Banshee - General Discussion

[Pop Tart]

Since we're not supposed to discuss the show in the 'small talk' thread, I thought I'd start a new thread for show discussion. Read that they're getting ready to start filming season three and I'll be curious to see where they go. Rabbit is gone at last, but NLH still has Kai to deal with and it looks like Chayton will be back.

I do wonder if we'll get a new deputy since Emmett is gone. Otherwise there's just NLH as sheriff with Siobhan and Brock. Even though Banshee isn't huge, it's big enough that it needs more then three police officers. So I could see them bringing in someone new there.

[Captanne]

I love this crazy show.  I really do.  What confuses me to no end is that I cannot explain why.  I certainly can't recommend it to friends because I keep saying, "Well -- it's not for everyone but I love it."

One thing that really surprised me is the chemistry I get between NLH and Siobhan.  Every time they interact I find myself saying, "She's ~way~ too good for you, Hood."  And then I notice the actors have chemistry which is really nice.

It doesn't help that I've never warmed up to the actress who plays Anastasia.  I just don't get her appeal -- either as an actor or, quite honestly, as Anastasia, who is a delusional prick tease*.  (*And by "prick tease" I don't mean the old fashioned traditional "let me get you all hot and bothered and then say no" but the more modern "let's have amazing sex and relatively civil conversations and I promise you a life with me that's never ending orgasms and adrenaline.  Oopsy!!!  Just kidding.  What I really want is suburbia, a picket fence around the three bedroom house and 2.5 children.  Labrador optional.")

I also get zero chemistry between NLH and Anastasia, try as they might.

 

ETA:  Way-unpopular opinion: I don't particularly like the actress who plays the Amish niece, either.  At least, I don't see any reason to sing her praises the way other viewers have.  OTH, I love watching the interplay with her uncle.  While their dynamic is clearly sexual (along with everything else), her sexual predation of other men in Banshee is decidedly different.  There is something ghastly about her relationship with her uncle that isn't confined to mere incest.

Edited April 5, 2014 by Captanne

[Rapunzel]

I started watching this show originally because Antony Starr is in it and I'm so glad I did - it's amazing. I loved Antony in the New Zealand series "Outrageous Fortune" where he plays twin brothers who are quite opposites. I think it's still available on Netflix Instant and it's definitely worth checking out if you like "dramadies."

ETA:  Way-unpopular opinion: I don't particularly like the actress who plays the Amish niece, either.  At least, I don't see any reason to sing her praises the way other viewers have.  OTH, I love watching the interplay with her uncle.

You're not alone here. The actress, Lily Simmons, was also on True Detective. She played a similar type on that show - young, seductive, seemingly hyper sexual. I haven't seen her in anything else, but it would be nice to see her in a different type of role to see what her range is. I know she's still quite young and she is certainly lovely so hopefully she'll have a chance to branch out a bit and develop more as an actress.

I can't wait for season 3!

[DollEyes]

  How do I heart Job, the computer hacker/drag queen/all-around badass? I would count the ways, but there are just too many of them, so I'll just narrow it down to one: Job is fierce, whether it's a fierce queen, a fierce hacker, a fierce enemy or most of all, a fierce friend. Job also teaches valuable lessons, such as never interrupt a drag queen, especially when she's lip-synching to Sylvester.

[Captanne]

I adore Job.  He makes the whole show for me.  I've said on the other pages, I can't explain why I love this crazy, batshit show but I can tell you that Job is a main reason.

 

ETA:  Although, I admit to an unpopular opinion -- I think Job and Sugar's "rapport" is forced and stupid and cliche.  I not only don't find it appealing, I actually find it unappealing and a low point in the show's presentation.

Edited April 11, 2014 by Captanne

[Guest]

A place to discuss particular episodes (that do not have specific episode threads), arcs and moments from the show's run. Please remember this isn't a complete catch-all topic -- check out the forum for character topics and other places for show-related talk.

[fastiller]

I've recently mainlined season 1 and am about to do so on S2.  Some questions:

1) Are we ever told what Hood's real name is?  (I don't recall hearing it through S1 and the first two eps of S2, but I did miss the first 15 minutes of S1 E1.)

2) Are we ever told what Rabbit's real name is and why he's called Rabbit?

 

Captanne, I'm with you on the really liking the show, but being at a loss as to why.  Everything is so fantastical on it.  And so much relies on chance. Has nobody (how about the longest serving deputy) thought to run Hood's prints?  Would Job have been able to fix that?  Also - love Job.

[Captanne]

Hood's name is a mystery and I think it's going to remain that way.  As you get into S2, be sure to follow the internet additions.  I started dabbling with them (watching the Twitter feed while episodes aired live and that sort of thing) and really enjoyed it.  I thought that I might get overwhelmed because I'm an older viewer but was pleasantly surprised.

 

I've seen a couple of the extras on the Internet and found they enhanced the series and complimented it well.  You don't need them but they add a little bit more of a dimension to the character motivations.  (Frex, you don't need to know that Sugar and Uncle had a jailhouse past but it is interesting to add to their dynamic if you do know it.)

[fastiller]

Captanne - only b/c I'm a lazy layabout: do you happen to have links to those web extras?  (What's the official twitter account?)

 

Also -do we know Rabbit's real name and how became known as Rabbit?

 

On another topic - sometimes Anthony Starr distracts me b/c of his resemblance to Chris O'Donnell.

 

Edited to note: holy stuff on a stick, but I love this show!  The big moments like the fights are great and the small moments (when the BSD is about to raid Proctors strip club, the banter b/w Siobhan and Brock is funny) are great.

Edited May 28, 2014 by fastiller

[Captanne]

I think the twitter accounts depend on the actor you want to follow.  I honestly don't remember -- I think I just grabbed them and plugged them in as the actors mentioned them in the opening sequence.  I'll look.

 

Scroll down this page and you'll see some of the actor links:  https://blog.twitter.com/2014/cinemax-tweets-special-footage-during-banshee-premiere

 

Try this to start with and see what they offer for extras:  http://www.cinemax.com/banshee/

[fastiller]

Thanks Captanne.  I did catch some of the origins/prequels.  They do round out some of the characters.
 
Having just watched the last two eps of S2, I must say that I like Job even more.

[Captanne]

I find it fascinating, nosleepforme, the way the show balances the deep understanding and development of their characters with the cartoonish treatment of the violence and sex.  (And by violence and sex I don't mean just man-hits-man or man-sleeps-with-other-person -- I mean violence on every level, emotional, physical, and psychological, and sex as physical intercourse but also gender depiction issues.)

 

This is a very rich, layered show for all it's presence on Cinemax and its cartoonish surface.

Edited June 2, 2014 by Captanne

[TiffanyNichelle]

I love this crazy little show also. I love how they never run out of bigger men for Hood to take on and he usually winds up getting the crap beat out of him. I appreciate that after the big fight scenes Hood is always jacked up and he carries those wounds for episodes. He's not miraculously healed by the next episode. I'm pretty sure his hand had a bandage on it all during season two from the fight at the end of season one.

 

One little moment I loved was during his fight through the casino to get Rebecca he's just taken out  several guards and you think he's done and up pops a few more and even Hood is like, come on!!

[fastiller]

I appreciate that after the big fight scenes Hood is always jacked up and he carries those wounds for episodes. He's not miraculously healed by the next episode. I'm pretty sure his hand had a bandage on it all during season two from the fight at the end of season one.

 

One little moment I loved was during his fight through the casino to get Rebecca he's just taken out  several guards and you think he's done and up pops a few more and even Hood is like, come on!!

I chalk this up to a tight continuity team.  It reminds me of Leverage where Eliot wasn't healed immediately after his fights.  Also how NLH and Eliot sometimes respond with the "Oh, come on, are you kidding me?!" when they have more people to fight through.

[bourbon]

 

I love this crazy show.  I really do.  What confuses me to no end is that I cannot explain why.  I certainly can't recommend it to friends because I keep saying, "Well -- it's not for everyone but I love it."

I used to feel this way, but this is the season I stopped apologizing for loving this crazy, pulpy show.  My husband and I watched S1 and after every ep, we'd talk about how fun and ass-kickin' the ep was but always qualify it with, "But it's not a very good show, is it?"  It was like a late-night Skinemax movie crossed with a graphic novel come to life.  

 

Then, something happened this season. I'm not 100% sure I know what it was.  It just became a new show.  It's not just a guilty pleasure, it's a pure pleasure.  Antony Starr does more with his face than most actors can do with a page full of dialogue and their whole bodies.  The women are allowed to kick ass and never apologize for it.  Plus Zelkjo Ivanek elevates everything he's in, and next season, we're apparently getting Denis Freakin' O'Hare, so I am all in. 

 

I will say -- not a criticism, just an observation -- that coming from the part of the world where Banshee is supposed to take place, the show resembles no part of Central PA that I have ever seen.  It looks and feels more like North Carolina where it is filmed.  Sticky, stifling, creepy, filled with oddballs like Burton. The show is like Tennessee Williams goes Pennsylvania Dutch.

[AncientNewbie]

Joining in to echo that I love the show and couldn't say why, but don't talk it up as much as I would anything else I love because it is...odd. So many people in raw emotional pain next to an exploding fuel truck of cartoonish action. It's like tailor made for my messed up tv preferences. 

[Captanne]

What really hooked me this season is probably the most controversial episode of them all -- the slo-motion episode where we followed Hood bringing Anastasia home from jail.  That episode did two critical things for me -- it showed me why Hood decides to stay in Banshee; faced the fact that he doesn't have to at all and yet answered "I stay because I have roots here.  Carrie and my daughter.  And, I have no real reason to leave.  To keep me busy, I'll play the sheriff and rid the town of the likes of Cheyton and Uncle."

 

The other thing it did for me was to demonstrate that the writers and creative team are willing to take the risk of slowing things down and allowing the viewers to mentally and emotionally catch up with everything that the characters have been experiencing.  Not only are they willing to do that but they did it really, really well.

 

It's a stand alone episode, so it can't be my favourite (because it's not typical) but it is one of my favourites of the series.

[AncientNewbie]

Captanne, I really enjoyed that episode. The unusual pacing and the dream sequence/wishful thinking stuff both threw me at first, but the character exploration was something that I loved to see. 

[fastiller]

Captanne & toddthomas: I also enjoyed that episode, for the reasons you both cite, particularly the wonderful pacing/sequencing you both bring up but it also had NLH & CarrieAna being badass whilst fighting off Rabbit's woman.  It showed that - as Captanne mentions - the creative team are willing to take that risk, and well capable of delivering on it.

[Hipshooter]

Good vs Evil in the most extreme.

I actually was initially drawn to the show because of it's blatant sexuality but soon became immersed in the story line and the amazing characters.If not for the Amish angle, this show would fit nicely into the deep south good ole boy politics of so many small southern towns. 

 Definitely a story of the darker side. Amazing how Lili Simmons character "Rebecca" has come to embrace evil after her strict Amish upbringing. Wow,cold blooded killer.

 

I can't wait to see how Ryann Shane's character  "Deva" handles the news that Hood is her real father.

 

[Mars477]

So am I the only one who's hyped as fuck for Season 3?

[Captanne]

I'm ready!  I'm so ready, I originally thought the opening night was December 9th.  Imagine my disappointment.  o_O

[TiffanyNichelle]

I cannot wait for the new season.

[ShellSeeker]

I've created a thread for Season 3. As of now there's not enough activity to warrant separate threads for each episode, but that's not set in stone. If activity picks up, I'll start episode-specific threads. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

 

Thanks!

[MrsRafaelBarba]

One of the best shows currently on tv, that nobody is watching.

My body is so ready for S3!

Edited January 4, 2015 by MrsRafaelBarba

[fastiller]

So am I the only one who's hyped as fuck for Season 3?

 

Not by a long shot, Mars477! I'm ridiculously excited to revisit this crazy, crazy town.

[BigBlueMastiff]

When does it start again, need my Banshee fix!

[Mars477]

This Friday (the 9th), 10 PM.

[BigBlueMastiff]

Yay, Thanks, Mars477!

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Welcome back show, oh how I missed you!

[ybrik]

A bow and fucking arrow. He took on the US army by himself with a bow and arrow. Seriously Chey is the baddest man alive. Also apparently moves scary quick.

 

Hey military guy don't go looking down on Hood. You just got beat by a man with a bow and arrow.

 

Seriously how is Hood teaching Deva about b and e being a better parent than Carrie and Gordon? Deva would be better on her own well except for her brother.

 

Glad Job is back. How I've missed him.

 

They finally crossed the line with Rebecca and Proctor. I think Burton was even freaked by this. He actually reacted.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Burton looked surprised, how Kai clearly gives no fucks.

Telling him to come in, with Rebecca is his bed.

[Eriu]

I'm glad to see that we took care of Emmett and his wife's murder was wrapped up quickly, but I cant help but think that involving Siobhan and Brock in the less than legal operation can lead anywhere good.

Also glad to see that we are jumping straight into the nudity.

I, however, did not need the incest subtext between Kai and Rebecca to become straight up text. EWW.

Well I knew it wouldn't be long before Chayton came back, but I didn't think it would be the first episode. I'm actually surprised he didn't actually kill the other guy, especially after the attack from behind. Stop having layers, it confuses me!

Glad to see Nola back too, she and Chayton are gonna be getting all up in each other's way. I can't see them being able to work together even if they tried.

Job took WAY too long to show up. You're the BEST, Job.

I knew Deva was going to get snagged breaking into the pot shop, but damn, NLH was faster than I thought. Highly amusing that he's giving her breaking and entering tips.

The raid on the marine transport via bow and arrow was very impressive, but marine guys, why didn't you just gun it and run him over?

Chief marine guy was the guy that Carrie was boinking earlier, right? Is Carrie hooking up with him in order to get an in to the base? She seemed to be pretty lost with what to do with herself when she talked to NLH, but I can't see that just being a coincidence.

[Mars477]

This show is just the right about of totally fucked up, although Proctor and Rebecca banging has to take it to a whole new level.  Christ.

 

Everything else is great.  Carrie is having an identity crisis and a new fuckbuddy.  Brock gets some, and he and Siobhan get some extrajudicial murder too.  Holyshitwhatthefuck Chayton beats a dude down and takes out a Marine convoy with a bow and arrows.  That actually could happen, since body armor is weak towards cutting edges and nobody's going to be wearing heavy, cumbersome strike plates on a low-risk stateside caravan mission.

 

Job is awesome, and Deva is reasonably not annoying for a teenaged girl in a prestige cable drama (ahem, Dana).

 

And Nola's back!  I love Nola, and she looks like she's going to bleed some people before she's done avenging her brother.  Please don't die Nola.

[TiffanyNichelle]

Holy crap this show came back just as crazy as ever! I'm so grossed out that Proctor and his niece completely crossed that line and I have a feeling Burton is too. LOL.

Chayton's voice is still so sexy so for that alone I'm glad he's back this season. But taking down those marines with just a bow and arrow? Hot damn that was cool.

Hood and the deputies getting revenge for Emmett's death was satisfying but sad. They are going so dark following Hood. And now that we're getting some backstory on Brock I bet he's dead this season.

As soon as Hood saw that money I knew that was going to be the big job this season but it brought back Job so that's good. However it's a really stupid idea.

So don't care about Anna's ex-husband falling to pieces or anything to do with Deva.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Gordon has become a wee bit annoying, but he truly has gotten the shut end of the stick.

But has no room to preach to Carrie, after his negligence last season.

[Valyrian]

Love Banshee and so psyched it is back!

 

I'm kind of surprised to say it, but Rebecca and Proctor hooking up really doesn't bother me. They are both adults with previous experience, and I think they both know what they are doing. If either of them is being taken advantage of, I suspect it is Proctor. Historically it has not been unusual for uncle and niece to wed in European wealthy and noble families to keep wealth and property in the family. There have even been royal families in which people were virtually required to marry close relatives, even siblings. And he was living outside the community when she was younger, so was not involving in raising her. Perhaps for Proctor having an emotional connection with the person he is intimate with is a kind of growth.

 

Burton doesn't seem like someone who has a lot of moral scruples--he may just want Rebecca for himself. It is very impressive how they have made Burton's simple act of taking off his glasses evoke blood-chilling horror.

 

 

[CynicalGirl]

^ Nope, sorry, it's still creepy as hell. And the creepiest part? When Kai's mother asked "so how is my granddaughter?"

[millahnna]

Oh yeah it's creepy. But those two kind of deserve each other now, so I can work with it in a game of thrones "well I guess it couldn't be anyone else" kind of way.

I forgot how fun it is to stare really hard at the opening credits on this show. I notice the combo lock did a sort of countdown before it started actually working through this year's combo.

Edited January 11, 2015 by millahnna

[NorthstarATL]

Carrie's been a waitress before. She should know that messing with the guy's food is just as satisfying without getting into trouble. But we got to see how far she's fallen, and that she'll opt in to help with the Big Caper, especially since she's got an in. Glad to see the revenge play out. Saddest thing about last season. Except for the Brock scenes this was a hit-the-ground-running premiere, and I'm hooked again!

[Mars477]

Carrie's been a waitress before. She should know that messing with the guy's food is just as satisfying without getting into trouble. But we got to see how far she's fallen, and that she'll opt in to help with the Big Caper, especially since she's got an in. Glad to see the revenge play out. Saddest thing about last season. Except for the Brock scenes this was a hit-the-ground-running premiere, and I'm hooked again!

I really enjoyed watching her beat the shit out of that asshole, though.  He's just lucky she didn't kill him.   Nose, throat, what's the difference?

 

I'm a little disappointed that this forum doesn't show up on the main forum page.  You have to go through the Bs instead, which is kind of a pain.

Edited January 11, 2015 by Mars477

[ShellSeeker]

To access this (or any other board) more easily, go to the Banshee main page, and click the "Follow" button in the upper right area of the page. Then, if you click on the "My Shows" button, any show you've followed will be listed. It's a nice feature that lets you make a personalized list of the shows you like.

[Shimmergloom]

Cool.  Thanks for the tip.

[fastiller]

So on Facebook, I tried changing my hometown (or current city? I forget which) to Banshee.  It wouldn't let me - I guess the town has to be created in FB for it to be accepted.  Pity,  I was really hoping to show that as where I'm from.  Then when people asked why I act so tough and all, I'd say it was beause of where I was raised.

[Hipshooter]

Eriu:

"Chief marine guy was the guy that Carrie was boinking earlier, right?"

 

I looked at that closely and don't think it was Carrie ! Eyes were wrong and Lips too full ? Hard to tell?

 

I was glad to see Nola. I like her character and look forward to her part in this season.

 

Proctor and Rebecca was bound to happen but no less disgusting and weird.Rebecca turning into a cold blooded killer without remorse was shockingly quick.

 

Good to see Job back again.

 

Robbing the Military seems a little far fetched to me but this is Banshee after all.

 

Chayton taking on the Military with a bow was far fetched as well.

 

Getting Emmett revenge was predictable but satisfying.

 

I am waiting for Deva to get  into the family business. 

 

Gordon ......what will become of Gordon ?

 

Will Hood and Siobhan  continue with their affair?

 

Did Brock's ex look familiar? Will Hood wind up screwing her too?

 

Looking forward to this season in any case.

 

 

 

 

[BigBlueMastiff]

 

I, however, did not need the incest subtext between Kai and Rebecca to become straight up text. EWW.

Yeah, did not need to see that, just gross.

 

So don't care about Anna's ex-husband falling to pieces or anything to do with Deva.

Me neither, petulant teens, yawn.

 

 

"Chief marine guy was the guy that Carrie was boinking earlier, right?"

 

I looked at that closely and don't think it was Carrie ! Eyes were wrong and Lips too full ? Hard to tell?

Pretty sure that was Carrie with him in the beginning. Agree with the poster who said she's sizing him up ;) This is going to bee a good caper, and action packed season, can't wait to see more of the gang working together, love their dynamics.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Soldier guy was seething, watch your back Carrie.

Burton is That Dude, can't wait to see him fight Nola next week.

Was nice to see two bad ass chicks bonding, over pie.

Brock's wife is annoying.

Hi Tom Pelphery, welcome to Banshee!

Bunker won't have to wait long, Red Shirt Cop should be dead soon.

Edited January 17, 2015 by MrsRafaelBarba

[Captanne]

There was much sadness in the Captanne house for we cut our cable several months ago.  Honestly haven't missed it until I realized I can't watch Banshee with you all.  I'll have to wait for it to come to a live streaming service.  Even a show like American Horror Story and Sons of Anarchy (and Vikings) is purchasable through Amazon Prime and/or Netflix.  Any idea who might pick up a Cinemax show?  If so, please contact me privately.  

 

ETA:  To be clear -- there was NO sadness about cutting the cable.  That was a decision and action-taken with much rejoicing.  There WAS sadness when we realized we wouldn't see Banshee with everyone else.

Edited January 17, 2015 by Captanne

[Eriu]

While Rebecca certainly doesn't seem to have issues with the violence part of her new life, Kai is going to need to instill some better restraint in her, or her impulsiveness is going to come back to bite her.

I am VERY excited to see Meaghan Rath show up as the take no shit reservation deputy, Amiee. I really hope she sticks around for a while. I love the actress and the character is definitely looking good too.

I also really liked Nola and Carrie bonding over the problematic men of their respective families (and pie). While they could be interesting enemies, I'd much rather them be allies.

I'm pretty sure Chayton sent those two guys over meaning to get them killed and really start a war off, especially since he didn't let his brother go on the run. He had to know that nabbing Rebecca AND Kai would be more than a two man job.

Edited January 17, 2015 by Eriu

[Mars477]

It's late, but I just gotta say, Nola Longshadow takes the cake for two of the episode's strongest scenes (also her only ones).  I've rewatched her faceoff with Chayton a dozen times by now, and her bonding with Carrie over pie, guns, and scotch (although I don't think she's had a lot of good pie if she thinks diner pie is good) was great.

 

I just really like her.  She's an itinerant Native American assassin who returns to the hometown she hates due to tragedy in her family.  This could easily be her show.  (Please don't die Nola.) 

 

Hopefully Hood doesn't sleep with Aimee.  She and Siobhan were pretty friendly in one of the Origins shorts and we don't need that kind of drama.

 

Gordon is still boring.  Hopefully (considering one of the season preview clips) things pick up with him.