Towards the close of the Civil War, Anse Hatfield sees the hopelessness of the Southern Cause and deserts his unit to return to his home in West Virginia, an offense deemed unforgivable by his friend and Kentucky neighbor Randall McCoy. Thus begins the infamous feud between the two families made famous by it, which left many members of both parties slain to its cause, most of whom could not even pinpoint its own origin. "Hatfields & McCoys" is a slight and crude miniseries distributed by the History Channel and given great weight by its stars Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton, both excellent in representing the title families. It is when these two are not gracing the screen, which is more often then not, that we are treated to less intriguing characters and a mundane storytelling treatment. The Hatfield and McCoy feud is a tragic tale of bloodlust and blind vengeance that holds repercussions until this day and, despite the fine performances by Costner and Paxton, is due a better treatment.
