The Bastard Executioner
FX, Tuesdays 10/9 Central
Sep 14, 2015
Web Exclusive
Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter returns to FX Networks with The Bastard Executioner, a bloody, medieval saga about Wilkin Brattle, a war-weary 14th Century soldier trying very unsuccessfully to live a life of peace. Caught in the midst of Welsh rebellion against English rule, Brattle attempts a new existence as a farmer on the insistence of a divine messenger, but he takes up the sword once again when British troops slaughter every woman and child in his village—including his pregnant wife. Bloodthirsty and craving revenge, Brattle schemes his way into favor with the local rulers by adopting the role of the royal executioner. His newfound duty places him in the perfect position to learn the identities of all the men involved in the raid on his village, but it tests his humanity, requiring him to torture and murder fellow Welsh citizens.
Sutter developed a dedicated following with Sons of Anarchy, a show that spanned seven seasons. Neither the loyal fan-base nor such longevity is a guarantee for The Bastard Executioner. Lee Jones stars as the titular swordsman, and he’s far from TV’s most compelling protagonist. We spend very little time with Brattle living peacefully, so there’s negligible impact or change when he resumes his deadly lifestyle. And even when he is a “non-violent” man, he participates in stealthy attacks on English tax collectors (the assault on his village is actually retribution for one of these ambushes). Granted, the fact that he then becomes responsible for executing people he sympathizes with is interesting, but the show’s writers mine Brattle’s emotional turmoil for only a fraction of its potential depth and intrigue.
Beyond that, The Bastard Executioner suffers from inconsistent pacing. At times meandering or sluggish, it then changes gears, rapidly springing a gory, adrenaline-infused battle seemingly out of nowhere. The bodies drop, blood dries, and the show goes back to trying slightly too hard to introduce complex plots and memorable, layered characters. When it’s good—and it certainly is at times—Bastard is downright addicting. But if the first three episodes released for review are any indication, it has yet to hit its stride.(www.fxnetworks.com/shows/the-bastard-executioner/about)
Author rating: 5/10
Average reader rating: 4/10
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