Throughtout the series I've been fighting tears (sometimes not so well) as I see what happened to these people. I couldn't hold back during this episode. Seeing what happened at wounded knee was unbearable. I'm not exactly sure what happened in the series is what happened in actuality or dramatized for "entertainment," but either way, what happened to the Indians in America has to be one of if not the worst thing man has ever done. It's painful to see, but something that should be seen, and told, and heard, and shown.

This and many other accounts that can be found on the internet (as well as in books etc.) confirm that the sequence of events shown in the final episode is essentially accurate (of course there is some dramatization and the integration of the fictional characters with the real ones). Nearly 300 Indians died (out of 350), some from exposure to the cold in the aftermath. 29 U.S. soldiers died (out of 500), it is believed predominantly from friendly fire. (Numbers do vary in different reports.) Incredibly, 18 U.S. soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their role in killing Indians who were almost completely unarmed and about 2/3 women and children. The unit that carried out the atrocity was the 7th Cavalry, the same unit that Custer led at the Little Big Horn.

I think this has been a fine series, although a bit confusing at times. I think the even numbered episodes have been the best. #2 - the wagon train; #4 - Sand Creek; #6 - Wounded Knee. For some reason the one that got to me the most was Sand Creek.

I will buy the DVD which is supposed to be out in October.

The other time in the series that I really couldn't control anything was a few episodes back when the drunk translator wouldn't translate correctly leading to an altercation ending with the death of conquering bear. It really shows how little the settlers/traders/etc thought of the Indians. They really considdered them less than real people.

the last episode was not too bad. the biggest problem that i had with the whole series was that i thought that there were entirely too many characters to keep track of. it was confusing when you had someone like keri russell who was another chararcter to keep track of and figure out how she related to the others who was only in it for about an hour and a half to have a big name star.

the other thing that bugged me was the ages of the characters. shouldn't jacob have been about 85-90 by the end? i can't remember exactly when it started.

The series began in 1825 when I figure Jacob was probably about 20. When it ended at the end of1890/beginning of 1891 that would make him about 85. I don't think he looked that old.

I really agree with the ammount of characters overall. Many of the characters seem to clog the series. Particularly the 3 cousins that came with Jacob. If it were Jacob's direct family (him, margaret light shines, and their descendants) as well as Loved by the Buffalo's family + the necessary historical characters it would have been much easier to follow.

I would agree with Daniel-A and kevin75. This was an 'interesting failure'.

Switching out the actors with older versions who barely resembled their younger counterparts was a DISASTER! From episode to episode I wasn't sure who someone was until their name was mentioned on screen. A far better choice would have been to use aging makeup and keep the original actors throughout.

Because this series was only 12 hours long spread across six weeks, the disconnectedness and inability to keep track of who was who was even more pronounced. Perhaps tv critics and those who got to watch all the episodes at once were able to appreciate it more. But I even tried saving 3 episodes on my DVR and watching them over a weekend and still felt lost.

This series simply tried to cover way too much history in too short a time. The gold standard for how to do this type of show well was set 20 years ago by the tv mini-series, CENTENNIAL and that seemed at least twice as along!!!

Overall, the storylines highlighted here seemed fresh and unique in that they covered the perspective of the Indians as they were forced to integrate into early 19th century American society. We have seen plenty of movies and shows that tell the story of early settlers exploring the west but the aftermath of what happened next is rarely told, perhaps because its difficult to portray the government's treatment of the Indians in a positive light.

The last three episodes of the series that dealt with the Indians moving to the reservations, being educated in white schools and finally coming to terms with what has happened to them were some of the most interesting stories I've seen about this period of our history.

But the first three episodes which told the more recognizable story of the settlers and wagon trains first moving past the Mississippi and the gold rush were undoubtably more entertaining and easier to stay involved with.

That may have been because the actors were more engaging. Matthew Settle and Tonantzin Carmelo (sp?) did a great job. Irene Bedard playing Margaret Lightshines might have been as compelling if she had played the part throughout. The other well known actors (Keri Russell, Craig Sheffer, etc) who had about 20 mins of screen time just seemed unnecessary. The fact that we recognized them only compounded the fact that they had switched out the actor playing this character.

Most of the series' problems were a result of casting. The decision to follow the Wheeler family through history would have worked better if we all had a sketchpad showing their family tree. As it was, the only characters we did connect with were Jacob Wheeler and his wife, ThunderHeart Woman. The series spent 3 episodes depicting their love story only to stop dead cold by switching out the actors with barely recognizable older versions with nothing to do onscreen.

The metaphor of the medicine wheel and the Wheeler family's business of being wheelwrights producing wagon wheels which in turn enabled settlers to travel into the west destroying the Indians way of life seemed like a good idea only half way developed. Perhaps if they had source material to draw from as well done as James Michener this series could have been more than it ended up.

It actually angers me that they botched this because of the important stories that were shown and which could have been done so much better. I suppose there is some consolation that so many posting here about the shows seem to have at least become more interested in learning more about the history highlighted such as the Sand Creek Massacre or Wounded Knee.

Many people (myself included) have visited these battlefields and national monuments and read the national park perspective of what happened and fail to realize the give and take both sides had to endure. It's important that we acknowledge and accept the fact the nation we enjoy today came from the tragic sacrafices of so many before us.

Sorry, this post is so long! After 12 hours with the Wheeler family I just had to vent!!!!

I prefer the odd ones, #5 had me balling when Voices that Carry left Dog Star and when he cut his hair, #3 had me balling when Jacob sees his daughter, and I realized I was emotionally involved in the story, and I loved the mysticism in #1.

Edit: #4 is my third favorite. A month ago I would have pantamimed calling my shot to left if I would see Tom Berenger on the street. Now I would kick his ass.