At first we see a man on horseback riding across a snowy landscape. The horse plods and staggers wearily, while the man sits listlessly in the saddle with barely enough will to stay there, wincing against the cold. The pair looks as if they dread arriving at their destination as much as they dread where they came from--stuck in the midst of a dark winter's evening.
Presently, the man passes under a tree from which grisly effigies hang and twist in the wind. A sign around the neck of one proclaims, "Tory," and we feel a chill of anger as bitter as the weather. The trunk of the same tree sports a poster with the iconic symbol of the snake chopped into eight parts and the caption "Join, or Die." We get a feeling now of when, and where, we are: Colonial America.
The cold, angry landscape symbolizes where the American colonies stood in the year 1770: stuck in a barren place between British rule and self-realization. Unwilling to abide British tyranny much longer, but equally reluctant to move forward with independence, the colonies dreaded, with stooped shoulders like the rider, the consequences either path might bring.
We learn later the solitary man on horseback is John Adams. He is plodding reluctantly toward his role in the Revolution and his place in American history; this movie is his story. The dark, lonely opening scene builds a curiosity and suspense immediately for the viewer and offers hope that this story that most of us know, or think we know, will be retold in a compelling manner.
This review will be an essay in seven parts, one for each segment of the miniseries. Each part will offer dual "he said/she said" impressions from Eric and Kelly as they share their views on the significance of various scenes that impacted them.
This miniseries promises to deepen our appreciation for our national history and the exemplary men and women who helped shape it. We hope to share this new appreciation with you.
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