Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 1 Episode 7 Recap: Who Is Mr. Sundown?
Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 1 Episode 7, which was released on December 10, 2023, explores Bass Reeves' darkest moments as he contends with the consequences of the revelation about Mr. Sundown's true identity. As the series builds towards its finale, viewers are left wondering about the unsettling connection between Bass and the enigmatic Esau Pierce. Let's dive into the key moments of this episode.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 1 Episode 7 Recap
Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 1 Episode 7 begins with our hero, David Oyelowo, diving into the tumult. The episode unfolds with Reeves in custody, facing a murder trial that beckons questions of his journey and the life he may have taken.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Ike Rogers Arrests Bass Reeves
Bass's Struggles: Judge Parker Observes The Toll Of The Job
Before Ike Rogers arrests Bass Reeves, Bass and his wife Jennie invite Judge Parker and his wife for dinner. Judge Parker notices that Bass is acting differently, troubled by the messages from Esau Pierce in his mind. Without explicitly stating it, Judge Parker observes how the job is affecting Bass and decides to lighten his workload in the following days. Despite being strict, Judge Parker shows clear respect and concern for Bass.
Esme Ends Her Partnership With Edwin And Apologizes To Jennie
After an uncomfortable encounter with Edwin Jones, Esme goes back to the Reeves house to patch things up with her longtime friend, Jennie. Esme was involved in a plan to present Edwin's business idea to Bass, which aimed to acquire land from Indigenous Peoples and create black-only communities. However, Bass and Esme both disagree with Edwin's vision. Eventually, Esme decides to end her partnership with Edwin and apologizes to Jennie.
Clementine Strangely Appears At Reeves House
Clementine, the girl Sally scolded at the fair in Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode 5, comes to the Reeves house asking about Sally and Bass. Jennie is friendly to Clementine, who acts just as impolite to Jennie as she did to Sally at the carnival earlier. Clementine oddly asks if Sally and Bass are home, then quickly says, "I have to leave now," and walks away. Jennie is left puzzled and worried about why the girl visited their home.
Bass Reeves Faces A Surprising Culprit
Bass, along with his friend Billy Crow, is out on another job to capture a well-known killer named Moody O'Neil. To Bass's surprise, Moody turns out to be an old woman. Even more shocking, she admits to being the murderer Bass is after. Moody sits casually on her porch, not posing any danger to Bass and Billy. Without resistance, she lets them handcuff her and hands Bass a silver candelabra, confessing it's the murder weapon.
Jennie And Sally Discover A Burning Effigy In Their Front Yard
Jennie, Sally, Esme, and the Reeves kids gather around the dining table at home, enjoying a pleasant conversation. Suddenly, they spot something burning in the front yard, causing panic in the house. Jennie tells her children to go upstairs for safety, while she and Esme check it out from the window. They discover that someone planted a wooden and straw effigy in their front yard and set it on fire—a bizarre and frightening incident likely connected to Clementine and her racist brother Brent.
Bass Reeves Kills Billy’s Cook Willy For Setting Moody Free
Bass Reeves, dealing with inner struggles since encountering Esau Pierce, shoots and kills Billy Crow's cook, Willy. Willy had set Moody free overnight while Bass and Billy were asleep. The next day, Willy confesses, revealing that Moody had refused food, claiming it was pointless as she was destined for hanging. Willy might have added a sedative to the food to aid Moody's escape. In any case, when he attempts to draw his gun, Bass shoots and kills him.
Bass Reeves Pours His Heart Out To Judge Parker
Bass, in handcuffs and held at the Hell on the Border jail in Fort Smith, has a sincere talk with his boss, Judge Parker. Parker shares a childhood story about finding fool's gold and wonders if Bass is the real deal or just fool's gold. In response, Bass emotionally recounts a story about his father, affirming that he's genuine. After the emotional conversation, Bass leaves Parker's office, leaving the judge in tears, prepared to face whatever fate lies ahead.
Bass Reeves Declared Not Guilty
At the sentencing, Bass Reeves gets a pleasant surprise when Judge Parker essentially pardons him, declaring him not guilty. There's an argument that Bass acted in self-defense when he killed Willy, and it seems like that's what happened in Lawmen: Bass Reeves. With all charges dropped, Bass can go back to being one of the best lawmen in the Old West.
Bass Reeves Plans To Confront Esau Pierce
Back on duty, Bass Reeves teams up with Billy Crow and Sherill Lynn to head to Esau Pierce's Texas ranch. They aim to arrest Pierce, now a Texas Ranger, for the disappearance and suspected murder of Jackson Cole. If they can convict Pierce successfully, Bass believes he can finally put an end to Mr. Sundown's reign of terror in the series finale of Lawmen: Bass Reeves, as all the evidence points to Pierce being the gruesome serial killer and slave catcher.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 1 Episode 7 Review
Lawmen: Bass Reeves Season 1 Episode 7 masterfully navigates the hero's journey, thrusting Bass Reeves (portrayed by David Oyelowo) into a riveting crisis of conscience. The series, though, grapples with a broader dilemma, as its bold and distinctive style might arrive too belatedly.
The initial trio of episodes set a solid foundation with the true tale of Bass Reeves but faltered in the Entertainment realm. Yet, episodes 4, 5, and 6 injected the drama needed, transforming the narrative into a captivating 8-part saga. Episode 6's brilliance extends into Episode 7, delving into Bass's internal struggles with morality and impending fear in unprecedented ways.
This newfound creativity, however, teeters on the edge. While Episode 7 diligently portrays Bass's crisis, the abrupt shift in visual style proves disconcerting. Creative license, long overdue, emerges as a double-edged sword. Warning – spoilers ahead! And for those catching up, Episode 6 lays the groundwork for this gripping exploration.
As Lawmen: Bass Reeves heads towards its finale, the seventh episode delivers intense moments and revelations. Join us in anticipation of the series conclusion, airing on December 17, 2023.