Billy the Kid (2022– ) User Reviews

The Rise of The Kid!

[bosporan · 6/10 · 24 April 2022]

An entertaining and well-made adaptation of the life and times of Billy the Kid. The style is ruggedly realistic, wonderfully depicting the harsh unfairness of life. The beauty of the landscape is in stark contrast to the selfish exploitation by the 'haves' of the 'have-nots'.

Outstanding performances from Eileen O'Higgins, Jonah Collier and Tom Blyth, collectively portraying the close bond of a mother-son relationship.

The opening episode sets the scene brilliantly, despite a sluggish step. Subsequently the pace picks up, delivering a fascinating action-packed story with some fabulous dialogue and gorgeous cinematography. Highly recommended viewing.

what's with all the hate? I like it

[pktexas · 8/10 · 28 April 2022]

The first 3 eps kept my attention, not sure how authentic it is but I like it so far. The lead actor is doing a good job, let's see where it goes! I disagree with all the negativity on here.

Nice Good Ole Western

[lakings97 · 8/10 · 29 August 2022]

Billy The Kid is an EPIX series that stars Tom Blyth as William Bonney about the early years and upbringing of an Irish boy who turns to be the gunslinger. Michael Hirst co-wrote and created this series also was the person behind Vikings. The storyline is loosely based around the life and travels of Billy from Texas to New Mexico to Mexico. The first season ends up on a high note trapped between two rival merchants. Daniel Webber plays Jesse Evans who was Billy best friend when they fist started out. This was a good old western with a great cast, I highly recommend it. Can't wait to see what the second season brings to the small screen.

Watchable

[hfglover-84669 · 7/10 · 27 April 2022]

It was alright. I didn't think it was as slow as other people were saying but i enjoyed it enough to watch it all the way through. It's definitely not accurate but still interesting enough to watch.

Excellent take on the Billy the Kid story

[reedermike · 10/10 · 12 June 2022]

Having a little trouble understanding some of the negative reviews, because this is by any measure a well-crafted western series with terrific location scenes, authentic costuming and terrific acting from lead Tom Blyth and the entire supporting cast. Much of the first couple of episodes involved Billy's early life, which given the sketchy record remains somewhat speculative, but while the particulars can be questioned the overall circumstances of his upbringing it depicts are pretty close to what we know. This is not a documentary, and it doesn't pretend to be; it's a historical drama. But as a western history buff it seems to me that it's coming closer to the actual historical Billy than most prior films, much as "Tombstone" did with Wyatt Earp, despite some dramatic license. Billy was not the bloodthirsty killer depicted in dime novels. His first two killings are accurately depicted here as self-defense, and the Lincoln Co. War was a bloody mess all around, with the Kid getting the short-end of the stick from the crooked ring politicians running the state the second an armistice was declared. Much of the hyped legend of Billy comes from Pat Garrett's book, which was obviously intended to make Billy look bigger, badder and more vicious than he was in order to inflate Garrett's role in ending his career. Although that hasn't been treated yet by the series, there appear to be intimations of that in the early interactions between Garrett and the Kid in this movie. In any event, if you want pure history, go to a library and do research. But if you're looking for a good western with a gritty reflection of the times, top production values and terrific acting, this is a series you shouldn't miss.

Good show except,,,,,,

[peterock33 · 7/10 · 24 January 2024]

I started watching this series and it catches your attention right away. Once you get to the 3rd or 4th episode, the action slows a bit, but also, if you don't speak Spanish, you have no idea what they are saying, because the subtitles just stop while the Spanish is spoken. Half of the next two episodes was in Spanish, so I almost stopped watching. I gave it another episode to keep me watching. There was a bit of Spanish in this one including an important dialogue from Billy, but I will give it one more episode to keep me watching. Hopefully, the is issues becomes less of a problem, because I would like to see the rest of the series.

Historical ???

[squacakeit · 9/10 · 27 May 2022]

I'm an old west fan. Billy the kid is one of my favorites. Not much is known about his early years. Most is speculation. The show moves a little slow but is great. They do take some liberties with how things happened in Lincoln according to history. That happens with all shows or movies. The acting is solid. I never heard of Tom Blyth (Billy) before but he is doing a great job in my opinion.

A talented multicultural cast makes Billy ride again

[safenoe · 7/10 · 21 November 2023]

Billy the Kid lives, and thanks to the retelling of Billy the Kid, we have a retelling of the country and western days here in America thanks to a very talented multicultural cast with Englishman Tom Blyth as Billy the Kid, Irish citizen Eileen O'Higgins as Kathleen McCarty, Australian Daniel Webber as Jesse Evans, Englishman Alex Roe as Pat Garrett, and many Canadians to round off the cast. Even though there are no Americans in the cast (but maybe I'm wrong), they really manage to make the American country and western scene incredibly authentic and true to the spirit of Billy the Kid, a true American icon.

This is what we should expect (story telling) and it does..

[timothyjlynch · 9/10 · 4 May 2022]

I will admit Ep:1 was hard but needed.

The rest flows and follows in a way justified for a western tale.

I grew up with the westerns gen in the 60's & 70's.

Tom Blyth as Billy just fits the part. Upton did write about Billy the kid, but this new perception of Billy the kid just seems correct. We will never know, but you can look up first-person acquaintances. From them, Billy was a good person that was screwed over in later life.

I find no PC influencers in this wonderful series, I hope the producers can keep this going, but on EP4: I still have a lot more to enjoy.

Very Enjoyable so far....

It's not quite Young Guns but not far off!

[rddavies-51312 · 7/10 · 23 October 2023]

I really enjoyed the first season, I thought the pace was just right with a good amount of action but a good story line running through it. It may not be historically accurate but no one's knows the exact accuracy of that time really anyway.

The actor playing Billy is great, and hopefully we'll get to see more of a lighter side to him in season 2 as well as the brooding serious side we had in season 1. The supporting cast in general is pretty decent, I see why some reviews have criticised some of the acting in parts but the main cast is great as far as I'm concerned.

Basically it's worth a watch and as each episode finishes you'll want to press play on the next one.

Well done

[bcjjjs · 9/10 · 12 October 2023]

My husband turned on the TV and asked me to watch a new western series with him. I rolled my eyes. I am not a fan of westerns but this was extremely well done. I also am not a fan of writers who play with real-life facts. For example, Billy's brother, Joe, didn't die of tuberculosis. He was a gambler who lived to be 73 years old.

Putting that aside, the series is well acted. Slow at first but they did this to develop Billy's character. Both Tom Blythe, as adult Billy, and Jonah Collier, as young Billy are extremely convincing. I always am drawn to actors and actresses who use their eyes and facial expressions and don't just recite their lines.

Check it out.

A decent romantic drama

[guysch · 6/10 · 22 October 2023]

I've just discovered that series, attracted initially by the "by the makers of Vikings", a series I enjoyed quite a bit (even though like all long-running series, seasons past 4 or 5 lose their edge).

Overall, cinematography, acting and scenario are great, dialogues are good but not amazing, it's still quite enjoyable to watch. A good rendition of the Billy the Kid story, we can't get enough of those outlaws mythical stories and feuds, horse riding à la Western, those classic landscapes, shootings, etc. Interestingly, the latters involve kids and women too, which you'd rarely see on anything made in USA that's for sure.

I would have given a higher note but for a few things. The main one being, too many clichés, it's not an American show, yet there's quite a bit going on. We find just another story of the poor anti-hero who didn't choose to become a criminal but is very good-looking, has all the girls and who's heart is so pure, blah blah blah. Also, I would have appreciated a little more meat around the hero's relationships, he's suddenly best pal with people who appeared on the screen for a few minutes with a few lines of dialogue... And actually, not much to savour in terms of dialogues, a bit bland, and not nearly as much done as could have been considering the number of scenes with high potential for tension (poker games, duels, love stories, stealing, racism, etc.). Finally, the straw that broke the camel's back, even though seemingly coherent with the myth, the figure of the good Englishman becoming the saviour of Lincoln County, allying with an Irishman who's parents left their country because of the famine (in a word "British rule"), and that without a bit of remorse or hesitation on Billy's part? He does hesitate to give up his crew, but not for an instant pictures the Englishman as anything but an honest angel. Even though the man's first line sounds something like: "I'm not here to exploit the farmers but to do honest business, although I want to get as much as possible for as cheap as possible and I don't care cos' I'm already filthy rich."

Anyway, I'd still recommend the show as light entertainment, but as per usual the historical accuracy as well as the depth of the story and characters is kind of lost here. But hey, it's a TV series what should we expect? Well, still better than Hollywood, but could do better in terms of details, finesse and tension building...

Billy the Riverdance Kid?

[Johnny_West · 1/10 · 25 April 2022]

This series is longer than Billy's actual life was, and a lot more boring. Take out the name of "Billy the Kid" and all you have left is a boring romance series.

Most of the actual facts from Billy the Kid's life and his family are ignored or just fabricated, so this is really not the story of "Billy the Kid," it is just a romance novel set in the Old West with a generic cowboy.

Sad, but it seems like Billy the Kid never gets a decent break, except when Paul Newman played him in "The Left-Handed Gun."

Did anyone look at a map?

[wstephenlee · 9 October 2023]

This isn't really a review and I am not going to rate this series. I just started the first episode and had to wonder whether the makers regard the audience as idiots. The wagon traveling from New York City to Coffeyville, Kansas, somehow managed to pass in the shadow of the Rockies, and the episode set Coffeyville in a gulch between high hills. Travelers from New York would have had to go the long way around to get anywhere near the Rockies, and the terrain around Coffeyville is very flat. And why would anyone hire a wagon to take them from New York City to Coffeyville in the late 19th-century, anyway. The town literally sprung up next to a rail line around 1869. The story may be great for all I know, but the geography strains credulity.

Where's all the horse theft?

[erichev · 7/10 · 11 May 2022]

5 Episodes in and we've not seen a single crime committed. Prior to robbing the Chinese store Billy had been arrested. It was his second arrest. Then he started cattle rustling and horse thieving. He talks about his exploits in Mexico. Yet we don't see any of it. Why not? It's as if the show is trying to say that Billy was forced into a life of crime. They need to get into the criminal stuff already.

Billy was supposed to be young and slender. He looks like he's 25 by the time his mom dies. He died when he was 22. Poor choice for the star of the show. So far he's doing a great job; he just doesn't look young enough.

If these things were done better I would have given the show a 10. It's a well done western.

Love it!

[ivanasnuf · 8/10 · 14 May 2022]

I love the storyline! Since I was a kid I liked the westerns, now that theres a new and modern one I am so happy! The acting may not be the best but it is really good. Played a bit to long in the past but that does create a pretty good fiew on the characters. Hoping for a lot of episodes and a season 2!

I am Billy the Qowat Milat!

[JustSayingKOA · 7/10 · 25 April 2022]

Is he Romulan? The first scene reminds me of the Qowat Milat, choose to live remark from Star Trek. I must admit I normally do not like watching westerns so my rating is skewed, you will probably have to add a number or two to get a real rating. Production values are high, the attention to detail is fantastic, you feel like you really are in the wild wild west. I hate cheaply made shows that production value pulls you out of the immersive experience. For those loving the boring crappy Yellowstone and 1883, then this will be a sure fire hit because the previous shows I mention put me to sleep, but I was drawn into this western and as I said I don't even like westerns so it must be really good right? As all origin shows, to understand the legend you must do a deep dive into his past, so you do see a lot of stuff as he is growing up which only humanizes him to the audience. Although I do not like westerns, I do in fact recommend this to everyone even if you don't like westerns like me because it is that interesting.

Really good and very enjoyable

[loulongstenoo · 8/10 · 22 July 2022]

I like it so much that i wish they would not fully base it on the origin story where Billy dies in the prime of his age and fame as i feel like the story could go far.

However i would like if they would foucs on the action more reather then the romantic part of the story it just seems out of place.

And the guy who playes Billy has a great future ahead of him he really sells the story.

Waiting for season two.

Romanticized and Overacted

[bbypookins · 6/10 · 24 October 2023]

We tried! We watched the first two episodes without saying anything to each other about our thoughts. But, at the conclusion of episode two when we looked at each other, we couldn't help but laugh. That's when we knew we were both done.

The acting is overdramatic and the cinematography is too...epic for the subject. Not sure how else to put it. Not to mention the romanticism of Billy himself which attempts to gain viewer sympathy for this outlaw. It didn't work for us.

I was expecting more accuracy as well. Billy didn't even become "Billy" until he was orphaned at about 15, so almost immediately I realized that they would be taking liberties. I was hoping for more facts, although I realize there are not a lot that are known.

I wanted to like this so much! My BF loves westerns and it looked in the ads like one I could really get into, which is why I am the one that suggested we watch. We were both disappointed.

have been enjoying

[twodiamonds · 8/10 · 30 April 2022]

This is a bit slow and probably could use some trimming, but i have enjoyed. Does anybody else see the lead as similar to a young bob dylan? Stick with this i think it will start heating up. To make a series like this requires some slowing down of the action to build the character story for billy the kid.

And

[Headturner11 · 6/10 · 15 January 2023]

A half. Why oh why 600 character requirement! Any ways I was quite enjoying this when they showed the very young Billy util enter the older one! The kid was quite good and I liked his interactions with the old/blind driver and them making their way to anther new land/ territory. Then it seemed like things moved too quickly. One day we see the mother getting a ride from a man in the town and the next she's married to him. They barely showed the younger brother that I had forgotten there was one. Things transpired that we have no feelings for as they never show anything about them. I feel this could have been much better and there was so much more left out or dramatized. I only watched 3 or 4 episodes and gave up.

Binge watched the lot 👍

[lasworsfold · 9/10 · 6 June 2022]

Definitely a space in the market for this kind of series. For me there is not enough of it on the small screen (or big screen for that matter) if done right. Is it historical fact? Who really knows, I for one am not to wrapped up in what is 100% true or not. I think this is made well, an like others have said although a slow burner at the start, it does drag you in and become a pretty good watch. I hope the few negative responses to this does not stop a season 2. War is coming to Lincoln, and season 2 is definitely needed.

Could be great

[truegreywolf · 6/10 · 6 March 2023]

It's a great show except there are no English subtitles for the Spanish speaking parts, I get that most Americans probably know or at least understand some Spanish but as a Canadian our second language is French so it's really a shame I have no idea what's going on in those parts. Besides that the only other thing I have an issue with is that they didn't use Billy the kids actual name when he was a child and that most of the story is made up to fill the holes. Even though Billy the kids actual story and what we know about him is honestly really interesting and he did some truly crazy stuff. Hopefully the show will only get better.

Slow and lacking action

[strizbiz-99429 · 2/10 · 25 April 2022]

The acting isn't bad, the script isn't terrible but it's really slow as far as westerns go and what I was expecting from a series about Billy the Kid. It doesn't need to be action packed but the action is almost non existent. I'm 2 1/2 episodes in and at this point I'm pretty much loosing interest.

Entertaining

[algm-79554 · 7/10 · 11 March 2024]

The series has been entertaining and enjoyable. From the scenery to the acting, everything was done well. Similar story to the Young Guns movie in a positive way. Only negative, the session 2 mid break. It's an 8 episode series and they take how many months off after only 4 episodes. Hopefully they at least finish season 2 before summer but like Yellowstone, these "mid season" breaks are another example of corporate greed. Please don't mention the writers strike as that's simply more greed. They are all guilty of the greed. Glad i binged this because I'm done giving these streaming providers more money!