What is Lawmen: Bass Reeves about?

There are some figures from history that aren’t known well enough. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is going to change that about one in particular.

How much do you know about the first Black U.S. deputy marshal west of the Mississippi? Probably very little. Bass Reeves is one of those people in history who is often overlooked, despite everything he did for the people of his town.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves is set to change that. The series is set in the Wild West and stars David Oyelowo as the titular character. This is a chance to learn more about the man who captured more than 3,000 outlaws while he was the deputy marshal.

What is Lawmen: Bass Reeves about?

The series will look at this real-life superhero. He faced some major obstacles to get to where he would get to. After all, look at the time period and the color of his skin. Bass Reeves wanted to bring justice and equality to the law in a lawless region of the area.

Like any show of the time, there is a focus on enslavement. You just can’t overlook that—we need to learn from the past. It then takes us through the rise of Bass. We get a look at his family life, the fight he put up to get to where he was, and the legacy he left behind.

This is more than just a story about Bass’s career successes. It’s a look at him as a husband and a father. It’s a look at him as a Black man in a time of uncertainty and inequality. It’s not even like there is real equality and equity now, but there was even less back then, and Bass overcame the odds.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves premieres on Paramount+ on Sunday, Nov. 5.