Waco co-producer Michael Shannon* plays Gary Noesner, the series hero and sceptic.
Noesner is an old fashioned Fed, a square jawed, gray suited G-Man interested in the facts and the facts only and he's the FBI's lead negotiator at Waco. Noesner's a straight shooter, the man you want in charge of a tense situation. He's a man of peace, force is the last thing he wants. He has faith in the FBI and the art of negotion.
As the siege drags on Noesner is trapped between the Branch Davidians, who think god guides their every move, and the FBI hardliners who want to storm the compound. The hardliners eventually remove Noesner and he watches the compound burn to the ground on live TV.
Shannon's portrayal is layered, nuanced and sympathetic. He makes us feel everything Noesner feels. It's a brilliant, Emmy winning performance. Just a pleasure to watch.
The real Gary Noesner makes a cameo in the series' final scene.
*Shannon was in one of our favorite comedies ever. Heh.
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