S03.E10: Ashes to Ashes

[gaPeach]

Ridges shot Branch, I think, because he wouldn't stop investigating, and Barlow apparently considers his son as expendable.

 

That is what I find so hard to believe.  Barlow did all this to get Branch in as Sheriff and then when found out he decides he can shoot Branch and just make another son.  HA!  At 65 that is really bragging.

 

Please please TPTB give us at least one more season and bring back the characters we loved in season 1.

[Skycatcher]

Verizon's On Demand service is now listing the episode, at 1 hr 10 minutes.

[Entchen]

Halfway through the episode, but oh my goodness, guys, get a goddamn court order to have Beck exhumed, don't just go digging up graves yourself. 

Edited August 7, 2014 by Entchen

[fauntleroy]

The commercials, especially in the last 20 mins, are really murder and, at least with my Verizon on demand, you can't FF through them. So it's better to DVR it.

 

Might be worth rereading the recaps, cause I am lost as to the plot. Like why Ridges was after Branch. Ridges ran down Cady too didn't he? I don't see recaps for Longmire on this site though. Thinking back I think it was implied that there was some larger conspiracy involved. That is, that it wasn't just a matter of figuring out who had done it, but that a larger issue was in play. But they never introduced a set of characters needed to accommodate such an ambitious scheme. So they were left with all that mayhem just for a local election, an implausible and in the case of Barlow out-of-character motive.

 

I agree that next year they should open the cases up--everything doesn't have to be murder. Let go of the urge to up the stakes, make things darker, etc. Plenty of other issues to explore.

[fauntleroy]

I think the gravedigging was justified by oh my god the season's about to end and we've only got like tonight to finish!

 

Or, they didn't need the evidence to hold up in court. They only needed to convince that new DA that his case was weak. Which they did. Walt and Henry could have stuck to the story that Walt came upon Henry digging, but once the body was exhumed, the chain of custody was (relatively, since they had no evidence that Walt was bullshitting) intact.

 

A unlikely mess, but enough evidence to convince that DA guy the case wasn't as open-and-shut as Fales led him to believe. Cady said "all this is going to come out at trial" and the court would see Fales didn't investigate properly.

[Irishmaple]

Does Henry's arrest for disturbing the grave mean Branch's bail money is forfeit?  Or does the dismissal of the charges mean the money will be returned to him?  Assuming he's still alive.  Which he better be.  Longmire and Vic are not enough of a draw to keep this show on my schedule.

[dubbel zout]

Does Henry's arrest for disturbing the grave mean Branch's bail money is forfeit?

 

I think Walt was able to smooth that over by saying that he'd been looking for Henry, so he'd take him off the DPD's hands and deal with it. I don't think Henry was technically arrested that night.

Edited August 7, 2014 by dubbel zout

[JackONeill]

I said on another forum back during Season 1 that I could just watch the characters helping Walt finish building his cabin.  (For those who've forgotten, Walt and his wife were in the process of building it when she died.  Witness the fact that there are no steps at the front porch.)  I mean, they all seem to have a pretty good rapport together, particularly Walt and Henry, who happen to be the stars of the show.

 

But then the writers decided to add a murder-per-week AND an overreaching and not-thought-out murder of Martha that involved nearly everybody in the state of Wyoming AND Colorado. 

 

Then Henry gets put aside for almost the entire third season.  Who thought that was a good idea?  But that opened the door for more Walt and Vic.  Arguably, Katee Sackhoff is a respected actress and has lots of fans.  And maybe some fans want to see her with Walt.  But all it seems to have done is set off a firestorm.  And it's cut into Henry-time.  And Walt still hadn't buried his wife, which we were constantly reminded of every time someone brought up Denver, Ridges, Beck, Nighthorse, etc.

 

I think the writers should have devoted themselves to telling the story of Martha's murder OR skipping it entirely (letting her die of cancer. period.) and focusing on the murder-of-the-week.  Then, and either way, spend the extra time on the characters.  Allow us to get to know them.  Show them interacting.  Remember the party for Walt when he announced he was running for sheriff?  That was light, and it showed the characters doing something other than getting blood on their hands.  (But, yes, that was when we first met Ridges.)

 

Another big problem is only having 10-13 episodes per season.  But I think focusing on what you want to tell will help.  This show seems to be . . . confused.  But now, at least, the Martha part of the story has been resolved.  Except for whether Barlow or Nighthorse was behind it.  Please tell me that if the show comes back for season 4 (which I hope), that won't take long to resolve????  If it takes more than one show to resolve Barlow/Nighthorse the writers have a BIG problem.

[Ghost of TWOP Past]

I agree that killing his wife is an odd way to discourage Walt from remaining sherrif, but they couldn't have embroiled him in a scandal or anything like that. FIrstly, no one would believe Walt was up to no good, and secondly, it would just motivate Walt to exonerate himself. They had to take away his wish to be sheriff rather than his ability to be sheriff. That being said, this Rube Goldberg of a murder doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. Barlow pays a guy to hire a guy who hires a guy to kill the wife of the man who's in his son's way? Is that right? 

 

It's so odd how this series can do so much so right, and then blow something obvious. No matter how incompetent he's supposed to be, I cannot believe that Ferg, a deputy, wouldn't know what "habeus corpus" means. It needn't even have come up in his deputy training, as anybody who's seen a few cop shows is familiar with that phrase. And was Beck's body naked in the coffin? And if so, why? 

 

And yet, I find something about this show mesmerizing, despite its many and painful flaws.

[LVmom]

I love this show despite the shitstorm of bad story lines. Not necessarily bad, but too drawn out. I had at least two too many episodes of crazy Branch, and at least two too few episodes of Henry and Walt being friends. Their banter is great. I know people who are like Walt, with such a strong sense of right and wrong they appear to always be right. They think they can do anything despite their age so end up injured every now and then. He's somewhat believable for the tv screen. Corruption can be rampant in small towns too, I'm okay with the corrupt reoccurring characters. I just think things get too much attention that shouldn't, while the more interesting subplots get neglected. I'm okay with the case of the week as long as the show remains more about the characters and their interactions.

 

 

  I am dying to know if Branch is still alive, as this show could go either way. I could see a season of Walt investigating Branch's death, and slooowly uncovering his dads corruption. And it ain't pretty.

[dubbel zout]

I suspect Walt already knows that Barlow is corrupt, he just doesn't know how far it reaches.

Edited August 8, 2014 by dubbel zout

[ali59]

And yet, I find something about this show mesmerizing, despite its many and painful flaws.

 

For me, it's the travel porn!

[lonestar]

Deleted everything since I screwed up the quote function.  

 

I read it has already been renewed for another season.

Edited August 9, 2014 by lonestar

[Toaster Strudel]

I have a TV crush on Branch.

 

At first I didn't like the character but he's been calling my name this season, LOL.

[anstar]

I read it has already been renewed for another season.

 

Read where?  I haven't seen anything yet. :(

[MaryPatShelby]

Sigh. While maybe marginally understanding the Martha storyline after coming here, I still don't understand why a Denver murder was being prosecuted in Wyoming. Did they explain that and I missed it?

[anstar]

Did they explain that and I missed it?

If they did, I missed it too.  It was one of the (many) things that bothered me about this show.  I could never get my head around the logic.  Longmire stops Henry from going to Denver, tears up his extradition waiver and has him put in a prison nearby so he could maintain some control (I think) and Henry promptly begins to have the everloving hell beat out of himself on a daily basis precisely because of Longmire.  Then, instead of an extradition hearing, because remember, he is no longer waiving, a Wyoming judge has decided he has the right to set (or deny) bail <huh>? and we now have Denver prosecutors and detectives coming to us! for interviews, plea offers, etc.  I guess it's about as plausible as the hopelessly tainted feather evidence from the exhumed body being used to get the charges dropped.  Makes for great theater, but no judge would even listen to it, so in reality, Fales and the Denver DA didn't have a whole lot to worry about.  How would that go, exactly?

"Your Honor, In the course of committing multiple crimes, my client was able to find evidence proving his innocence on *these* charges."

[taragel]

It hasn't been renewed. Longmire Posse (run by Adam's aunt, so she's in the know) is still lobbying hard daily on social media for a renewal. I don't know that it's going to happen this time though because while their total viewer numbers are still pretty high (around 3.5 mill) the "demo" numbers (meaning the coveted 18-49 year olds that advertisers believe spend the money) have sunk to only 500K. Usually shows under 1 Mill in the demo are in danger of being canceled by their network because advertisers won't pay enough for ad time to cover production costs. And Longmire's a pretty costly production, I think (big cast, lots of crew, lots of location shots). To compound the problem, they have to pay Warner Brothers who makes the show to air it. 

 

All of that plus the fact that the network doesn't do much fanfare for the show as opposed to the stuff they do for Bates Motel...doesn't seem to bode well.

 

But...what could work in their favor is the lack of other scripted options? They passed on Occult. Those Who Kill got canceled/shuttled over to LMN after two episodes. The Returned is a go--but that'll air in fall with Bates because Carlton Cuse produces both shows. They do have a bull riding drama called Blood, Sweat & Tears but there's been no news on it in about a year. If it's still active...it could steal Longmire's summer slot. Or....it could be a good match and air at 9 right before it.

[Ohwell]

If it's not renewed, I won't be devastated.  I think the writers blew a big opportunity to make the show better, and what they did this past season was to make it worse.   It's as if they sat around the table, drunk, threw out ideas, and nobody took the time to figure out  what made any sense.

 

I would miss Henry though and I would love to see Lou Diamond Phillips in something else.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Ohwell

[Ghost of TWOP Past]

Everybody tends to blame network executives for the shows they like not doing well, but this seems to be one of the cases where it's true. I have not seen a commercial for this show since early in its first season, for one thing. They aren't trying to get the word out. But also, the half-assed commitment to 10-13 episodes per season is a big factor (I believe) in viewer dissatisfaction with the pace of the storylines. In real time, we've been strung along about Martha's death for 2 calendar years. But in terms of episodes aired? It's only been 1.5 TV seasons, which is a little over 1 year of real time at the pace of full seasons. If the story arcs haven't developed much, it's at least partially because they haven't had much in-show time to develop them. 

 

Also, just as a general complaint, I profoundly hate the way that so many shows are taking multi-week hiatuses in mid-season (Grimm), and sometimes even skipping multi-month spans between seasons (Battlestar Galactica). By the time they finally straggle back onto the air, I have trouble remembering where we were in the storylines, or even why I was once excited about that show in the first place. Longmire's big stretches between half-seasons similarly saps the momentum of viewer interest, and is the main reason I haven't remembered to watch Archer since some time last year. 

Edited August 12, 2014 by Ghost of TWOP Past

[Toaster Strudel]

Monday night wasn't the sweetest spot for good ratings.

[QTBlueMoon]

Everybody tends to blame network executives for the shows they like not doing well, but this seems to be one of the cases where it's true. I have not seen a commercial for this show since early in its first season, for one thing. 

Back in May, we went to a movie, and they highlighted this season of Longmire.  It was about a 5 minute summary of what's coming down the pike for Walt and crew.  If it wasn't for that, we wouldn't have even known it was going to be on.  42 weeks is a long time between seasons, isn't it?

[JeeperDon]

I wouldn't compare this show's ratings to the averages of other shows across all channels as an assessment of it's staying power. The CW always has pitiful ratings compared to other broadcast channels, but still manages to keep their original content on for longer than would seem normal.  All the old 'rerun' cable channels are trying to make original content shows these days, even WGN with 'Manhattan'. 

 

As I see it, since (as I remember reading), Longmire is the highest rated original series that A&E ever had, it likely won't go away.  It's not NCIS for ratings, but it's the best way for A&E to fill a time slot.

 

I saw that movie theatre 5 min thing too.  I also saw ads on other channels for it too.

Edited August 13, 2014 by JeeperDon

[JackONeill]

It's all about money.  At the end of the day, does this show or Duck Dynasty make more money for A&E.  And if it isn't Duck Dynasty, what about a replacement series, Goose Dynasty, or Chicken Dynasty?  (I can't help but snicker when I think that A & E stands for Art and Entertainment, and I try like hell to figure where the art is in a show like Duck Dynasty.)

 

Another money issue for A&E is that they (like someone above pointed out) don't own this show outright.  So whatever profit there is is split.

 

Yes, scenery shooting is expensive, but the actors (no disrespect intended) probably aren't the highest paid.  So there's that.  Plus when it gets written about, it gets kudos.  The NY Times did a good article on the show at the beginning of this season.

So, if I were A&E I'd want to keep this show.  And I hope they do.  But -- money talks.

[seamusk]

I enjoyed the finale.  I just wanted to say that, regarding Barlow's motive, I thought that he said something to Branch that strongly implied that Martha was a pain in the ass re: the casino plans (slowest building of a casino ever btw) and that was extra motive for him.  He really hated the Longmires on multiple levels.  So I think the killing of Martha to de-stabilize Walt and create an opportunity for Branch to be Sheriff was a rationalization of it all.  And not the full explanation for it.

[green]

It's all about money.  At the end of the day, does this show or Duck Dynasty make more money for A&E.  And if it isn't Duck Dynasty, what about a replacement series, Goose Dynasty, or Chicken Dynasty?  (I can't help but snicker when I think that A & E stands for Art and Entertainment, and I try like hell to figure where the art is in a show like Duck Dynasty.)

 

Another money issue for A&E is that they (like someone above pointed out) don't own this show outright.  So whatever profit there is is split.

 

Yes, scenery shooting is expensive, but the actors (no disrespect intended) probably aren't the highest paid.  So there's that.  Plus when it gets written about, it gets kudos.  The NY Times did a good article on the show at the beginning of this season.

So, if I were A&E I'd want to keep this show.  And I hope they do.  But -- money talks.

 

OT:  I think its plural as in Arts & Entertainment.  As in the fine arts.  When they first came on they showed tons of taped Broadway plays, opera, symphonies and the like the first year or so.  But, like the History Channel (aside from Vikings there which is great and well written historical fiction coupled with outstanding acting), their names mean nothing these days.  Reduced to ducks and ancient aliens for the most part. 

 

Hey maybe the "ancient aliens" were the ancestors of modern day ducks.  I see a great network crossover in the works.  Gotta run and "take" a power lunch with some cable execs before someone steals my idea here.

[DittyDotDot]

What was it that I just watched? I mean, I think it might have been the most enjoyable and nonsensical episode of this show yet. I just don't get it...I mean, I guess I do, but I really don't.

 

So...Barlow pays Nighthorse for the use of Ridges (does Nighthorse own Ridges?) and then has Ridges hire a guy to off Martha but then Ridges offs that guy to tie up loose ends all because Barlow wants Branch to be sheriff, but then is willing to kill Branch because Branch found out. Oookaaay. It's just too complicated and I don't think it needed to be so.

 

However, loved Walt and Henry digging up a corpse even though not one bit of it would have been admissible in a court of law. I've said it before and I'll say it again, why do they continually have Walt Longmire act more like a private detective than a sheriff? A sheriff could get a court order to exhume the body...why do they make it so damned hard? But, "in case one breaks" is my new never will not be funny moment, so I guess I'll take it. And, Henry driving down the road free with his head out the window like the happiest dog on a summer's day was just too beautiful to miss!

 

 

 

Vic will decide that being slugged in the face is not the best thing that can happen to you all week and move on to date men who are less quick with their right hook.  (Vic might have misunderstood that slug as foreplay so she might be a candidate for a good therapist.)

 

There will be an entire episode devoted to the reason why Henry does not use contractions as that is the loose end that bothers me most.

 

Actually, I could understand Vic's perspective here...her week started off with her husband demanding she quit her job, was choked and threatened by her co-worker, then her husband served her divorce papers...yeah, being accidentally punched in the nose kinda pales in comparison, IMO.

 

And I think Henry not using contractions is a cultural thing. Many older-generation Native Americans speak this way.

 

 

I enjoy reading all of your posts.  Sadly, to me, this episode seemed like a Series Finale.

 

That's how I felt from the moment Walt released those ashes til the end. They tried so hard to cram in so much, I have a feeling they maybe saw the writing on the wall. I do hope I'm wrong, I'd like to see them redeem themselves with one more season.

Edited August 18, 2014 by DittyDotDot

[NJ RadioGuy]

And from what I've just heard, that's all we get. :(

I guess they just had to Give All The Money to to the Robertson family instead of producing something watchable.

[SlovakPrincess]

Ack. That just got too damn convoluted at the end!! So after all the focus on and flashbacks to Malachi ... He had nothing to do with any of this??

The ending with Branch and Barlow was a real shocker ... but then you think about it, and it makes no sense.

I agree that it would make more sense for Barlow to have Beck killed to frame Walt, rather than killing Martha. Barlow would justify offing Beck, a useless junkie, and probably have no qualms framing Walt if he somehow found out Walt actually had considered having Beck killed. But how did he find out about Beck? Did Hector blab to someone and it got back to Nighthorse that Sheriff Walt had paid to get revenge on Beck?

I enjoyed the humor of the graveyard scene and Walt had me in the ashes scattering scene ... until he was all "and I'm going after Nighthorse!" And I was all "no! Make this story stop already!"