IR TV Review: LAWMEN - BASS REEVES - PART VIII [Paramount+]

The path of Bass Reeves as a character is built on the idea of reconciling his identity to that of his newfound responsibility. The past couple episodes leading up to the season finale have shown Reeves become more and more disconnected from what he believes is right, not because he is doing a bad job but because he can't reconcile the notion of the greater good versus the hypocrisy of what he sees. There are certain characters like Dennis Quaid's rambunctious marshall that he can put up with, despite their bias. Whereas the man who has been tasking him since the beginning in the form of Barry Pepper is much more sinister, refined and underhanded. In retrospect the beginning 3 episodes stand up a bit better than the latter half of the series but the finale brings it all together, even though it is done a bit briskly.

A lot of story elements are left unsaid and that is fine in the greater scheme of events despite the fact that there might have been more story to tell. Reeves' acquittal seems a bit too rushed and happenstance in the previous episode but it shows its purpose. One gets the feeling that the stories were being a little bit rushed towards the end or production might have been cut off before the writer's strike. It is hard to say but the life of the series could have been differently than what it turned out to be. Granted the Lawmen series elements seem like, or what they might be built as, is an anthology which only tells a limited story. However within this role David Oyelowo competely transformed in a way he hadn't before and for this performance he should be applauded, even if the series didn't deliver fully (though the final episode does a damn good job). B+

By Tim Wassberg