The "Hatfields & McCoys" feud plays out on The History Channel

"The Hatfields and the McCoys"

/ Chris Large

(CBS News) Bloody. That's one way to describe part one of the "Hatfields & McCoys" miniseries, which premiered on the History Channel on Monday night.

Starring Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton and Tom Berenger, the three-episode show marks the History Channel's first scripted miniseries.

Read more: Actor Noel Fisher says cast bonded on "Hatfields & McCoys"

"Hatfields & McCoys" tells the tale of feuding families following Devil Anse Hatfield (Costner) and Randall McCoy (Paxton), close friends until near the end of the Civil War when they return to their neighboring homes - Hatfield in West Virginia and McCoy across the Tug River in Kentucky. That leads to increasing tensions and resentments that soon explode into all-out warfare between their families - from land disputes to kidnappings.

Monday's premiere episode introduced viewers to the main characters and also sets up the feud along with the killings. It also chronicled the love story between Roseanna McCoy (Lindsay Pulsipher) and Johnse Hatfield (Matt Barr).

Costner serves as executive producer and also performs on the soundtrack with his band, Modern West. Parts 2 and 3 of the series will air Tuesday and Wednesday this week at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Reviews for the series have been favorable, and buzz for its premiere has been building for weeks.

Did it live up to the hype? You tell us. Sound off below.

[kewpiedoll426]

This series was very realistic to me because it happened just that way. My great-grandmother use to talk about it she was Anse cousin. The area where this took place is where I grew up and still live. I can go about 1/2 a mile up the road and cross over into ky and be at the spot where they shot the McCoy boys.

[GAtrek]

Yes, it lived up to the hype! Costner, Paxton, Winningham, and especially Berenger and young Noel Fisher deserve Emmy nods.

[dogsonthego]

I really enjoyed the show but want to see the credits at the end the date they were borned and passed it went so fast you could not read it. I really want to see that information

[tanger123]

I really enjoyed the Hatfields&McCoys.Kevin Costner was an awesome actor. The music just fit the movie. I never thought families really hated each other after seeing the events that took place they truly hated each other. Overall it was a good series and I would recommend anyone to watch hope you enjoy!:))

[PJNorkus]

Unbelievably good!!!! I have a new-found respect for Kevin Costner, who is simply phenomenal in this. In fact, there is no one involved in this series that isn't doing their job to absolute perfection. Favorite scene that will remain as one of my top 10 of all time: from the moment Randall McCoy leaves his home to retrieve his boys to the moment Anse Hatfield touches the grave of the murdered Ellison is one of the most perfectly created scenes I have ever watched. Would love to have the music soundtrack to this too...THAT is also perfectly done.

[jess1209wv]

Loving it. Accents are all over the place, but I haven't even noticed the slang or "mumbling" as noted by other commenters, so it must be spot on.

[frackfreenewyork]

I saw episode #1 last night. I had to watch Hemingway & Gellhorn on HBO tonight. I can't figure when History channel will again show episode #2. Anybody know?

[dsilberman1]

Part 2 is showing again at 1:04 am and tomorrow (Wednesday) at 7:00 pm, and again at 11:00 pm. Hope this helps. But if you can't catch any of these showings, don't worry cause it will be shown over and over for awhile

[cschuh]

Awesome show. The story is fantastic and I can't wait to see the last two episodes. If this comes out on CD I'm owning it! Believable is what it is.

[gldretlvr]

It's a good quality show, no doubt, but somewhat slow. It was hard to keep my attention. I love Kevin Costner, but this is not "Dances With Wolves!" It too have been waiting for this mini series, however thought it was pretty boring. I expected more. Not more blood and guts, just more substance. I will watch the other two episodes and hope it picks up and grabs my attention.

[Linda_Autech]

I have to admit I waited for this show for weeks too and I did enjoy it but it was kind of hard to follow. I have lived in the south all my life and still do but it was almost like they were mumbling <shrug>. I think they are killing too many people in the 1st episode..lol But I will continue to watch again and give it another shot.