Stars: Robert Taylor, Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips, Cassidy Freeman, Bailey Chase, Adam Bartley, Louanne Stephens 
Writer:  Daniel C. Connolly, Series created by Hunt Baldwin & John Coveny, Based on the novels by Craig Johnson
Director: Gwyneth Horder-Payton 
Network: A&E, airs Sunday nights
Original Telecast: June 24, 2012

“The Cancer” is an interesting episode of LONGMIRE. Instead of dealing with a situation that essentially comes from somewhere in the state of Wyoming, this one deals with an outside threat moving into Absaroka County. Honestly, this is something that I find a really true subject when speaking of my home state.

I think there’s a fear in most small towns, no matter where they are, that people from more metropolitan areas will move in and bring bad elements with them. Drugs are just one form of ‘cancer’ that can take root and destroy a small town from the inside out. Coming from a small town, it’s a normal concern. You want your home to be a good safe place for folks to live and raise their kids without risk of running into problems that would exist in a big city. Heck, that’s a big part of the reason people live in smaller towns. It’s a valid concern and it is graphically manifested in this week’s episode.

Walt (Robert Taylor) and his deputies have to deal with a Mexican Cartel trying to move into Wyoming to use the National Forrest land to grow huge plots of marijuana. This also involves gangs on the Reservation, and pulls Henry Standing Bear (Lou Diamond Phillips) into the mix.

There’s some really well done moments in this episode, giving myself and other fans of Craig Johnson’s books, more of what we have wanted…the relationship between Walt and Henry. Seeing Henry fixing up Walt’s unfinished cabin is a great scene, and then all of the moments at The Red Pony where Henry gets deputized are more of what we’ve needed. Then Henry mentioned having a friend in Sheridan (shout out to my hometown!) in the Ag Offices there, so that was especially nice for me.

I also like the fact that Walt has something of a lady interest. Lizzie (Katherine LaNasa) is a new character and is created just for the world of LONGMIRE on TV. She’s pretty, attentive, and she seems to have a big interest in our local sheriff. Of course, the best part of Walt having a love interest is seeing Vic (Katee Sackhoff) get hot under the collar, even though she isn’t as hot to trot for Walt now as she might be in the future.

The Ferg (Adam Bartley) has some nice moments in this episode, and his interaction with Branch (Bailey Chase) only serves to point out just how smarmy Branch is. Ferg is doing his job to help with a case, and Branch only seems interested in helping Walt look bad, or help himself look better. Branch is a sleaze. The fact that he throws the comments out there about his trip to Jackson Hole with Cady (Cassidy Freeman) at the start of the episode, do nothing to help me like him as a character.

Still no Busy Bee, kids. Sigh. I’m waiting. And while on the subject of things Wyoming…anyone have any idea how impossible it is to find Rainier beer in Los Angeles?! I spent hours on Saturday looking for Sheriff Longmire’s elusive favorite brand. I found out it’s distributed here, now I just need to find out where. After all, how else am I going to host a LONGMIRE party before the season is over?

Related: TV Review – LONGMIRE – Season 1 – “Dog Soldier”

Related: TV Review – LONGMIRE – Season 1 – “A Damn Shame”

Related: TV Review – LONGMIRE – Season 1 – “The Dark Road”

Related: TV Review – LONGMIRE – Season 1 – “Pilot” – Series Premiere

Related: Exclusive Interview with LONGMIRE star Cassidy Freeman

Related Link: Exclusive Interview with LONGMIRE producers John Coveny and Hunt Baldwin

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Article: TV Review – LONGMIRE – Season 1 – “The Cancer”

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