The Western is a unique genre depicting the vast plains of Americana where everyone is their own master and restrictions are few. Screenwriter Chad Feehan (Ray Donovan, Banshee) explores the story of Bass Reeves (David Oyelowo) who rose from slavery to being the first black deputy U.S. marshals west of the Mississippi River with less than twenty kills despite making three thousand arrests.
For Feehan, he is more interested in Reeves’ character and his indomitable human spirit more than his upholding of the law. The landscape of the Old West is epic, beautiful, and brutal, a perfect backdrop for Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
Law In The Old West
Law was applied with discretion and interpretation in this part of the country at the time. “It was Indian Territory, which is predominantly modern day Oklahoma. It was a safe haven for outlaws, particularly white, who would go to hide there to escape the arm of justice,” explains Feehan.
“Bass Reeves is tasked to go into that lawless land because of his skills as a marksman and his ability to speak multiple languages.” The semblance of justice and law and order was a key motivator for him regardless of race or creed. “He would avoid violence at every turn and he would disguise himself to avoid physical confrontation with the suspects that he was pursuing.” Justice was meted out in measured doses.
The nature of law and justice are malleable ideals that can present as two different things in the show.
Chad Feehan. Photo by Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images for Paramount+
Lawmen: Bass Reeves explores this concept in depth. In the first half of the season, the two are closely aligned since justice is defined by law. In the latter half, Bass questions whether the law is always just and should always be obeyed regardless of circumstances. This concept is known as the “Way of the Badge” which filled many conversations in the writers’ room.
“I think the Way of the Badge is the responsibility that you have to manage what the law tells you to do versus what you as a human being inevitably believe is the right thing to do,” clarifies Sheehan, referring to the notion of discretion.
Bass Reeves is referred to as a “Peace Officer” whose role was to suppress violence. It’s a term used to remind us of the function of law and the best way to implement it.
Who Is Bass Reeves?
Despite his stoic nature, Bass Reeves is a conflicted man as he balances his spiritual beliefs with the needs of the law and his family.
“His internal conflict really starts in episode four and leads him down a path of questioning his own moral code. Relative to the law, it begins to make him question the cost of his moral code to his family, to his faith itself. He was a man of God.”
Bass was also a man of few words – they were measured and considered. Never foolish. “He is deeply contemplative and cerebral. That is an archetype of the Western genre,” adds Feehan.
Bass Reeves has many surprising facets to his character. He was forced to accompany his master George Reeves (Shea Whigham) to the Civil War. The Seminole tribe provided refuge for a number of runaways going all the way back to the 1700s when they were in Florida. (The term Black Seminal exists because a lot of runaway slaves adopted the culture and lifestyle). It was also common for many Native Americans to fight on the side of the Confederacy.
Bass also couldn’t read or write and had to execute writs that he couldn’t read. “His desire to provide his captives with last words to their loved ones that he couldn’t write, is mind boggling,” continues the screenwriter in his examination of this fascinating character.
Adapting The Book Anthology
Lawmen: Bass Reeves is based on an anthology trilogy by Sidney Thompson which greatly informed the show. Chad Feehan also undertook additional research by reading as many obscure books about Reeves as he could. We went through many movies and TV shows, podcasts and articles to do as much research as we could on a very short timeline. I read Sidney’s account of the Battle of Peeridge as well as Sidney’s account of the infamous bar game that’s often reported in connection with Bass’s life.”
The books serve as a well-rendered version of Bass Reeves during his years of enslavement. “Once he escapes enslavement, it begins to become a pure creation of me and the other writers that were in the room with me,” informs the screenwriter. This includes Bass’ time with Curtis Jumper (Riley Looc), Sarah Jumper (Margot Bingham), and Esau Pierce (Barry Pepper).
Sidney Thompson also acted as an historical consultant to the show. “We hired Moses Brings Plenty, who is an actor, as well as our American Indian Affairs Coordinator. We hired native Creeks speakers and native Choctaw speakers.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves was put into pre-production within four months of Feehan being hired to write the pilot. The writer also looked to No Country For Old Men which deals with many similar themes. “We watched Dance With Wolves, Unforgiven, and The Red Mist with our team for further inspiration.”
The Pilot Episode
The entrance to Lawmen: Bass Reeves has a lot to unpack starting with the tremendous injustice Bass suffered and his superior marksman skills which led him to his career. “He has the eternal will to survive and to triumph. He shows the desire to live and the desire to overcome.”
Bass lives with the Jumpers, an American Indian family, who teach him the language and other skills he needed. “But most importantly, it was important to me, to show a love story between Bass and his wife Sarah (Demi Singleton) that they were each other’s light in incredible darkness.” Chad wants to present a black couple in love, which is often neglected on our screens.
The writer ensures that Reeves’ promotion to Deputy Marshall was delayed as long as possible – the end of the second episode – to allow the audience to fully appreciate and experience Bass’ life before then. “He was a farmer and was periodically hired as a scout or a posse man because he knew the native languages. We wanted to pay homage and respect to that chapter of his life.”
“We also wanted to have a character that was the antithesis of what he wanted to become as a lawman. We found that the lawmen of that era would often dehumanize others. Sherill Lynn (Dennis Quaid) represents that. We wanted our hero to be fighting against that. We wanted the audience to not be naïve to how circumstance can cause people to do things that are seen as unlawful. That doesn’t necessarily makes them bad human beings.”
Bass Reeves also discovers he’s a father upon his return. Chad Feehan is also a dedicated husband and father, so this aspect of Reeves’ life resonates strongly with him. “The last scene in the pilot is about me and the love between father and child.” Chad mentions that his onscreen wife has many similarities with his actual wife including their concerns about raising children in the current state of the world.
Bass and Sally express their concern about losing their daughter to “growing up,” but they need to have faith that they will raise her well.
