Netflix’s Godless Is Still 1 of Jeff Daniels’ Best Performances

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Jeff Daniels delivers a standout performance in Godless, a highly praised limited series on Netflix. With just seven episodes, it’s a great choice for a weekend or holiday binge, thanks to its rich and character-focused story. Released in 2017, this Western series came before the recent surge in popularity of Westerns, like Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone.

Scott Frank, the creator of the acclaimed miniseries Godless and also known for his work on The Queen’s Gambit, received praise from Daniels, who credited him with the show’s success during an awards acceptance speech. Godless, featuring stories of love and revenge, also showcases a standout performance from an actor known for his role in The Newsroom, making it a highly recommended watch.

Godless Is Netflix’s Outstanding Western Drama Miniseries

The show Godless centers around a unique 1880s mining town in New Mexico called La Belle, where most of the men died in a tragic accident. This leaves the women, including characters like Mary Agnes McNue (Merritt Wever) and Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery), to fend for themselves and build a life on their own.

Frank Griffin, played by Daniels, is the primary villain in the series Godless. He’s the leader of a brutal gang of outlaws relentlessly pursuing Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell) after Goode wounds Frank and leaves the gang. Because of this pursuit, Griffin and his gang unexpectedly arrive in the town of La Belle, endangering the people who live there.

Instead of fleeing, Mary Agnes prepares the town for a fight. She organizes weapons and, with the help of the women, fortifies La Belle’s hotel and nearby buildings, ready to confront Frank and his gang when they arrive. When Griffin and his men finally appear, the town seems deserted, but a fierce battle immediately begins.

What sets Godless apart is its fresh take on Westerns. It uses the familiar hero’s journey structure, but flips it on its head by showcasing the power of women as the key to overcoming adversity. The series also features a compelling villain in Daniels, who effectively portrays the challenges faced by Mary Agnes and La Belle.

Jeff Daniels Gives a Career-Best Performance In Godless

In the series Godless, Daniel’s performance is particularly strong – many consider it the best of his career. He won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie at the 70th awards ceremony. During his acceptance speech, he praised the director, Scott Frank, stating that Frank is the person to work with when making a Western.

The actor is crucial to the show’s overall impact, and his Emmy win proves how much he improved it. He doesn’t play a standard villain; instead, he portrays a complex and subtly frightening antagonist with a warped sense of right and wrong, demonstrating the full extent of his charm and acting ability.

Instead of being a typical, scary villain, Daniels portrays the character in Godless as calm and thoughtful, keeping his motives a mystery until the very end of each scene. What truly sets Daniels apart is the complexity of his villain – he commands attention in every scene with his unsettling and unpredictable behavior, leaving viewers on edge, wondering what he’ll do next.

Daniels’ character is filled with striking moments, like Griffin’s belief that he’s foreseen his own death, which fuels his reckless behavior. Similarly, after losing his arm, Frank’s unsettling habit of carrying it around as it decays makes him a uniquely disturbing and unforgettable villain.

Godless Has Multiple Emmy Award-Winning Performances

While Daniels gives a strong performance, it’s not enough to carry the entire miniseries. The show features several memorable acting moments, and Mary Agnes McNue is a particularly standout character. Anne Wever received an Emmy Award for her portrayal of the role, winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Mary Agnes Wever is a central figure in the show’s distinct identity. She steps into a role usually reserved for male protagonists, quite literally taking over her late husband’s mayoral duties – and his pants – to lead the town of La Belle after a tragedy wipes out the male population. Despite her strength and resilience, Mary Agnes is also a surprisingly complex and emotionally rich character.

In 2018, Dockery received an Emmy nomination for her role as Alice Fletcher in a limited series or movie. Alongside Daniels’ compelling villainous performance, Dockery and Wever were central to the show’s success, and the scenes of their characters, Mary Agnes and Alice, working together to overcome Griffin were particularly memorable.

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2026-01-04 21:12