The Marshal Who Captured 3,000 Criminals Without a Single Wound?
In short: Bass Reeves, an African American Deputy U.S. Marshal, achieved an almost unbelievable feat in the Indian Territory. He is credited with apprehending over 3,000 dangerous criminals while remaining untouched by violence. Discover the scope of his legendary career.
Bass Reeves is presented as a federal peace officer stationed in the Indian Territory, specifically in Fort Smith, Arkansas. His documented achievement includes capturing more than 3,000 of the most dangerous criminals without sustaining any wounds himself. The narrative surrounding his life is heavily influenced by Sidney Thompson’s first two books in The Bass Reeves Trilogy: *Follow the Angels* and *Follow the Doves*, which form the basis for the television miniseries.
The development of the miniseries spanned several years. In September 2021, it was announced that Taylor Sheridan was developing a series based on Reeves, with David Oyelowo cast to portray him. By May 2022, Paramount+ ordered the series, initially titled *1883: The Bass Reeves Story*, and it was described as a prequel to *Yellowstone*, though this connection was later confirmed to be inaccurate. Filming commenced in Fort Worth, Texas, in October 2022, with David Quaid stating he started filming in January 2023, wrapping up by early June 2023.
The series, which premiered on Paramount+ on November 5, 2023, featured a large ensemble cast, including Dennis Quaid, Forrest Goodluck, Lauren E. Banks, and Barry Pepper. In April 2024, the show was retitled *Lawmen: Bass Reeves* to indicate its expansion beyond Reeves to include other notable lawmen. The series creator, Chad Feehan, noted that if renewed, it would become an anthology focusing on various historical lawmen.
Critical reception suggests a mixed but generally positive view; Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 81% approval rating from 26 reviews, while Metacritic assigned it a score of 65/100 based on 16 critics, suggesting 'generally favorable reviews'.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Lawmen: Bass Reeves
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