‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ Review – A Slow-Burn Western Worth The Wait

Lawmen: Bass Reeves is the latest western drama from showrunner Taylor Sheridan, based on a real-life legend. Inspired by the real-life Bass Reeves, who was the first black Deputy Marshal of the upper Midwest Territory, Lawmen: Bass Reeves provides what audiences of the genre have come to expect in the modern Western age. The show dramatizes the exploits of the lawman with a stellar cast and classic Western style.

Without question, the performances are gritty and believable by actors at the top of their craft. David Oyelowo plays the title role, bringing a quiet moral authority and subtle cowboy swagger. His is a brand of justice void of a morally grey comparison. In an earlier episode, he fits the description of “a good man with a straight spine.” Reeves is a man of the law who escaped life as an enslaved person and became one of the first Black marshals. The story here is fictional but never fails to diminish his place in history; it raises his stature. This show faithfully depicts Reeves, who embodies the unflappable nature of belief and human spirit.

The show takes its time, never rushing the plot for drama or action. Oyelowo is the reason the show finds its stride. His story builds from the first episode to the finale. Oyelowo’s chemistry is particularly strong opposite Lauren Banks, who plays Bass’s wife, Jennie. Their bond is the story’s backbone, as their characters navigate the exceptional nature of Bass’s position while confronting ongoing racism and remnants of slavery. 

In addition to David Oyelowo, the show’s heavy is Barry Pepper. His portrayal as Esau Pierce is hardly one-note. He brings a psychological complexity to the character, which is layered with dark inhibitions that further expand throughout the show, leading to the raucous showdown finale. However, Pierce is not without a trace of empathy. The psychological realism deepens his characters like the others. There are also captivating performances by Dennis Quaid, who plays a fellow marshal, Sherill Lynn. He offers an early counter to Reeves’s brand of justice. Donald Sutherland is also on hand, and he never fails to avoid turning in a one-note performance, in this instance, playing the real-life Isaac Parker, aka “The Hanging Judge.”

As is typical with Sheridan’s shows, be it Yellowstone or 1923, the cinematography in Bass Reeves is engrossing. These television episodes have the feel of mini-movies and look outright cinematic. While Sheridan is a showrunner, Chad Feehan leads this project. He takes particular care in crafting this story. This gunslinger has an authenticity: Feehan and the team seem at ease, allowing the story to dictate the action, not vice versa, which is so often common in many Westerns. 

Yes, there are shootouts and all the trappings associated with the genre, but this is an attempt to paint a portrait of a real-life individual who lived an incredible life. Reeves, in actuality, is reported to have captured 3,000 criminals throughout his career.

While the acting is pitch-perfect and the overall story engaging, some audiences may find the early pace of this anthology dragging. There is a lot of world-building and exposition at the start of the early shows, but there is a rewarding payoff by the finale. Fortunately, even with the staggered pace, the performances and scenery more than compensate for any lost momentum.    

As of this writing, there is no second season in the works. Still, this story offers a thrilling and intimate portrait of a legend for eight episodes. While the show is self-contained, as there is no open-ended cliffhanger, by the finale, there is certainly the possibility of further adventures should a second season be greenlit. In any event, Lawmen: Bass Reeves is a welcome tale, spotlighting a real-life hero of the Wild West.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves is currently available to stream on Paramount+. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3XFsQEoJZI]