Last year, WGN America debuted a surprising series in Outsiders, which explored the lives of an Appalachian mountain family, the Ferrells, as they preserved their way of life through isolation from and intimidation of the local townsfolk. Though there was plenty of in-fighting and posturing within the group, as seen through the eyes of prodigal son Asa (Joe Anderson), the real enemy of Season 1 was Big Coal, who sought to remove the Ferrells from their mountain home so they could blow the top off of it.
In some ways, Outsiders is a metaphor for the recent election, about a group of people who resist change and look inward to stave off the encroachment of a modernity they do not accept. Indeed, Appalachia did prove to be an important turning point in the election itself. But Outsiders also plays with those ideas by revealing the Ferrells to be victims of a exploitative world, as well as a family clan that has now chosen a succession of women leaders. Ged ged yeah!
Check out the new trailer below, along with a synopsis of Season 2. Outsiders will return to WGN America Tuesday, January 24th:
This season on “Outsiders,” the struggle for power and control continues in the rugged hills of Appalachia as the battle between the clan and the town escalates with the Farrells becoming more isolated than ever before. The uneasy truce that had generally existed between the townspeople and the family tribe came to an abrupt end when Big Coal headed up the mountain and the standoff continues to have repercussions, putting everyone to the test as they’re forced to face new challenges and enemies.
The ensemble cast for “Outsiders” includes: David Morse (“Treme,” Concussion) as Big Foster, the gruff and powerful de facto patriarch of the Farrell family who was shot and left for dead; Thomas M. Wright(“The Bridge,” “Top of the Lake”) as Sheriff T. Wade Houghton, a cop who has a rough and mysterious history with the Farrells, and grapples with several personal troubles of his own; Ryan Hurst (“Sons of Anarchy,” “Bates Motel”), as Lil Foster, a massive mountain man and son of Big Foster; Gillian Alexy (“The Americans,” “Damages”) as G'Winveer, the Farrell healer, thrust into leadership, who must discover her inner strength to save her people; Kyle Gallner (American Sniper, “Veronica Mars”) as Hasil, a free spirit that ventures between Shay Mountain and his forbidden love Sally-Ann; Christina Jackson (“Boardwalk Empire,” “Deception”) as Sally-Ann, a beautiful girl from a mining town who captured Hasil’s heart; Joe Anderson (“The Divide,” Across the Universe) as Asa, a former member of the Farrell clan looking to rejoin the family; Francie Swift (“Hostages,” “House of Cards”) as Haylie Grimes, a clever and cunning all-American community relations manager representing the encroaching coal company; and Rebecca Harris (“The Good Wife,” “Sex and the City”) as Ledda, Sherriff Houghton’s no-nonsense sister.
