- Created by Chad Feehan
- Based on Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves: The Bass Reeves Trilogy, Book One and Hell on the Border: The Bass Reeves Trilogy, Book Two by Sidney Thompson
- November 5 to Present
- Paramount+
Main Cast
- Bass Reeves-David Oyelowo
- Jennie Reeves-Lauren E. Banks
- Sally Reeves-Demi Singleton
- Billy Crow-Forrest Goodluck
- Esau Pierce-Barry Pepper
- Sherrill Lynn-Dennis Quaid
- Edwin Jones-Grantham Coleman
- Judge Isaac Parker-Donald Sutherland
Guest Cast
- Esme-Joaquina Kalukango
- Colonel George Reeves-Shea Whigham
- Rachel Reeves-Jessica Oyelowo
- General Van Dorn-David Lee Smith
- Sara Jumper-Margot Bingham
- Curtis Jumper-Riley Looc
- Arthur Mayberry-Lonnie Chavis
- Nita-Crystle Lightning
- Garrett Montgomery-Garrett Hedlund
- Mabel Underwood-Paula Malcomson
- Jackson “Jackrabbit” Cole-Tosin Morohunfola
- Widow Dolliver-Dale Dickey
- Darrell Dolliver-Ryan O’Nan
- Ramsey-Rob Morgan
- Minco Dodge-Mo Brings Plenty
- Ike-Justin Hurtt-Dunkley
Bass Reeves was a real life larger than life bad ass from the historical Old West. I was an adult when I first heard of him and as I recall it was alluding to him possibly being the inspiration for the Lone Ranger. Having read up a smidge on the man I don’t quite buy it necessarily as him being 100% the inspiration but that’s another story.
But I have read up on him and the man is just an amazing figure that has only recently been getting attention from Hollywood or filmmakers in general. At least beyond passing mentions or film micro cameos. And when he has appeared in a Western, they tend to be lower budgeted productions.
Needless to say, I was more than a little excited to hear about this show. Finally a major production from a major streaming service bringing knowledge of this person to the masses. While I won’t pretend at any point they’re going for 100% historical accuracy, I am pleased that they are bringing the character to life for current audiences.
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The story of Bass Reeves-one of the greatest lawmen to ever roam the Wild West.
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Part I
- Directed by Christina Alexandra Voros
- Teleplay by Chad Feehan
- November 5, 2023
Part I is a necessary origin story for the man who is not known enough to the public. It’s a dramatic and emotional presentation that is also action packed along with some serious action. Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) is an intelligent man that we first meet while in the service of his master Colonel George Reeves (Shea Whigham) for the Confederacy during the Civil War. We get his background and life in less time than it takes the episode to complete yet it is not rushed at all.
The story here packs a lot in in its 51 or so minutes. Reeves starts out as a slave before escaping to freedom while being forced to leave his wife behind before rejoining her. Under lesser hands that might feel hurried with too much left out but it feels very complete with nothing presented like it must be taken as is. For example you feel as if Reeves really does love his wife Jennie (Lauren E. Banks) rather than he is supposed to love her because that is what they tell us.
Oyelowo-as-Reeves’ interactions with Whigham-as-Colonel Reeves interactions are a highlight of the episode as well as serving to communicate the instinct, intelligence, and character of Bass. Bass expertly navigates the man’s bigotry and is smart enough to understand when Colonel Reeves tries to cheat him. That is when we first see the physical strength Reeves is in part known for though I imagine the real man much larger than Oyelowo. Anywho, we get to see Bass beat the living s**t out of him in one very satisfying moment.
His disregard for Bass and general condescending attitude towards the man had built to the point that moment was cathartic. If the credits had rolled right there I would have been good but from there he uses his mind and general wits to make it to safety.
The characters that get than a few seconds of screentime get crafted beyond being two dimensional. That goes for any Confederates who dominate the cast of characters here. It would have been easy and forgivable to make them racist caricatures but many hold conflicting ideas about Bass and any other former slave. It makes the episode weirdly interesting.
From fantastic acting and a solid script to wonderful direction, Part I is an extremely promising start to a series based on the life of a legend far too often ignored by Hollywood.
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Part II
- Directed by Christina Alexandra Voros
- Written by Jewel Coronel
- November 5, 2023
After establishing the character of Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) in the last episode, here we get to the point where Bass finds himself a member of law-enforcement of the time. I am fuzzy on exactly how deputy U.S. Marshal Sherrill Lynn (Dennis Quaid) came to decide on hiring Bass to be his deputy. Is it his skill with a gun or is it his ability to speak the language of the Native Americans in the territory he will be traveling in? It seemed to waffle between the two with nobody ever settling on which it was. They talked as if one or the other was the sole reason depending on the scene.
Lynn is seeking to capture his friend’s killer. He’s certainly an asshole and bigoted, but not so much so that he can’t respect a capable individual and comes to view Bass as more than just a skin color. He thinks enough of the man by the end of their adventure that despite being punched by Bass he wants to help a judge make him a US marshal.
Bass Reeves is portrayed as a man who just wants to live a quiet life. He’s content to be a farmer but he really sucks at that. Massively to the point his family is facing starvation because he can’t feed them since he can’t grow anything. And he has an ever-growing family. One thing he is good at is being tough. Not tough like a thug, but intelligent tough using violence and his skills effectively.
One thing that the real Bass Reeves was known for was never being injured despite capturing over 3000 people. I really hope for dramatic purposes they don’t give him a wound of any type. That’s one of the things that’s fascinating about the man. He went up against some of the toughest of the tough and dangerous of the dangerous and came out not only alive but unscathed.
They take some time here to expand upon the character of his wife Jennie (Lauren E. Banks). Admittedly she is emotionally significant for Bass but are they going to give her a story of her own here as well? Why? The focus of this is to be about building up the legend. Let’s see just how much of a badass this guy was. Give him a home, wife, and a family but we don’t need subplots focusing on people who are NOT Bass Reeves.
Her story is what amounts to the black power movement of the time. There appears to be some flirtation between Jennie and a man named Edwin Jones (Grantham Coleman). Will this turn into some soapy bit of melodrama? I hope not.
David Oyelowo turns in a fine performance once again as the man but once again he lacks the reported imposing physical nature of Reeves. From the descriptions I picture somebody closer to Michael Clarke Duncan in build than I do to David Oyelowo. Nothing against the actor. Sometimes you need to sacrifice certain elements in order to tell a good story and that’s ultimately what they’re doing here. Telling a good story. So far…
Despite my concerns Part II is another great episode. It’s dramatic and exciting and just looks good which not nearly enough Westerns do these days. This is certainly a promising second installment in this series despite my concerns.
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Part III
- Directed by Christina Alexandra Voros
- Written by Jacob Forman and Ning Zhou
- November 12, 2023
This episode showcases the character of Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) in charge of the hunt rather than being hired for the hunt. And he is a bad ass out there. Oyelowo makes him a cunning and skilled man. Tough and observant who uses force only when necessary and prefers to use his brain to get the job done. He is a man of justice who also sees the injustices of the time.
Mercifully there is no apparent delving into what I assumed would become the subplot of his wife that might turn this into a soap rather than a drama. We see his daughter has began a relationship but why does that even really matter to the show? Supporting characters do need some depth but not too much and her dating life is absolutely meaningless to the life of Reeves unless it intersects with an episode plot later.
David Oyelowo more than holds his own against Donald Sutherland in their brief moments together. Sutherland is a good actor that has only gotten better with age. Not fading into the background when performing with him is no easy accomplishment yet here we are.
Sutherland’s Isaac Parker is a hanging judge who is not necessarily evil but whose application of the law is unnecessarily harsh and cold. Yet it is clear there is some decency in the man and he certainly respects Bass.
This is all contained in a story where Bass must track down a man named Billy Crow (Forrest Goodluck) who was part of a robbery. Bass sees him as misguided and knows that most likely for his part in the robbery he will be hanged. While this episode is self-contained that bit certainly hints at events of the next episode.
Part III is a promising upswing in the series. Not that show was ever really bad. Still enjoying it. I still recommend it. Looking forward to the next episode.
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Part IV
- Directed by Damian Marcano
- Written by J. Todd Scott
- November 19, 2023
The tone of Part IV is darker than the previous episodes. Not that they were all fun and games but the tone is much closer to horror than a dramatic Western. We are introduced to the legend of Old Mr. Sundown who is a cannibalistic supernatural slave catcher. This is an apparent reference to real life as slave catchers were a threat to freed slaves even after the Civil War. Old Mr. Sundown first gets mentioned by Ramsey (Rob Morgan) as a campfire story before Ramsey cuts off a man’s face later that night. Somebody has issues.
That is pretty much the story though they never explain how Billy Crow (Forrest Goodluck) got a pass on the hangman’s noose. You could infer it is because he gave up the location of the money from Part III, but Judge Parker (Donald Sutherland) does not come off as someone to be that lenient ever.
David Oyelowo has grown into the part of Bass Reeves. He doesn’t have the physical build I think he should but he certainly has the appropriate demeanor for the character. Oyelowo comes on the scene and he is tough right away. He doesn’t even have to do anything. Like all the best Western tough guys he simply shows up and with a lock and a few words you know he means business.
Part IV a definite upswing in Lawmen: Bass Reeves. It establishes him as an amazingly efficient man of the law and throws in a bit of horror as well though I have no fear this will become some kind of supernatural Western. This is another great episode in an already largely well-done series.
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So far so good on Lawmen: Bass Reeves. It is a good story about an often overlooked Western legend. Aside from a few concerns I think this will continue to only improve.
Warren Watched A Movie 