Lawmen: Bass Reeves is the latest entry into the modern resurgence of the Western genre. It tells the story of the real life historical figure of Bass Reeves, who was the first Black US Marshall in the 19th century. Early in the series’ development, it was connected to another massive Paramount+ Western franchise, Yellowstone. The Yellowstone spinoff, 1883, is set around the same time period and Bass Reeves was going to be connected. While the show didn’t end up being connected, there is still a chance that it could be.
Yellowstone, created by Taylor Sheridan, has been a smash hit for Paramount. The modern Western focuses on the Dutton family of Montana as they fight tooth and nail to keep their families ranch. The story of the Duttons took audiences by storm and it has now spawned multiple spinoffs. 1883 and 1923 both look at the Dutton families in different eras of their history. Their history in Montana may not be actual history, but it doesn’t mean it can’t intersect. Bass Reeves feels like a Yellowstone series, both tonally and visually, so it may not be too late for the legendary sheriff to find his way onto the Yellowstone ranch.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves Still Feels Apart of the Yellowstone Universe
Lawmen: Bass Reeves is powerful, intense, and gritty in its presentation of the end of the American Civil War. It doesn’t shy away from the terrible acts that occurred in this time, and it fully embraces telling a Western story from a different perspective. Yellowstone not only is loved because of it’s amazing cast and setting, but because of its storytelling. Yellowstone has an incredible story as it builds tension over each episode, with explosive moments in almost every episode.
While 1883 had a slower pace, it still focused on the romanticism of the “Wild West” while telling the true hardships of people in that era. 1923 looked at the world beyond America, while still featuring plenty of cowboys and shoot-outs. Lawmen: Bass Reeves feels like it would fit seamlessly into this environment. The first episode of the series immediately dives into the action as Bass rides into a Civil War battlefield alongside George Reeves, his slave owner. This immediately sets the tone for the series and continues the hear racing action that Sherdian’s shows are known for.
While Sheridan is only an executive producer on Lawmen: Bass Reeves, there is no doubt that the show’s creator, Chad Feehan, took inspiration from Sheridan’s work. When Bass sits across from George, while George dangles his freedom in front of him, the tension is palpable. Bass rises up and takes his freedom in a powerful way. The intensity of David Oyelowo’s Bass Reeves draws viewers in, much the same as Kevin Costner’s John Dutton or Kelly Reilly’s Beth Dutton does. The characters live decades apart, yet the same Western energy and seriousness live in all these characters.
Bass Reeves Can Still Join With Yellowstone
Lawmen: Bass Reeves for now is only focuses on telling the story of the legendary Marshall. This is for the best as telling a more authentic version of Reeves’ story is extremely important. Yet, since the series is an anthology, Lawmen can come back and connect Bass with the Duttons at any time. The series can pivot for a time and focus on other historic or fictional characters, and then come back to tell a different chapter in Reeves’ life.
As the Duttons of 1883 fight to establish the legendary ranch, they will likely break more than a few laws. This can put them in direct conflict with Bass Reeves. As a Marshall, Reeves may be the law enforcer that comes to break the Duttons. This would not only be a fascinating conflict in the Dutton history, but it would be a tough matchup for fans. Audiences would be torn whether to support Bass Reeves or the Duttons as the fight for the ranch rages.
Reeves could also be an ally to the Duttons. As others tend to lash out with violence against the Montana Family, Reeves could be called in to stop a ranch war. The Dutton’s of 1883 can work alongside Reeves to ward of people who would take what is theirs. Bass can also just be a simple one off character. He can come in for an episode to help capture one particular criminal, which leads him across the path of the Duttons. This may be an easier route for writers who don’t want to weave the fiction of the Dutton’s in with the history of Bass Reeves.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves Can Help to Expand Paramount’s Western Dominance
Paramount has already established itself as the current home of the Western genre. The Yellowstone universe shows that there is still a strong interest in this age old genre that Hollywood has been full invested in for decades. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is the last step in adding to Paramount’s Western dominance. Yellowstone has covered the modern era, especially with the upcoming 2024 spinoff, and Lawmen: Bass Reeves helps to fill out the historic Westerns.
Bass Reeves is full of brutal action and heartwarming beauty and it feels like a perfect Western after only one episode. While development may have moved the series out of the Yellowstone franchise, the future can still reunite them. Bass Reeves feels like a Yellowstone series, through both its story structure and Western tropes. Reeves can cross paths with the Duttons in a number of ways, but it’s best for now that audiences simply absorb Reeves’ own incredible story.