It will be a shame if John Adams ends up somehow portraying the Baltimore Sun in a negaitve light. Then you'll have to retact this blog entry and make up a bunch of critical things to say about the miniseries.

So far the miniseries is very entertaining and well done, though the tar & feathering scene was pretty brutal.

Great story. I agree the male nudity in the Tar scene was stupid and detracted from a good story. It was a lame attempt to be gritty.

Paul Giamatti was fantastic. I thought the political give and take was not as deep as it must have been in real congress.

I hope today's pathetic political messages won't creep into this series the way they have in so many other recent Hollywood projects.

there should be a lot of history here to learn, all baltimore kids should watch it because they won't learn any U.S. history in the brilliant balto. city schol system, and i am sure a lot of adults will learn a lot they never knew either.

My wife and I thought the series start (both episodes) was very well done. The brief nudity in the tar & feathers scene did not detract. In fact, I believe it helped to depict what a cruel act this was. All too often T & F is shown to be a cute trick; something done long ago that didn't mean much. This showed what a horrible deed was done by vigilantes and allowed us to see Adams as a person interested in the rule of law.

I also appreciate seeing that he didn't really like politics or politicians. It appears that the names and faces change but not the general makeup of the politicians in Congress.

This is a fantastic portrayal of how things most likely occured during that amazing time.  Remember, most all the players were young men, with dreams and the passion to make them happen.  They were not scripted as history often makes them out to be.  They were flying by the seat of their pants as this country was founded on grit and the will to survive--better.  I disagree about the tar and feather scene being too much/too graphic.  Those times could be brutal, not all sanitized and civilized as one might like to think.  Read the book and you'll see careful attention to details of the time.  All in all, an extremely well done portrayal of young men with a dream:  their future and our present.  In more ways than one.

THe male nudity lasted less then a second, Humanity will live..It was showing us the tense situations that were leading up to the Revolution, I can say they tar and feather plp with clothes on lol thats just silly. No to be serious it just go to show us that people can only take so much and the Powder Keg the Upper colonies were back in that time........I love this series cant wait to see it all.

Brilliant...one of the best history mini-series to date. The "Tar Scene", was a part of American history...not a distraction...the truth.

The series first two shows of JOHN ADAMS are the best TV I have ever seen. The actors, music, sets, costumes, editing, direction and anyone who had anything to do with this production can, in my opinion, say I have been a part of the best ever in television production. What a jewel. All scenes, even the tar and feather scene, are a master piece of art and hard work. Thanks to all for this most wonderful production when in a time of national leadership stupidity(2001-2008) we need to see the contrast of what a waste this last few years have been in the course of our human events. Thank you HBO and all the rest.
Bob McNabb

I have watched the first two pats in their entirety four times. The story so far is fantastic, the writing excellent, and the actors-especailly Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, and Tom Wilkenson are memorable. Anyone who is interseted in the history of our nation(which should be ALL of us) should watch this series!!

I read the book and am enjoying the series greatly. I have the first two and the 'making of' already saved on my DVR and have it set to record the entire series.

Despite having a zillion channels, there is little on worth watching so when something like this comes along (e.g., "Band of Brothers") it is very special.

I can't wait for the next episode...

First Rome and now John Adams. I hope that more Network follow suite and produce more programing like Rome and John Adam's. This miniseries is educational and entertaining. Time well spent! Better than watch fake and annoying reality TV.

As for some of the harsh scenes, like the tar and feather one. People, history is full of brutality. So, get over it. I hope this film strikes a cord with Americans, who in my opinion, have forgotten what it took to acquire the freedom that so many of them abuse and take for granted. It's sad that only 2.7 million people saw this film. It should be mandatory for just living in this country. What every there faults, these people are real heros, who sacrifice there lives for the rights of every man. Not like the corrupt and superficial leaders of today, who only care about power and money.

What's sadder, is that it took 232 years to give John Adams the recognition he deserves.

I have just watched the first two installments of John Adams and can not wait to see the next episode. This is television at its best. The cast is excellent. The production is top rate. I have not read the book but am on my way to Barnes and Noble to purchase it.

If you take the time to read "John Adams", your next book should be "1776". The books really complement each other. For instance, the moving of the cannons from Fort Ticonderoga was a minor passage in "John Adams", but in "1776" McCullough goes into more detail on this incredible, logistic feat.

Read the book and many others on this period of American History. Great Book and Fantastic series. I hope HBO goes on to do "1776", "His Excellency George Washington" and other great books of documenting the birth of our Nation.

Robert and John,

The mini-series has led me to read "John Adams" and "1776." I am still working on the latter, but both are a delight. This is exactly the kind of informed and compelling programming that proves TV can drive viewers to books rather than "luring" them away -- as advocates of "elite" culture have been claiming since the 1940s.

I was the actor in the tarrring and feathering scene. And yes I was nude, but I felt it was truthful to the time and the context of the story. The nudity was "brief" and the overall point of cruelty and inhumanity exhibited by the anti-British colonists was I think, more to the director's point. Although, as an actor, I'd be happy to represent Hanes in a line of underwear that was rebellion resistant.
Joe Hickey - alive, clothed and American.

Tarring and feathering usually did not occur in the nude. The victim would be stripped to the waist and the genital area was spared.