Summary
David Oyelowo continues to carry Lawmen: Bass Reeves on his back as the series slightly struggles to find its footing.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves is still clearly trying to find its footing in Episode 2. Luckily, the Paramount+ series has a highly capable lead in David Oyelowo who can carry the show on his back, but he needs the time and space for the character to evolve in subsequent episodes. Here, Bass is struggling to get his farm up and running while being tempted by the U.S. Marshal service and promises that may or may not be kept in exchange for his services.
This dynamic — the good man being given an offer he can’t refuse — is classic Western stuff, as is the fiery shootout that forms a good centerpiece of the second episode. Lawmen continues to deliver the expected beats here as it did in the opener. A slight adjustment to its pacing will really allow to show to settle into another impressive outing in the Taylor Sheridan streaming universe.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 1 Episode 2 Recap
The show picks up over thirteen years later after the overcrowded premiere, in 1875, in Van Buren, Arkansas, where we see Bass Reeves struggling to farm. As he tries to learn the lay of the land to feed his family, he runs into Deputy U.S. Marshal Sherill Lynn.
What deal does the U.S. Marshal Lynn offer Bass?
Lynn had spoken to Judge Parker about an unruly woman housing a wanted fugitive named Charlie. Lynn wants Bass Reeves to help him hunt the woman and Charlie down. Judge Parker agreed that if Reeves helped, they would let him become a Posseman. However, Bass turns down the offer as he is trying to be a farmer.
Bass sits down to talk to Jennie about what the Marshal has to offer, and she tells him that it’s not a bad idea for him to give it a whirl. Although reluctant to leave his family, Jennie talks him into joining Lynn to hunt Charlie and the woman down.
Bass and Lynn head out to start their hunt for Charlie. After entering a village, they run into his cousin, who doesn’t have very many nice things to say about him as she has been paying his debts.
Who dies in “Part II?”
Bass and Marshal Lynn’s hunt for Charlie comes to a screeching halt when they find him at a house where he tries to run from them. A shootout ensues wherein Charlie shoots the Marshal in the arm. As Bass tries to distract Charlie, Lynn sneaks around back and throws two Molotov cocktails into the house, burning Charlie. As he is on fire, Bass shoots and kills Charlie to stop the suffering.
Bass didn’t like how Lynn handled what happened with Charlie. As he tries to help the Marshal’s arm, the two get into an argument, leading to him punching Lynn in the face. Bass leaves, but before he can, Lynn tells him that he isn’t going to pay him a single thing he promised if he leaves. He leaves anyway.
How does Lawmen: Bass Reeves Episode 2 end?
After heading back to town to talk to Charlie’s cousin about what went down, Bass tells her he isn’t happy with what happened, but she knew this was the possible resolution. She thanked him for trying, and Bass left.
Lynn arrives at Bass’ house to confront him about his actions. He tells him that Bass has balls that not many people do and that it might lead him to die one day. However, the Marshal met with the Judge. Bass can become a Deputy U.S. Marshal. Lynn asks him if he can handle the weight of the badge, and Bass replies that he thinks he can.
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