Premiering September 15th, The Bastard Executioner tells a tale of a warrior knight from England, who is broken by the ravages of war and vows to lay down his sword. But when that violence finds him again, he is forced to pick up the bloodiest sword of all.
Barely a year after Sons of Anarchy has ended, Kurt Sutter returns with another intelligent and bold series. The creator has crafted another strong and complex show that focuses on the same thing that made Sons of Anarchy a hit, the characters and their desire for power and control.
Lee Jones stars in the period drama as Wilkin Brattle, a knight sent to his death in a battle he knew he and the men with him couldn't win. After being defeated, his men wiped out and left bloodied and wounded on the battlefield, Wilkin receives guidance from a divine messenger who tells him to lay down his sword and become someone better.
But, when tragedy strikes close to home, Wilkin is forced to pick up his sword once again and seek vengeance and justice for those he and his friends have lost, but what he didn't anticipate was being forced to work in close proximity to the men behind that tragedy.
Executioner is a riveting, but tragic tale. The premiere focuses on the characters, and the losses they have to endure through the reign of King Edward II. Like Sons of Anarchy, the show takes its time and doesn't rush to quick conclusions. The show isn't just about the action. And whilst there's a lot of that, along with blood and surprising twists, the show's main attraction is the characters and their journeys. Similar to Sons, the show delivers enough action and a compelling story to keep you intrigued throughout.
Katey Sagal also stars as Annora of the Alders, a prescient and mystical healer who serves as a counselor to Wilkin. Sagal's role is limited in the pilot to a few scenes, but those scenes are of key importance and she will play a pivotal role in what's to come in Wilkin's tale and the show's mythology. Sagal is brilliant as Annora, from the accent to the performance, and she demonstrates yet again why she is one of the best actresses of our time.
Kurt Sutter also creates a role for himself as the Dark Mute, and like Sagal's character Annora, there are many mysteries surrounding him and his true purpose. Both characters keep their intentions hidden and you'll be left wondering if they are truly helping or creating more harm than good; this creates a wonderful story arc for both.
Finally, Stephen Moyer returns to cable in the role of Milus Corbett, a soldier - right hand man to Erick Ventris - who has many dark secrets and ambitions that are sure to play a heavy part in his story arc. Moyer is excellent, and again shows his exceptional versatility as an actor. If fans of True Blood were sad to see Bill Compton leave, look no further as Milus shares many similarities to him.
Summary
‘The Bastard Executioner’ is a complex tale of a warrior knight Wilkin Brattle, as he tries to seek redemption. Wilkin is surrounded by sadness and sorrow throughout the première, and after devastating events occur, he is forced into taking a new role within the enemy lines as the Executioner. The cast led by Jones is superb, and whilst a few of the actresses had slight problems with getting their accents on point throughout, I cannot fault the acting. Sutter has created a drama bringing historical fiction to life in a gloriously bloody and character driven show. This is one execution you don't want to be late for. 9.5/10
