Historical Accuracy in Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Deviations from History

Taylor Sheridan's latest Western series Lawmen: Bass Reeves has garnered attention for its departure from the historical accounts of the real-life Old West lawman Bass Reeves. The Paramount+ series initially presented a close depiction of Bass Reeves' true story, chronicling his journey from being born a slave, to fighting in the Civil War, and eventually rising as one of the first black Deputy U.S. Marshals in American history. However, the latter half of the season took on a more dramatized and serialized approach, rewriting some parts of Reeves' true legend.

Bass Reeves in Lawmen Bass Reeves finale

The ending of Lawmen: Bass Reeves features an entirely fictional showdown between Bass Reeves and the mythical cannibalistic slave catcher Mr. Sundown. While this addition made for intriguing moral and religious dilemmas, the series chose to focus on a completely fabricated story rather than delve into the real-life aspects of Bass Reeves' legend. With over 3000 arrests credited to Bass Reeves in his 30+ years in law enforcement, there were certainly other historically accurate narrative avenues and enemies that Lawmen: Bass Reeves could have explored.

Bass Reeves in Lawmen Bass Reeves episode 7

The departure from historical accuracy has sparked criticism, particularly with regard to the fictionalized elements introduced in the series. This has led to discussions about the implications of such deviations from the true story of Bass Reeves, and the potential impact on the portrayal of historical figures in popular media.

Bass Reeves in court in Lawmen Bass Reeves episode 7

The 1883 Spinoff Rumor

Before the release of Lawmen: Bass Reeves, there were speculations that the series was developed as a spinoff to the Yellowstone prequel 1883. The apparent overlap in timelines between Bass Reeves' career as a Deputy U.S. Marshal and the events of 1883 led to widespread anticipation of a connection between the two series.

Bass Reeves kills Jim Webb in Lawmen Bass Reeves episode 5

However, Lawmen: Bass Reeves showrunner Chad Feehan clarified that the series would be entirely separate from 1883 and Yellowstone, and would only chronicle Bass Reeves' life up until 1877. This revelation debunked the initial rumors of an overlap and highlighted the distinct nature of Lawmen: Bass Reeves as an independent narrative.

Bass Reeves and Billy Crow in Lawmen Bass Reeves episode 4

The revelation also shed light on Taylor Sheridan's lesser involvement in the series than originally thought, challenging the earlier assumptions about the potential connection between Lawmen: Bass Reeves and the Yellowstone universe.

Bass and Minco Dodge in Lawmen Bass Reeves episode 4

Historical Events Timeline

One of the noteworthy aspects of Lawmen: Bass Reeves is its depiction of critical events in Bass Reeves' life, particularly the killings of Jim Webb and William Leach. The series, however, deviates from historical accuracy by portraying these events as occurring in 1877, whereas in reality, they took place in 1884.

Bass Reeves and Esau Pierce in Lawmen Bass Reeves finale

This departure from the actual timeline raises questions about the creative choices made in the series and the potential motivations behind altering the historical sequence of events. It also highlights the significance of staying true to the historical timeline when portraying real-life figures in popular media.

Bass Reeves on Pistol in Lawmen Bass Reeves finale