Part I – Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) marches with other soldiers before bullets begin flying. Bass watches his fellow soldiers get taken out by cannonballs and bullets. His commander gives him a rifle and tells him to follow him and fire. It appears he contemplates fleeing, but turns around and charges toward the enemy. As they get close to the Union soldiers, other Confederates arrive to join the fight. Esau Pierce (Barry Pepper) takes a scalp while Bass watches aimlessly. At camp, a fellow soldier tells Bass he killed the wrong side. Bass explains he’d rather be shot in the face than the back. George Reeves (Shea Whigham) and others discuss the success of the battle. He questions when the supply train will arrive.

The General is told it hasn’t arrived yet. George reminds the General that it was his decision to leave the wagons behind. He continues arguing about that decision with General Van Dorn (David Lee Smith). Esau Pierce tells Bass that he saw him before describing him as a wolf. George Reeves takes Bass outside where he tells him it is a confederacy of dunces. Bass is ordered to strike his tent, pack his gear, and tack the horses. The next day, Bass watches two soldiers bring in a prisoner. Once they set up a camp, Esau pulls a gun on Bass because he thinks he is going to flee. He reminds him not to think he is a master now. George asks if he mistakes him for a cowardly deserter. Bass says no. George explains that he received dispensation from Van Dorn. Later that night, they talk about God.

George questions whether God could be their own creation although Bass doesn’t believe so. George believes he’d Longfellow if he could read. Bass would like to learn so he can study the Bible. George tells him only white folks go to the big dance when they air.

Grayson County, Texas – George goes into a residence and yells for Rachel Reeves (Jessica Oyelowo). He comes out after finding no one inside. George tells Bass it’ll be just them tonight. Bass wakes up Jennie Reeves (Lauren E. Banks) and they embrace. After they have sex, Bass goes inside to look for George. Once he finds him, George says he was thinking he’d run off before he gave him a chance to walk away scot-free. They could go to Rachel’s folks since everyone is there or they could share a gentler repast there. Bass agrees to play a round of cards with him. He admits he is confused about being able to walk away. George says he’ll set him free after his heroics in battle. Bass has to beat him at cards first. He ends up getting a plain flush, but George beats him with four of a kind. Bass reminds him he had the queen of hearts.

George denies that. Bass ends up getting upset and attacking George. After beating George for a while, Bass grabs a gun and goes outside. Bass goes to Jennie to tell her he messed up. She tells him he should get a horse and run far from there. Bass flees on a horse before running into three men who tell him to get off the horse. He claims he is going to Sherman to fetch George’s wife. Bass shoots the men dead. He gets rid of his horse and runs out into the water nearby.

Indian Territory March 1863 – Bass walks through Indian Territory without shoes. He tries to eat meat from a carcass. Eventually, he collapses during his journey. He is awoken when Sara Jumper fires a gun into the air. Once she finds out he is a runaway, she takes him back and cares for him. Curtis Jumper gives him water.

Seminole Nation April 1863 – Bass goes outside where he thanks Sara who tells him he needs rest. She tells him he is a long way from anywhere. Sara (Margot Bingham) tells him he is home for now. Later, Bass tries to find out more about Sara’s husband but she won’t disclose anything. Sara never felt the sting of the whip although she knows war. She fought in Florida to be free. The Seminole never surrendered. Her husband built them this home before dying in the white man’s war.

Bass admits he left the woman he loved before saying he isn’t afraid of work. Sara offers to let him stay and help.

Seminole National July 1863 – Curtis teaches Bass how to fish. Then, they go shopping. Curtis begins to worry when he sees white soldiers nearby. A Union soldier asks if anyone speaks English. Bass translates for John and explains there has been a run on goods lately. He’ll do it for seven dollars though. Bass wants a quarter for himself and a quarter for the boy. When they load the wagon, Bass sees prisoners in the back. Esau notices and remembers him. They talk about Curtis being Bass’s son. Although Bass says the boy isn’t his, Esau says it is all for the taking now.

After Bass learns that the Union army won, he tells Esau that this is Turkey Creek. Esau urges him to go because hell is coming on wings of its own. Gunshots ring out as the prisoners try to escape. Bass is knocked to the ground multiple times while trying to reach Curtis. Curtis arrives and holds Esau at gunpoint. Bass urges Curtis to put the gun down before he is shot in the chest. Esau flees on a horse. Bass goes back and tells Sara that he died bravely. She says her loss can’t be his. Sara wants him to leave. Bass speaks to Pistol before riding him away.

Bass rides back to George’s property to look for Jennie. Rachel Reeves (Jessica Oyelowo) finds him looking around. Rachel knew he would come back although George didn’t believe it. She tells him not to worry because George isn’t around. Her husband is getting into politics. Bass asks where Jennie went.

Fort Smith, Arkansas – Bass finds Jennie and watches her with Sally Reeves. He doesn’t approach them. Later that night, Bass approaches her and says he hopes he treats her right. Jennie explains that there is no new man. Bass learns that Sally is his daughter. He hangs out with his family until the episode ends.

 

Lawmen: Bass Reeves Review

The character of Bass Reeves is an interesting one that has been featured in multiple television shows in recent years. Gary Beadle played Bass in Around the World in 80 Days. While that episode of the series wasn’t spectacular, Beadle seemed to have a better grasp on the role than what is offered in Lawmen. The opening episode doesn’t feel like a grand epic that can adequately capture Reeves’s story.

The episode has glaring issues right from the start with the initial war scenes being particularly baffling. Bass is in the middle of a war zone with bullets and cannon balls flying all around him, yet he just looks around while standing still for minutes at a time. At the trading post, he is again shown as incompetent when he is knocked to the ground repeatedly only to be saved by Curtis who is fatally shot.

Two bigger issues are the dialogue and the accents with the latter probably being casting issues from the start. Many of the gripping scenes were comical due to the poor accents. That’s one of the issues with importing British actors to play American roles. It happened recently with Keeley Hawes and it happens here with David Oyelowo who is great in the right settings. Others are equally bad as well.

Then, one has to wonder where all the Native Americans are considering Bass Reeves is living in the Seminole Nation for good chunks of the episode. The story in the first episode was a little aimless after Bass and George left the war. It is also concerning that large portions of Reeves’s life aren’t being covered, especially his childhood with William Steele Reeves and his time with George Reeves before the war.

In typical Taylor Sheridan fashion, the story is pretty shallow and even aimless at times. Having more insight into Reeves’s youth could’ve changed that. This is only the first episode so there is still time for this to turn into a modern western classic, but the opening episode only leaves pessimism. The opening episode scores a 5.5 out of 10. Recaps of Lawmen: Bass Reeves will be available on Reel Mockery here.

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