Lesser-known 'masterpiece' Western series that's 'way better than Yellowstone'

A "masterpiece" western series that's "better than Yellowstone" is streaming for free in the UK. The Son is a drama set in Texas across two timelines, following Eli McCullough, a young man kidnapped by a native American tribe and raised as their own, and his later years as a ruthless oilman.

Young Eli is played by Jacob Lofland, with James Bond legend Pierce Brosnan as the older, hardened businessman he becomes. The ensemble cast also includes Henry Garrett, Paola Núñez, Carlos Bardem, Zahn McClarnon, Jess Weixler, David Wilson Barnes, Sydney Lucas, James Parks, Elizabeth Frances, Shane Graham, and Kathryn Prescott. The AMC drama is based on Philipp Meyer's 2013 novel of the same name, and arrived on the small screen in 2017, running two seasons.

Fans have taken to IMDb to shower the lesser-known series with praise, with one saying it's superior to Yellowstone, a neo-Western series starring Kevin Costner that began airing the following year and became a massive hit for Paramount.

• HMRC confirms tax-free Personal Allowance increase to £13,830 for backdating households

• Call for a ban on log burners and wood burners fireplaces in homes

Hailing The Son as a "hidden gem" they wrote: "This show is just so far and out better than Yellowstone which was praised to the hilt. The Son is a story! It's two years in the telling and it was worth me sitting to blitz watch for a few evenings."

Another gave it a perfect score, hailing it as a "masterpiece". "I really don't know where to begin!" they wrote.

"This series has been one of the best series I've ever seen! The storyline, the acting,yes even the Series Finale was fantastic! The one and only regret:There is no Season 3!!!"

A third asked why they hadn't heard of the "great show" before, writing: "I am happy to have discovered this show which is great story, fantastic acting, set, everything."

A fourth called it a "delightful surprise" saying they didn't "expect the show to turn out to amount to much", but were hooked right from the start.

"The acting is great, the cinematography is good and the writing works well to keep you interested and I just wanted to watch the next episode and also hope to see more of certain characters stories."

A fifth said: "All the actors, each one of them acted marvelously. It should be on the top of imdb ... Most of the scenes and dialogs make you rewind several times.

"The historical geographical aspects are covered with bold truthfulness. The story is so gripping that not a single minute bores or feels extra."

The show features strong language, bloody violence and confronts the bigotry and racism which dominated that period in America's history - so viewer discretion is advised.

The Son is streaming for free (with ads) on ITVX.