The Bastard Executioner

I have to wonder if the people giving it the bad reviews have even watched the series. Now I know that it won't be to everyone's taste. But if you like Medieval period, or Game of thrones you have a chance of liking this. Someone has to defend this show it might as well be me. I believe this show has a good cast, and I'd like to see more of this type of show on cable. If this show is given the time it needs for character development I believe that it will continue, and improve with Time. So I say give this show a chance, and you might like what you see. I don't think that you could find a better cast they all do fine work.

If you are looking for complex character driven intrigue cloaked in a gritty, yet high quality medieval aesthetic, "The Bastard Executioner" is for You. TBE utilizes good looking props, costumes and sets and well choreographed action to create a exceedingly believable medieval world. Complex character interests ground a narrative with enormous entertainment potential. Driven by Lee Jones, who brings an atypical freshness to the lead role as Executioner. Additionally, Katey Sagal delivers in her performance as very cool and interesting druid character. As usual, TBE's future will ultimately rest on story quality and character development. For now, the show contains enough solid aspects to warrant continued watching as the intrigue unfolds.

THE BASTARD EXECUTIONER: (FX) If you're going to steal ideas, steal from the best and that's what the Bastard has done. It out-bloodies Game of Thrones, it has the atmosphere and spectacle of Outlander and a plot devise taken straight out of The Return of Martin Guerre / Sommersby. and a cast of thousands. However, the show captures all this with a certain degree of success, if not excess. It is bloody (worth mentioning twice), gruesome, brutally violent (not for the squeamish) and all filmed in excruciatingly close close up. Basically, a good man from the 1400's turns vengeful when his family is massacred and his village is destroyed by the minions of the oppressive Baron when the people rebel against unfair taxation. He takes on the identity of another man and the wife of that man vouches for him because he displays a kinder version of the real SOB husband she had. His first duty is the execution the one man who knows who he truly is. And thus the tail begins. All the elements appear to be there. The language sounded a little artificial at first, but I guess that's the way they talked in 1400 Wales. Score: 8. It has potential.

Taking cues from Robin Hood and Braveheart, The Bastard Executioner is a tale of a warrior who has been forsaken by his kingdom and now on a warpath for vengeance. Instead of doing the stealthy guerrilla warfare, he opts for infiltration and direct slaughter. There are many fantasy aspects at plays here, from the unlawful monarch to supernatural premonition, but aside from extreme gore The Bastard is hardly memorable compared to other fantasy series.

The setting is in medieval Wales, where aristocrat rules with iron hand. There are many corruptions and Wilkin (Lee Jones), as one of the knights suffers from the repercussion of the ruler's ominous act. He escapes his destiny by donning another man's identity.

Perhaps the most hindrance this series has to deal with is how to differentiate itself. At times it looks a lot like other medieval action. The cast consists of many actors who have experience on TV series, although aside from Wilkin and a couple of other characters, they seem too identical to stereotype knight, shady magistrate or lady royalty.

Its introduction to these characters is plenty, yet majority of them don't have the hook for audience to invest in. Furthermore, the use of premonition, warrior deserter and awkward CGI has been done so many times by movies or other series. It does set a world filled with anguish and while the bleak ambiance can be engaging, there's barely any charm here.

The best set pieces it has to offer is definitely the action sequences. It's one of the most brutal showings in recent TV. Blood and limbs fly relentlessly, it doesn't even try to hide the massacre as camera intentionally focus on the killing. While this may seem excessive or blatant, it at least dares to depict the appropriate bloodbath fitting of its theme.

However, simply having chaotic action isn't enough to substitute its fundamental drama. There's certainly an effort for political or private relationship and The Bastard Executioner is decent enough to be an alternative medieval series, but it's just not the same level as Vikings, Game of Thrones or even Sons of Anarchy.

OMG...I'm in so much shock. Being an avid SOA fan and After so much anticipation for this show, what a let down. The first scene (dream) was an absolute waste and shouldn't have been shown at all in my opinion. That actors "war cry" was more like a welp cry. If you don't have the conviction to do it, cut it out. Ugh. And while Katey Segal was absolutely brilliant in SOA, she doesn't feel right for this part at all. Perhaps it's the bad accent? Whatever it is, she doesn't fit. Stephen Moyer is great and more natural in this (I wasn't a fan of him in Trueblood). My favourite character is the guy who loves the animals and talks to them. And let's not even get started on how poorly done that white/grey castle in the background (and up close) is. Heck, when the band came across their entire village being killed, I felt like they lost their livestock...it was so bad (especially the primary actor). This felt like I was watching a high school play. Some actors were believable, but I think the failure here is on Sutter for how it plays out in the end. I hope they flesh it out and I hope it becomes brilliant...I don't think I will keep watching it though. Just being honest. Oh, btw, Griffith is pretty hot at least lol