Summary
This is another middle-of-the-road episode trying to develop too many pieces, not allowing Bass’s story to shine.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves is on his most challenging mission to date in Episode 5 of the Paramount+ original series Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Although he wants to go home to his wife and kids, Bass is given a mission to transfer a wanted man from Oklahoma to Texas. Along the way, things start to become unclear about whether he is making the right decision with his family, job, or his most recent prisoner.
Despite the potential of the premise, though, this is another middle-of-the-road installment that seems to be holding the series — and the character — back rather than developing and gaining momentum.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 1 Episode 5 Recap
Bass is cleaning up in the town, and everyone is starting to take notice. Ike, a local Posseman, tells Bass to save some outlaws for the rest of the crew as Bass collects his money.
Who is Bass Reeves hunting down next?
U.S. Marshal Lynn chases Bass down outside to inform him of another job he must take. Jackson Cole is wanted for several crimes, and they want Bass to deliver the prisoner to Red River. However, Bass says he hasn’t been home in 41 days, but Lynn says he must take the job.
Bass returns to see his family, knowing he won’t be home long. He doesn’t mention to his wife or the kids that he plans on leaving the following day. A knock on the door by Billy Crow makes Jennie realize that Bass is leaving again, and she snaps at Bass because he is never home anymore.
Bass, Billy, and their prisoner Jackson are amid a massive rainstorm. They approach a Spanish family’s house and welcome them in regardless of their not being fond of the law. That night, Jackson and Bass are talking outside, where Jackson explains why he did what he did.
Jackson tells the story of how their squad was going through plantations and announcing they were free. One day they came across the Rockroast plantation that James Nebulit ran. James stated that the slaves had taken up arms, and he burned all of the slaves. Neither the cops nor James would allow them to go to the plantation to bury the people.
Why did Jackson kill James Nebulit?
Over ten years later, Jackson got out of the service and moved back to Texas to find out that Nebulit was running for State Legislator. He promised to set the laws back to how they were before, and Jackson knew what he had done in the past and took matters into his own hands.
After being upset that her dad left before taking her to the carnival, Jennie tells their daughter Sally that she can go and bring Arthur, the boy she is smitten by, with her. At the carnival, Sally tells a little white girl about herself, leading to Sally and Arthur getting into a fight with the boys later that night.
How does Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 1 Episode 5 end?
Bass continues his job the following morning by putting the handcuffs on Jackson and continuing their travels to Texas. As the trio rides their horses, Bass stumbles on a man camping, and when he turns around, it’s Esau Pierce, the man he had a war with in the first episode..
What did you think of Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 1 Episode 5? Comment below.
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