Blood & Oil Series Premiere Review: Pilot (Season 1 Episode 1)

Blood & Oil Series Premiere Review: Pilot (Season 1 Episode 1)

Amanda Coyne Blood & Oil, Reviews

I’m a little bit on the fence about Blood & Oil. I want to love it… I think I like it… but there are some parts I’m not so sure about after watching the series premiere, “Pilot.” Spoilers ahead.

Right out of the gate, I’m not into the premise that brings Billy and Cody LeFever to North Dakota. The whole plan to open 30 laundromats with 30k seems a little… far fetched. So, I was not surprised when they immediately get into a car crash and ruin the (what, like 5?) washers and dryers they bring with them (were the rest being delivered?).

The dramatic crash, interspersed with melodramatic flashbacks about how much they love each other… is a bit much. The whole premise seems a little unnecessary. I feel like they could just be moving to North Dakota because there’s, apparently, a ton of money there.

Speaking of North Dakota, I’m not so sure how I feel about the town they’ve moved to. I mean, the first bar they walk into I’m like Coyote Ugly, is that you?  I like that the town is rowdy, but the fight between the ‘cowboys and Indians” is way not good. Stereotypes, anyone? Let’s just pretend that part didn’t happen. I do like the Patchwork Motel and the feisty bar owner who keeps popping up. She seems to have her hand in everything.

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BLOOD & OIL - "Pilot" - Billy and Cody Lefever are a young, recently married couple with dreams bigger than their working-class upbringing. Following the largest oil discovery in American history, they pack up and move from their small city to the boomtown of Rock Springs, North Dakota, where a millionaire is made every day. Intent on tapping into this explosion of wealth, they set out to start their own business, which they've financed with every penny to their name. After a rough start, Billy becomes increasingly eager to cash in on this modern day gold rush. When he tries his hand in the oil business, he crosses paths with the baron of the Bakken, Hap Briggs and his equally powerful wife, Carla, as they embark on expanding their empire into new territory. But tangling with titans is not for the faint of heart and when Billy bets big, it causes Cody to question his intentions, and ultimately their marriage, on the series premiere of "Blood & Oil," airing SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Fred Hayes) SCOTT MICHAEL FOSTER, DELROY LINDO

Which brings me to Cody and Billy. They have a great dynamic. I love that they push each other, but are always ultimately on the same side. They complement each other well, since Cody is practical and smart (I mean, she gets a job at a pharmacy in like two seconds and immediately overhears super important information that literally makes them a million dollars) and Billy is an impulsive dreamer. I love that Cody is not a sidekick. I haven’t decided how I feel about this whole baby thing, though. Let’s just ignore that for now.

I also like the Briggs family drama. Hap Briggs seems pretty great, but the other two are sketch central. Clearly, baby Briggs has a serious case of trust fund fever. I cannot believe he brings a gun to steal oil from his own father. Ruthless! Mrs. Briggs also seems like she could be up to no good at some point. The whole situation she has with the commissioner is creepy. I do not trust her yet.

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BLOOD & OIL - "Pilot" - Billy and Cody Lefever are a young, recently married couple with dreams bigger than their working-class upbringing. Following the largest oil discovery in American history, they pack up and move from their small city to the boomtown of Rock Springs, North Dakota, where a millionaire is made every day. Intent on tapping into this explosion of wealth, they set out to start their own business, which they've financed with every penny to their name. After a rough start, Billy becomes increasingly eager to cash in on this modern day gold rush. When he tries his hand in the oil business, he crosses paths with the baron of the Bakken, Hap Briggs and his equally powerful wife, Carla, as they embark on expanding their empire into new territory. But tangling with titans is not for the faint of heart and when Billy bets big, it causes Cody to question his intentions, and ultimately their marriage, on the series premiere of "Blood & Oil," airing SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Fred Hayes) STEPHEN GARRETT, AMBER VALLETTA

And I absolutely love the down to the wire drama that ends the episode. I was on the edge of my seat hoping that Billy was going to make it in time to buy that land, and was cheering them on as they deposited their first 1 million dollar check! The last three minutes were torture. Billy is certainly proving himself worthy of Hap’s admiration, but I need to know what happens at the end. Please tell me Hap is not about to die in an oil fire.

Unnecessary exposition and sometimes over-the-top acting aside, that cliffhanger seals the deal. I cannot wait until next week’s episode.

What did you think of the series premiere of Blood & Oil? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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Blood & Oil airs Sundays at 9/8c on ABC.

Amanda is an associate editor for Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer, teacher, and pop culture enthusiast with a love for 30 Rock and The Mindy Project. She is also the proud mother of two orange cats. Follow @amandarcoyne