- 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 December 17, 2023
- 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-one of the greatest lawmen to ever roam the Wild West-seeks to end the very real threat of Mr. Sundown.
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Part V
- Directed by Damian Marcano
- Written by Terence Anthony
- November 26, 2023
Lawmen: Bass Reeves is one of the finest western dramas I’ve seen in a long time. Not just this episode but the whole series. It has a serious tone but isn’t the revisionist variety of Western where everybody is so crushingly terrible. These are people with baggage living a tough life, but they are people and not monsters in human form.
Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) is very successful at his job and is a bit of a legend in his own time. Oyelowo has two versions of Reeves he puts forth: the hard as stone intelligent dispenser of frontier justice and a family man trying to balance work and his private life. The need for Oyelowo to move between the two is very prominent in this particular episode and he does so effortlessly.
Bass is feeling the pressures of being away from home as much as he is in order to provide for his family. His wife Jennie (Lauren E. Banks) is becoming resentful, his children are becoming strangers, and he is bitter about wanting to be with his family but also needing to provide for them.
They do a good of driving home that for Bass justice is not as cut and dry as he would like it to be. This series is not just about the legend or just a Western adventure. It deals with racism in general and the complexities of the era in a more thoughtful manor than many other productions I have encountered. Nobody and nothing is really straightforward.
In Part V Bass must escort a former slave to Texas for punishment for having killed a member of a well-connected family. While the death itself may look like a crime it looks to be more like justice for what he did after the Civil War as well as to stop this man that was seeking power in the new government.
They also spend time here expanding upon the relationship Sally (Demi Singleton) is involved in. I am not sure of Jennie’s motivations behind abruptly allowing the two to go together to the carnival. Is it some version of spite or does she want her daughter to be happy while she is not? Will this get addressed later?
They also cleverly expand upon the series legend of Mr. Sundown. It is clear to the viewer what is being discussed amongst Jennie and her friend but neither has heard the story of Mr. Sundown so this important exchange informs the viewer but not Bass. It was disturbing and a great way to expand on a storyline without being overt.
Donald Sutherland and Dennis Quaid make very brief appearances here. Both give this series a bit of cred, but those behind this episode do not have either of them on screen longer than is necessary to expand upon the story of the episode. They aren’t there to talk. Then again nobody just prattles on needlessly in Lawmen: Bass Reeves. It all is done as needed to tell the story.
I’m very excited for the final three episodes as this promises an interesting ending so far.
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Part VI
- Directed by Damian Marcano
- Written by Jacob Forman
- December 3, 2023
Here Bass (David Oyelowo) is dealing with the emotional weight of handing out Western justice. While his most recent prisoner is justified for his actions, they do run contrary to the written law. Bass is a conflicted man and it starts to work on him.
While sorting out his thoughts and feelings he realizes the respect he has is less due to the man he is and more to the office he holds when he steps into a bar. What looks like it will end in a brawl becomes a friendly drink and discussion when a Texas Ranger learns Bass is a US marshal. He was about to punch him largely because he was not a meek black man and the attitude completely changes when he saw Bass’s badge. On the surface, it’s almost nothing but when you think about it is clear respect for the position over the person. Perhaps even professional courtesy before anything else which is not the same as being genuinely friendly.
Bass also confronts Edwin Jones (Grantham Coleman) who is working hard to charm Bass’s wife Jennie (Lauren E. Banks) and less on his stated goals. He picks up that the man is not as moral as he appears and may even have ulterior motives. In a show of great acting combined with a great script, both let the other know without being too direct until necessary. Not only does this build a touch on Jennie but it also builds on the central character.
And we even get an expansion on the character of Billy Crow (Forrest Goodluck) that does not at all overtake the story of our title character. It connects to Bass but is not being made as important. In other words all the important people of the episode get a chance to shine but not drown out the main character.
The Mr. Sundown story begun earlier is certainly what will culminate as the thrust of the finale for the season. The answer to who it is gets revealed towards the credits though the clues are handed out early on. And once you put both together it is an impressive moment of the answer being slipped in casually and obviously yet not so much that it smacks you in the face. Amazing writing there!
The ultimate question for Bass in Part VI is: am I any better than a slave catcher? His prey seems to often be former slaves. He also realizes that the plan to create an all-black state is no better is no better than what white people are doing because it will displace tribes as well.
There’s a philosophical debate on this point between Bass and Edwin and it’s handled with more intelligence and even handedness than one would expect in this day and age. Both points of view get some presentation. Neither comes out quite on top.
This was yet another fantastic episode. A fine piece of drama with great acting, great writing, and great direction. While I have voiced my concerns previously, I have no doubt that this will end well and leave the viewers hungry for more.
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Part VII
- Directed by Christina Alexandra Voros
- Written by Chad Feehan and K.C. Scott
- December 10, 2023
This is the episode that finally starts pulling together all the disparate strings that have been dangling out there and built upon. Bass (David Oyelowo) still needs to come to terms with whether he’s just a glorified slave catcher or an enforcer of the law. There appears to be a confrontation brewing between Bass’s family and the white individuals because of what occurred earlier. And most importantly those crafting this episode set things on a confrontation with man who is the source of the myth of Mr. Sundown.
Part VII is largely a flashback and is one of those stories that puts the main character as seeking justice outside of the law. The law and the system may not be on his side now but will hopefully support him once the dust settles.
The decision is made when Bass is put on trial for murder. He was egged on by the man who had let Bass’s prisoner escape. It is pretty clear cut and given what we have seen before appears as if Judge Parker (Donald Sutherland) will hang him. In the eyes of the law that would appear to be the given outcome.
But what exactly saves Bass from certain hanging? His relationship with Judge Parker. When you look at it, no matter what the history behind it was, Bass engaged in murder but Judge Parker by knowing the man understood it wasn’t that cut and dry and perhaps demonstrated mercy.
David Oyelowo and Donald Sutherland individually are great but when they get together they make for fantastic scenes.. Here they have two scenes together and they are just such well-acted moments that you cannot look away. Dialogue and not action hold you.
I had some worries earlier, but I am thoroughly excited for the final episode.
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Part VIII
- Directed by Christina Alexandra Voros
- Written by Chad Feehan
- December 17, 2023
As a culmination of all that has come before, Part VIII is a nearly flawless joining of every plot and element laid out in the preceding seven episodes. Arcs are nicely concluded and the past of the series and characters connects to what we get here.
At first I thought the scene between Bass’s wife Jennie (Lauren E. Banks) and her former owner Rachel (Jessica Oyelowo) was going to be a poorly handled on the part of Rachel warning to Jennie. In her previous appearance Rachel seemed to look at Jennie as close to an equal. It certainly looked like that initially, but it was ultimately shown to be so much darker than that. Given what we got of her before it was shocking yet logical but Rachel here was essentially trying to call dibs on her former property before anybody else did.
It also serves to set Jennie on a new path since she realizes that sitting back and hoping for the best or some promised tomorrow to be dropped in her lap was not going to happen without work. It was going to have to be seized and even fought for. The old ways were still within living memory and that put those new to freedom in danger.
The story takes place largely on the illicit plantation of Esau Pierce (Barry Pepper)-aka Mr. Sundown. And it is uncomfortable to watch. He has created a Hell for people that will not be missed and who have little reason to escape since death is guaranteed as they are wanted criminals.
There is a darkness through much of this episode that has not been present before. Bass (David Oyelowo) is facing off against an opponent that is his complete antithesis. And it’s not in a physical way but rather one of intellect with both sides feeling each other out. Great character driven drama where both talk with so much being unsaid yet understood.
There is an emotional punch and just general reward to this episode that every season and or series finale should have. I have no idea if they’re planning more but if there is nothing more to come this won’t leave you necessarily wanting more. You’ll feel satisfied as if you received a complete narrative which you do have here. While there are certainly bits and pieces here and there that you could get another season from there is nothing left dangling.
I am very pleased with how the series ended. While it created an ahistorical element for the finale it still worked not only within the series but with the character of Bass Reeves.
Part VIII was a perfect ending to the show.
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…In conclusion…
I had some doubts about the show. I thought it might quickly devolve into more soap opera than Western but it didn’t. I thought we were going to get into affairs or an unnecessary focus on characters that were not Bass Reeves, but we didn’t. Everyone got a moment to shine that did not drown out the title character or change this into something else.
Individually each episode is the story of a stern man trying to make his way in a dangerous world but when taken together Lawmen: Bass Reeves becomes a bit of a commentary on the producers’ perceptions of modern America as well as the police. Characters often state how Bass is just a modern slavecatcher and many of his quarry are African-American. And with the fictitious character of Mr. Sundown that element is driven home hard. Episode VIII makes an effort to say that to this day African-Americans must struggle for their civil rights that they do not fully have.
What this does well is it doesn’t rub your face in that message like one might a pet that has just soiled the carpet. It gently introduces it in a way that you don’t quite get it all until the final episode. The people behind this had a message but they put it forward in such a way that it got past any preconceptions you had. Nobody does that anymore!
Each episode of Lawmen: Bass Reeves was exquisitely written and very nearly perfectly directed with every performer giving an amazing performance. These people have the skills of stage performers and use them to perfection in this bit of television. If you like great drama or just Westerns you cannot go wrong here.
Warren Watched A Movie 