The gritty Western series 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves' has become a massive hit on Netflix, climbing into the platform's top 10 shortly after its debut. The miniseries, which originally premiered on Paramount Plus in November 2023, tells the incredible true story of Bass Reeves, one of the first African American deputy U.S. marshals.
Plot and Cast
Created by Chad Feehan, the eight-episode series is set in the 1800s and follows Reeves after he escapes enslavement by Arkansas state legislator William Reeves. Reeves, played by David Oyelowo, later lived in Indian Territories, where he learned languages and tracking skills that proved invaluable. He went on to become a legendary lawman, arresting over 3,000 outlaws over three decades.
Oyelowo, known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. in 'Selma,' leads a stellar cast including Lauren E. Banks as Jennie Reeves, Demi Singleton as Sally Reeves, Dennis Quaid as Sherrill Lynn, and Barry Pepper as Esau Pierce.
Critical and Audience Reception
The series holds a 79% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and an impressive 93% audience rating. Critics have praised it for debunking Western cliches and delivering a deeply human performance. Susan Granger of SSG Syndicate called it 'action-packed,' while M.N. Miller of FandomWire noted that Oyelowo 'transcends the Western trope.' Audiences have been equally enthusiastic, with five-star reviews calling the show 'amazing' and 'captivating.'
Background and Future
Initially planned as a spin-off of '1883,' the series was later confirmed to be independent of the Yellowstone universe. Showrunner Chad Feehan has indicated that if renewed, it would become an anthology series focusing on other lawmen. Oyelowo spent eight years working to bring Reeves' story to screen, describing the script as 'truly compelling' for its blend of the ordinary and extraordinary.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves is now streaming on Netflix.
