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Set in the Texas Republic in the early 1840's, a time in which three cultures - Anglo, Hispanic and Comanche - were in furious conflict over the same harsh land, we are introduced to Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call, the heroes of LONESOME DOVE. Gus (David Arquette) and Call (Johnny Lee Miller) are young Rangers, ripe for adventure, and they get it with the Texas-Santa Fe expedition, and ill-conceived effort on the part of some freebooters and adventurers to capture Santa Fe and annex New Mexico. Led by the land pirate Caleb Cobb (F. Murray Abraham), and guided by the legendary Bigfoot Wallace (Keith Carradine) and his mountain-man friend Shadrach (Harry Dean Stanton), the group fights several engagements with the great Comanche warchief Buffalo Hump (Eric Schweig), is whittled down by the silent Apache, Gomez (Victor Aaron), and is captured without resistance by the Mexican army. Marched south by a resolute Mexican officer, Captain Salazar (Edward James Olmos), they survive bear attacks, ice storms, and the rigors of the barren desert known as the Jornada del Muerto. In the end, they arrive at the leper colony of San Lazaro, where black and white beans are drawn to determine which of the invaders will live an which will die. Accompanying the men on this trek is the colorful, amply fleshed whore known as the Great Western - Matilda Jane Roberts (Patricia Childress). In Austin, Gus meets the love of his life, Clara Forsythe (Jennifer Garner), and in San Lazaro, they encounter the great English lady, Lucinda Carey (Haviland Morris), who, in the startling climax, helps them survive a last encounter with the wild men, led by the great Comanche, Buffalo Hump.

Rating : - A trilogy, don't miss it...
Back in the 1840's the State Texas was known as the Texas Republic, a harsh environment where several cultures clashed: Apache and Comanche, Anglos and Hispanics, for the most part, Mexicans. The battle over land, water and resources was furious, the spirit of these men as they set out to conquer, indomitable. The Texas Rangers were members of a law enforcement agency that investigated crimes from murder to political corruption, tracking fugitives and forging most important events in Texas history.

In their early days, the Texas Rangers protected the frontier against Indian attacks on settlers, then serving as scouts, spies, couriers, and guides for those wishing to settle in the West. These men were trained to aim, fire and reload their weapons from horseback, an amazing development from the usual technique of dismounting before shooting at enemies and reloading.

The story and subsequent sequels centers around two men, Augustus "Gus" McCrae and Woodrow Call. With each episode, we have seen three, the actors change as their characters age.

Dead Man's Walk finds young Gus, played by David Arquette and Call, played by Johnny Lee Miller, as two young Texas rangers who set out to find adventure and soon make a life around this dangerous employment.

Their purpose seems to capture Santa Fe and annex New Mexico, but the Mexicans fight them at every turn. Their group is led by a pirate who travels with its parrot on his shoulder, by the name of Caleb Cobb, played by F. Murray Abraham.

There are many adventures, many encounters that will leave you spell bound as to the perils of life in the 1800's. The Apache encounters are magnificent, the violence sometimes brutal, but as with most westerners, we appreciated a view to a time when survival was a daily challenge.

The Mexican Captain Salazar, played by Edward James Olmos, is cruel, dispassionate, but in time, develops great respect for the endurance of the Texas Rangers. Simply, excellent.