because we get the chance to meet and chat with the fans." But it's not just in Santa Fe that Bartley says he's seeing a surge in fans. Because TV viewing is chang- ing so rapidly with the emergence of Netflix and the rush to get shows to DVD, "Longmire" is ready to burst into common conscience. "The way of watching TV has changed," he said in the same inter- view. "With Netflix, people don't have cable and are binging on sea- sons at a time with shows. We're finding more people finding the show later than others, but we'll take any viewer we can." And so, as Sheriff Walt Longmire continues to watch over his county like a shepherd guards his flock, "Longmire" continues to plug away, put up solid numbers and entertain its ever-loyal fan base. If middling in obscurity bothered Walt at all, you wouldn't know it. With a grunt and a shrug, he'd go on his way, clearly with more pressing things on his mind. Stop by Absaroka County and catch a new episode of "Longmire," airing Monday, July 28, on A&E. Robert Taylor and Lou Diamond Phillips as seen in "Longmire" Living in the shadows A&E's 'Longmire' lacks the hype but packs a punch Cover Story this week 501 W Washington St, Brainerd | Ph: 218-297-7674 Free Pick Up & Delivery or Loaner Cars Available. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6TH 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM PRIZE DRAWINGS CUSTOMER APPRECIATION We Can Do That! PM S THURSDAY, AUGUST 7 HUGE TIRE SALE! 001099566r1 BRATS, HOT DOGS & POP! 001099668r1 "Your One-Stop, Locally-Owned Medical Supply Company." FREE Delivery in our service area! 8-5:30pm M-F, 9-12 Sat. 206 W. Washington, Tyrol Hills Center Brainerd 218-829-2100 BRAINERD MEDICAL SUPPLY We Process Medical Assistance, Medica, Blue Cross, Medicare and Most insurance. 24 Hour Emergency Oxygen Service Attention: Eye Surgery Patients Totally Adjustable Ergonomically Designed Ultra Compact Now Available for Rent Both chair & table top options

• Cover
• T20