As Season 5 of Longmire is all set for release on September 2016, the show's producers, cast and crew can't believe their luck and have never failed to praise the streaming service Netflix for offering them the perfect home after having to leave A&E after the third season.
In an interview with Variety, Lou Diamond Phillips, who plays Henry Standing Bear in the hit series, spoke of how Netflix was the best home for the western crime series. A lot of this had something to do with the extra airtime Netflix gave to the show.
"We were previously constrained to 42 minutes and as a result, a lot of my work hit the floor. With an additional 20 minutes, we can let those moments breathe and round out those characters, and it's a much more cinematic experience episode to episode," Phillips said.
Longmire creators Greer Shepard and John Coveny have likewise voiced their appreciation for Netflix taking the risk to ensure the show's continuity.
Recently, the New York Times released a video In a video featuring Netflix Original Content Head Cindy Holland, who talked about how the passion that the Longmire fans, cast and crew made a large impact on Netflix.
That they found a team that cared so much about the continuity of their show brought the people behind Netflix to tears, and eventually moved the streaming giant to allow Longmire a fifth season.
"It's a real joy to say yes to people. I mean one of the most moving experiences that I've had in the last couple of years was when we met with the producers of Longmire. I've never been in a meeting where the producers not only cried themselves but reduced us to tears with their passion," Holand said.
Longmire is a drama with all the elements that would set up a classic crime setting in the west. The story is led by Sheriff Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor) of Wyoming's Absaroka County and supported by friend Henry Standing Bear (Lou Diamond Phillips) who helps deal with the local Indian reservation.
Longmire is a widower who has trouble moving past the death of his wife. The first season focused on how the sheriff and his daughter Cady (Cassidy Freeman) dealt with the death and the search for the truth of how his wife died, and if she was murdered, who the possible killers are. The fourth season ends with a cliffhanger, with Longmire finally settling down with his love interest, and a shot of an intruder entering his home.
