Hoffman is the biggest name in the show and I have found his role hard to get. Clearly he's a big, connected business guy who took a fall and did time, but he appears closer to Rain Man than an all powerful guy. He even walks in that shuffle. I hope the character becomes less stiff. This is a guy that one would assume would be the commanding figure in a meetings etc and yet other than the outburt with the ripped shirt, he seems almost timid.
I also agree that there is little likeable out the 4 degenerates. None seem to have the redeeming quality that makes you root for them in spite of themselves. I hope that changes. I get that they have compressed many different "gambler characteristics" in to just 4 guys, but it sure would be nice if one of them was appealing on some level.
In the same way, they have taken many "typical horse trainer" qualities and crammed them into two men who end up looking like stereotypes; the old hardboot and the hispanic guy with cheaper horses who gets involved with a shady but wealthy owner to aquire a fancy stakes horses.
I think Gary has been good and the bug rider has done a good job of being "naive kid" but that might be easy for him if he doesn't understand racing.
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RIP Monroe.
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