King of Texas
It's Shakespeare with six-guns asKing of Texasgoes boldly where no TV Western had gone before. TransplantingKing Learto a Texas cattle ranch was a risky proposition, but as star and co-executive producer (with his wife and fellowStar Trek: The Next Generationalumnus, Wendy Neuss), Patrick Stewart brings his formidable Shakespearean training to bear on a condensed but satisfying interpretation. Whereas Akira Kurosawa'sRanrequired a gender-switching overhaul of Shakespeare's tragedy, this handsomely mounted TNT Original retains the feuding sisterhood of Lear's undoing. As aging cattle baron John Lear, Stewart sets his downfall in motion, dividing his land and loyalties among daughters played with stalwart fortitude by Marcia Gay Harden, Lauren Holly, and Julie Cox. Familial machinations multiply with a stellar supporting cast (Roy Scheider is the Earl of Gloucester here), and for all of Stewart's impressive fury, it's comedy veteran David Alan Grier (interpreting Shakespeare's "Fool") who quietly steals the show.--Jeff Shannon