Taylor Sheridan’s 8-Part Western Series Officially Lands on Netflix in Just 2 Weeks

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Taylor Sheridan has become known for bringing Westerns back to television, starting with his hit show Yellowstone. He’s since built on that success with series like 1883 and 1923. In 2023, he also produced Lawmen: Bass Reeves, a limited series created by Chad Feehan, which will be available on Netflix starting June 1st.

As a Western fanatic, I just finished watching Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and it’s incredible! It’s an 8-part series based on the real life of Bass Reeves, one of the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshals out West. The show draws from two great historical novels – Follow the Angels, Follow the Doves and Hell on the Border – by Sidney Thompson, and honestly, if you’re into Westerns at all, you absolutely need to check it out.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves Features a Star-Studded Cast

The series features David Oyelowo as Bass Reeves, a former slave who skillfully learned the languages of the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole tribes while working as a railroad agent. This knowledge proved invaluable when he became one of the first African American deputies west of the Mississippi, serving under U.S. Marshal James F. Fagan.

The cast of Lawmen: Bass Reeves includes Lauren E. Banks as Jennie Reeves, Bass’s wife, and Demi Singleton as their daughter, Sally. Forrest Goodluck plays Billy Crow, and Barry Pepper is Esau Pierce. Dennis Quaid portrays Deputy U.S. Marshal Sherrill Lynn, Grantham Coleman plays Edwin Jones, and Donald Sutherland plays Isaac C. Parker, a historical figure who was a U.S. politician and judge.

I was completely captivated by Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and I learned it was initially designed as a single, complete story. The creator, Chad Feehan, mentioned they had a fantastic idea for future seasons – turning it into an anthology series! Each season could tell the story of a different, remarkable historical lawman. It’s wonderful to see the show getting the recognition it deserves; it even won the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Television Movie or Limited Series, and was nominated for many others! I really hope they continue this format – it’s a brilliant way to explore these incredible figures from the past.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves Is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes

Critics and viewers both enjoyed the Western series Lawmen: Bass Reeves. It earned a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from critics, and an impressive 93% audience score. On IMDb, the show received a 7.3 out of 10 rating from more than 15,000 viewers, and it scored a 66 on Metacritic.

David Oyelowo’s portrayal of Bass Reeves has received significant praise. Ed Power of the Daily Telegraph highlighted the performances as a key strength of the show, specifically noting Oyelowo’s compelling depiction of the character. Brian Lowry of CNN.com commented that Oyelowo’s starring role as the Black US marshal in the 19th century adds a unique historical dimension to the series.

Fans of Westerns and historical dramas should enjoy this series. With Lawmen: Bass Reeves coming to US Netflix on June 1st, it has the potential to gain even more viewers and become a popular streaming success for years to come.

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2026-05-17 02:06