There are no bells and whistles here – Lawmen: Bass Reeves is an old school Western designed to appeal to fans of Taylor Sheridan’s original hitis one of the biggest TV shows on the planet. What started as a subtle modern western about a ranch owner protecting his land from those who wish to encroach on it has turned into a phenomenon watched by 15.7 million viewers in the US alone.
There is a sense that the series believes its own hype and that it’s presenting some grand narrative about slavery and American history that doesn’t translate across the pond. The script can be cloying and simplistic – “black, white or red, we all just men,” Reeves tells his first boss when he joins law enforcement, Sherrill Lynn
Spontaneous shoot-outs and moments of heart-stopping tension punctuate the insipidity just before you can roll your eyes, transforming what sometimes edges on a lecture on the Old West into an entertaining TV drama worthy of its impressive cast.is an old school western designed to appeal to those who want an uncomplicated, not too preachy, morally sound story of good cops and bad robbers that could have been made largely the same way 10 years ago.