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Poster for Broken Trail

Broken Trail

Seen it?

2006 | 1 seasons | Action & Adventure, Drama, Western

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (78 on Metacritic) and it won 4 Emmys, though it had a lukewarm 7.0 out of 10 from audiences. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for action fans. If you loved Deadwood or Lonesome Dove, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Exciting.
The pace
One season: easy to finish in a weekend or two.
What might put you off
  • Rated TV-14. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

The story is about an aging cowboy and his nephew who transport 500 horses from Oregon to Wyoming to sell them to the British Army. Along the way, their simple horse drive is complicated when they rescue five Chinese girls from a slave trader, saving them from a life of prostitution and indentured servitude. Compelled to do the right thing, they take the girls with them as they continue their perilous trek across the frontier, followed by a vicious gang of killers sent by the whorehouse madam who originally paid for the girls. Broken Trail weaves together two historical events: the British buying horses in the American West in the late 19th century and Chinese women being transported from the West Coast to the interior to serve as prostitutes.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    78 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesBelow par

    7.0 out of 10

  • AwardsVery strong

    Won 3 Emmys: Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Miniseries, Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. Won 2 DGA Awards: Directors Guild of America Awards: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries, Directors Guild of Canada Awards: Best Sound Editing – Television Movie/Mini-Series. Also nominated for 3 more Emmys, 3 Golden Globes and 2 SAG Awards. Plus 11 other awards.

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Limited series that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 88K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

  • Robert DuvallPrentice Ritter
  • Thomas Haden ChurchTom Harte
  • Greta ScacchiNola Johns
  • Chris MulkeyBig Ears
  • Rusty SchwimmerBig Rump Kate
  • Gwendoline YeoSun Foy 'aka' #3
  • Valerie TianGing Wa 'aka' #5
  • Olivia ChengYe Fung 'aka' #4
  • Jadyn WongGhee Moon 'aka' #1
  • Donald FongLung Hay