Lawmen - General Discussion

[AnimeMania]

"Lawmen" will be a Drama anthology TV Series, with each season dedicated to a different famous law enforcement figure. The first season of Lawmen will focus on Bass Reeves and the first two episodes of this 8 episode series will stream on November 5, 2023 on Paramount+. 

The real life Bass Reeves was working as a farmer in 1875, before he was recruited as the first Black U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is mostly set in 1883 and the series will take a look at the life and work of Bass Reeves, who was born into slavery in Arkansas in July 1838. Bass Reeves was a slave who escaped slavery after fighting in the Civil War. Bass Reeves fled into the Native American Territories of the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles, where he became fluent in several Native American languages and learned tracking skills. The Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 legally ended slavery in America. Bass Reeves returned to Arkansas and was recruited by Judge Isaac Parker to be a deputy marshal in 1875, particularly for his Native American language skills.  

Over his career, the famous lawman apprehended over 3000 felons, without ever being wounded, including arresting his own son for murdering of his wife. Bass Reeves was still a U.S. Marshal into his 60s, retiring in 1907.

David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves, the first Black Marshal west of Mississippi 

Lauren E. Banks as Jennie Reeves, wife of Bass Reeves

Demi Singleton as Sally Reeves, daughter of Bass Reeves 

Forrest Goodluck as Billy Crow, a young Cherokee man with an affinity for dime store books and a gaudy style.

Barry Pepper as Esau Pierce, leader of the 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles

Donald Sutherland as Judge Isaac Parker, an imposing and commanding judge in the Fort Smith Courthouse with a complicated legacy.

Dennis Quaid as Deputy U.S. Marshall Sherrill Lynn

Grantham Coleman as Edwin Jones, an extremely persuasive man who has a clear vision and a promise for the future, to those who will listen.  

Garrett Hedlund as Garrett Montgomery, a posse leader 

Dale Dickey as Widow Dolliver, a no-nonsense old widow, she has seen it all

Ryan O’Nan as Darrell Dolliver, one of the two Dolliver outlaws Bass is tasked with tracking down and bringing to justice.

Joaquina Kalukango as Esme, a former enslaved woman who is as good as family with the Reeves’ and also has some different ideas about the future.

Lonnie Chavis as Arthur Mayberry, a sweet young boy with eyes for the Reeves’ daughter Sally.  

Rob Morgan as Ramsey, a once-strong man who has been broken by time.
Justin Hurtt-Dunkley as Ike, a Deputy U.S. Marshal.

Shea Whigham as Col. George Reeves, the upright and incredibly cruel master of Bass Reeves.

Tosin Morohunfola as Jackson “Jackrabbit” Cole, a former Union soldier now  prisoner, who rides with Bass Reeves.

Margot Bingham as Sara Jumper, a black Seminole Native American ally.

[Cress]

This TVline article says it will no longer take place in 1883. They say 1862-1877 fits the story better, rather than being tied to the Yellowstone show. I'm excited to see it.

[Snazzy Daisy]

An early review of LBR - non spoilery.

‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ Review: A Commanding David Oyelowo Can’t Mask the Blandness of Paramount +’s History Lesson

[Snazzy Daisy]

ARTICLE

[AnimeMania]

[AnimeMania]

Lawmen: Bass Reeves      November 5, 2023     Paramount+    

Episodes 1-2   Titles and Descriptions

Spoiler

S01.E01: Part I

Bass rides into hell; Esau makes a violent impression on Bass; Bass escapes his chains, but has to make a hard sacrifice.

S01.E02: Part II

Bass and his family endure tough times on their farm; Bass gets a visit from the law and is faced with an interesting proposition.

[Cress]

I liked the first two episodes. I liked seeing how Bass escaped from slavery and then hid out with the Seminole woman in Indian Territory (Oklahoma). That Confederate soldier Esau escaped, so he may come back later for more villainy. Maybe Bass will capture him for killing that boy Curtis. Also, Bass's former owner might come back too since his wife mentioned him being alive.

[Raja]

The first episode is on Amazon Prime to entice subscription to Paramount +.  It covers Reeves being g drafted to fight for the Confederacy to the immediate post war year.

[meeeechiganman]

Another Taylor Sheridan Drama

[Cress]

13 hours ago, meeeechiganman said:

Another Taylor Sheridan Drama

It is in his general Western "universe" but I find it enjoyable as a standalone drama, because I haven't watched any of his other Yellowstone series. I'm personally glad not to have to learn about characters and story arcs from 1883 or anything else. It works just as a Bass Reeves show.

[AnimeMania]

‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ to Get Special CBS Airing Following ‘Yellowstone’ Solid Ratings Performance

The first two episodes (and only the first two episodes) of “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” will also air on CBS on November 12, 2023 at 9 pm, following an episode of “Yellowstone.”

[Cress]

Cool. Looks they they want to get as big an audience as they can get. Paramount+ also had some behind the scenes extras that I watched while waiting for new episodes. Pretty interesting.

[AnimeMania]

S01.E03: Part III

Bass is sworn in and embarks on his first mission as a U.S. Deputy Marshal. The Underwood gang strikes after Bass is let in on a secret.

Premiere Date: November 12, 2023     Paramount+    

[AnimeMania]

S01.E04: Part IV

Bass and his new posse man have a fateful encounter at the Women's Boarding House; Jennie reunites with someone from her past.

Premiere Date: November 19, 2023     Paramount+    

Joaquina Kalukango as Esme 
Grantham Coleman as Edwin Jones 
Mo Brings Plenty as Minco Dodge 

[Cress]

The time jump meant that we had no explanation for how Billy Crow became Bass's assistant. I guess the judge showed him leniency for being in that robbery gang unwillingly, but he didn't have a reputation for showing mercy.

The other plot with Jennie and that couple at church made me think that the guy is trying to sell people on moving to Tulsa Oklahoma to the Greenwood district (aka Black Wall Street). Would this be the right historical time for that place to be founded? The massacre didn't happen until 1921.

[AnimeMania]

S01.E05: Part V

After pandemonium erupts at Bywater's store, Bass is forced to choose between his oath and family; Sally runs into trouble at the carnival, while Bass confronts an old nemesis.

Premiere Date: November 26, 2023     Paramount+    

[AnimeMania]

S01.E06: Part VI

Chaos ensues as a firefight breaks out in Checotah; Bass and Jennie have a painful reunion; Bass has an unsettling realization as the myth of Mister Sundown lives on.

Premiere Date: December 3, 2023     Paramount+    

[Cress]

So Esau is a Texas Ranger? I knew he would come back as a villain. He's apparently Mr. Sundown according to that one prisoner, so I guess Bass will have to go after him.

I still worry for Sally, with those whites threatening to come after her and maybe the rest of the family too. They might strike while Bass is away.

[AnimeMania]

S01.E07: Part VII

Bass struggles with the weight of the badge like never before; after a deadly mission goes awry, the U.S. Deputy Marshal's fate is left in the hands of someone else.

Premiere Date: December 10, 2023     Paramount+    

[AnimeMania]

S01.E08: Part VIII

(Season Finale)

Bass struggles with the weight of the badge like never before. After a deadly mission goes awry, the U.S. Deputy Marshal's fate is left in the hands of someone else.

Premiere Date: December 17, 2023     Paramount+    

[Cress]

The finale was weird. Rachel Reeves showed up out of nowhere and implied there was some new law that would allow her to reclaim Jennie and the kids as her slaves, then Jennie just threw her out. And we never saw the KKK come attack the house with Jennie defending the home.

Meanwhile Bass hatched a plot to take down Esau in Texas. He had some ranch in Texas with a dinosaur fossil, but he keeps talking in creepy riddles to the point where I was wondering what if he meant the "beef" he was selling was the black men. But apparently he was keeping those men as slaves again. So Bass, Billy, and Sherrill have a shootout and free those slaves. And still Esau talks in riddles about "you and I have known each other for centuries" then Bass kills him. I know they were trying to build up Esau as a supervillain, but at a certain point his dialogue gets confusing and distracting. Why couldn't they have spoken more plainly? Like maybe Esau goes back to the wolf thing, or accuses Bass of really being here for revenge for Curtis, rather than justice for those slaves on the ranch? That could have been a clearer and more satisfying confrontation than Esau's weirdo philosophizing. Dial back the creepy nonsequitors and the show would have been better.

Edited December 23, 2023 by Cress

[AnimeMania]

David Oyelowo Explains the Meaning of 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves' Final Scene

[GiandujaPie]

We were on episode IV when we saw the time jump and suddenly Billy Crow was Bass's posse man with no explanation of how that happened. Then everything got confusing after that. I don't think we will finish the show. Anyone want to convince me that it's worth it? LOL