Tony Coffman


It's pretty clear that we are set up by the producers to root for Tony Coffman. He is supposed to be the "hero" of all the ginseng buyers, and we are supposed to root for him to get the ginseng instead of the others. I suppose that's because he is an honest businessman. Although Ron McMillon seems to have problems with him, not sure why - he doesn't think he pays enough, although his prices usually sound pretty competitive.

The General is clearly cast as a villain, with his underhanded, illegal tactics and stereotypical villain laugh. Now this new guy, Sam Lunsford from North Cackalacky, is going to enter the picture. He hasn't done anything completely villainous yet, but the way he seems to surround himself with underlings seems suspicious. I guess we are supposed to hope that he doesn't cut into the hero Tony Coffman's ginseng supply.

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Tony Coffman isn't sympathetic to me at all. He made silly promises to deliver outrageous quantities -- clearly out of his depth. And then he frets about it? Stupid. And then he effectively tells the General that he's desperate for his ginseng and expects a fair deal? Idiot.

And the Lundsford gang?
Stiffing Obie wasn't "villainous"?
Robbing diggers isn't "villainous"?

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You have meddled with the primal forces of nature, and YOU ... WILL ... ATONE!

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Right. It occurs to me that ginseng is apparently very valuable and in demand, yes? So why doesn't Tony buy up all the ginseng he can during the season, and then sell whatever he has to the highest bidder? Instead of promising some outrageous amount on a short deadline and then having to sweat and humiliate himself by dealing with the General?

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See? This is just what The General does. He doesn't get huge orders that he may not be able to fill at the beginning of the season. He just piles up the ginseng, and then at the end of the season he has desperate buyers like Tony Coffman sniffing around.

He can make them pay over top dollar because the season's over and there's no more ginseng. If Coffman was smart, he'd be doing the same thing. Instead, he has to worry about getting his fingers broken if he can't fill his order.

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I just thinks it's funny you guys thinking any of it is real...

Show is produced and created. It's a soap opera with hired locals..

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I just thinks it's funny you guys thinking any of it is real...

Who thinks any of it is real? Just because someone enjoys the entertainment doesn't mean they can't see that it is scripted. Yes, this show is pretty stupid honestly, but it's a guilty pleasure.

This reminds me of the guy that finds it necessary to announce that pro wrestling is fake, as if he's making some sort of profound statement, and no one would know if he didn't let them know. Did he just figure that out today, or had he known for a long time and was just waiting for the right time to lay the heavy news down on everybody?

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