Taylor Sheridan is the king of Westerns. “Yellowstone,” “1883,” and “1923” are all acclaimed TV shows exploring that genre while his movie “Hell or High Water” was Oscar-nominated. And he is the executive producers of the acclaimed limited series “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” which was created by Chad Feehan.
This Paramount+ hit tells the true story of Bass Reeves, the first Black US Marshal west of the Mississippi River. Reeves was a federal peace office based in Fort Smith, Arkansas, who caught over 3,000 criminals in the area without ever being wounded himself. David Oyelowo portrays Reeves in one of the most thoughtful, intelligent, and powerful Western shows we’ve seen on our screens in recent years, as noted by critics.
John Anderson (The Wall Street Journal) observed: “‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ is an action series that applies moral questions to its action. This doesn’t make the gunplay any less enjoyable, but it does make it seem more intelligent.”
Akos Peterbencze (Paste Magazine) stated: “‘Bass Reeves’ confidently stands on its own with a compelling narrative and the charismatic titular character portrayed by a magnetic David Oyelowo.”
Ricky Valero (Ready Steady Cut) proclaimed: “The healthy balance of excellent writing of the Bass Reeves character and Oyelowo’s strong performance make this one of the better shows in the Sheridan universe.”
Alison Herman (Variety) declared: “Recognizably of a piece with Sheridan’s filmography, while striking a tone and moving at a pace of its own. It’s a more sustainable execution of the power producer’s distinct vision — and, more importantly, a better one than some recent attempts.”
M.N. Miller (Fandom Wire) noted: “Tender, tough, and remarkably human, Oyelowo transcends the Western trope that comes with the genre by being a fully three-dimensional character.”
Our current predicted nominees for Best Limited Series are “Fargo,” “Lessons in Chemistry,” “True Detective: Night Country,” “Baby Reindeer,” and “Ripley.” However, don’t count out “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” just yet. The Western is right on the precipice and could break into this lineup for a number of reasons.
Firstly, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” is a historical epic — Emmy voters love these. Just take a look at recent contenders such as “The Underground Railroad,” “Chernobyl,” “Roots,” “Wolf Hall,” “Bonnie & Clyde,” and “The Bible.”
Specifically, Emmy voters really like historical TV shows that explore specific times in American history, such as “The Underground Railroad,” “Roots,” “Mrs. America,” “When They See Us,” “Game Change,” and “The Kennedys.” “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” sheds light on a subject previously unexplored. That could appeal to Emmy voters.
The show also delves into the inner life of an American historical figure, which is something Emmy voters also like in this category. recent such nominees include “Mrs. America,” “Fosse/Verdon,” “Feud: Bette and Joan,” “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” and “Bonnie & Clyde.”
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” could well fill the void left by “Shōgun,” which recently switched over from Best Limited Series to Best Drama Series. The fact that “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” already has some awards prowess — Oyelowo was nominated at this year’s Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and SAG Awards for his portrayal of Reeves — could help this Paramount+ series become the show that fills that gap.
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