Banshee (TV series)

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Banshee

Banshee title card
Genre Action Drama
Created by Jonathan Tropper
David Schickler
Starring
Composer(s) Methodic Doubt
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 14 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Jonathan Tropper
David Schickler
Peter Macdissi
Alan Ball
Greg Yaitanes
Running time 43–59 minutes
Production company(s) Your Face Goes Here Entertainment
Tropper Schickler Productions
One Olive
Distributor HBO
Broadcast
Original channel Cinemax
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
Original run January 11, 2013 (2013-01-11) – present
External links
Website

Banshee is an American action drama television series created by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler which originally appeared on the Cinemax network beginning on January 11, 2013. Set in the eponymous small town of Banshee in Pennsylvania Amish country, the series' main character is an enigmatic ex-con (Antony Starr), who assumes the identity of Lucas Hood, the town's murdered sheriff, to hide from powerful crime lord Rabbit (Ben Cross). Imposing his own brand of justice, Banshee follows Hood as he attempts to reconcile with his former lover, Rabbit's daughter, Anastasia (Ivana Miličević), who has herself adopted an assumed identity, married, and raised a family during Hood's incarceration. Hood struggles to maintain his new identity while still embracing crime alongside his partners Job (Hoon Lee) and Sugar (Frankie Faison), and coming into conflict with local kingpin Kai Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen).

The series was developed as part of Cinemax's drive to develop original content. A 10-episode second season debuted in January 2014. Banshee was renewed for a third season that same month.

Premise

Main article: List of Banshee episodes

Banshee takes place in the fictional small town of Banshee, Pennsylvania. After serving 15 years in prison for stealing diamonds from a Ukrainian gangster called Rabbit, the unnamed protagonist travels to Banshee to find his heist accomplice and former lover, Anastasia. When he finds her, the protagonist learns that she is now a married mother of two living under the assumed identity of Carrie Hopewell. Later, when the incoming Sheriff is killed, the protagonist takes on his identity as Lucas Hood, becoming the town's new Sheriff. Banshee sees Hood struggle with adapting to his new identity while dealing with the machinations of local crime lord Kai Proctor, and remaining hidden from Rabbit.[1][2]

Season 1 focuses on Hood's attempts to restore his relationship with Carrie under the looming threat of Rabbit eventually finding them both. Hood's attention-grabbing actions eventually draw Rabbit and his men to the town, leading to Proctor saving Hood's life and earning a favour to be called on later. Hood is later captured, tortured, and ultimately rescued by Carrie and Hood's deputies. Carrie shoots and seemingly kills Rabbit, but during a later investigation his body is not found. The season ends with the original Hood's son learning of his father's replacement by an impostor. The season also features Proctor's Amish niece Rebecca who abandons her lifestyle for the freedom Proctor's life offers.

Season 2 places a larger focus on the Indian tribes and reservations in the town, including the tribal chief Alex Longshadow, whose attempts to build a casino and compete for power with Proctor draw the pair into a bloody conflict. Carrie is imprisoned for her role in the shootout that liberated Hood, and her past is publicly revealed, devastating her family and professional life. Hood and his deputies are put on probation for their involvement, but allowed to continue their duties. Hood, accepting that Carrie has focus on her family, enters into a relationship with his deputy Siobhan.[3]

Cast

  • Antony Starr as Lucas Hood: An ex-con and master thief released from prison after 15 years.
  • Ivana Miličević as Anastasia / Carrie Hopewell: Hood's former criminal accomplice and lover. She lives in Banshee under an alias as a real estate agent with her husband Gordon and children Deva and Max, who are unaware of her past. She is also in hiding from Rabbit, her father.
  • Ulrich Thomsen as Kai Proctor: A crime kingpin and businessman in Banshee. Proctor was originally a member of Banshee's Amish community, but abandoned the faith for crime.
  • Frankie Faison as Sugar Bates: A retired former boxer and ex-con, turned bar owner. He befriends Hood and is aware that he is a criminal.
  • Hoon Lee as Job: A transvestite computer hacker and Hood's criminal accomplice. Also in hiding from Rabbit, he is forced to move to Banshee after his identity is uncovered.
  • Rus Blackwell as Gordon Hopewell: Banshee's district attorney and Carrie's husband. He is a Gulf War hero and retired Marine.
  • Matt Servitto as Brock Lotus: A Banshee deputy, and the longest-serving member of the force.[4] Brock was intended to become the new Sheriff before the real Hood's appointment and is resentful of being passed over.
  • Demetrius Grosse as Emmett Yawners: A Banshee deputy.
  • Trieste Kelly Dunn as Siobhan Kelly: A female Banshee deputy.[4]
  • Ryann Shane as Deva Hopewell: A rebellious teenager. Deva is Carrie and Lucas's daughter, but was raised with Gordon as her father.
  • Daniel Ross Owens as Dan Kendall: Banshee's mayor, an idealist and a young politician opposed to Proctor's criminal activities.[4]
  • Lili Simmons as Rebecca Bowman: A young Amish girl who lives a devout life with her father Elijah by day, but is a rebellious, sexually adventurous party girl by night. She is Proctor's niece, and the only member of the Amish community he has contact with.
  • Ben Cross as Rabbit: A ruthless Ukrainian gangster seeking revenge on Hood for stealing from him, and turning his daughter Anastasia against him.
  • Anthony Ruivivar as Alex Longshadow: Indian tribal chief and Proctor's rival. Ruivivar was a recurring character in season 1 and added to the starring cast in season 2.

The series also features in recurring roles, Matthew Rauch as Proctor's right-hand-man Burton, Christos Vasilopoulos as Rabbit's right-hand-man Olek, Odette Annable as Nola, Longshadow's sister, and Gabriel Suttle as Carrie's son Max. Season 2 introduced Geno Segers as Chayton Littlestone, the imposing leader of the local Kinaho tribe,[5] and Thomas Harrison as Jason Hood, the son of the real Lucas Hood.

Production

Promotional poster for Banshee

Banshee is part of Cinemax's attempt to expand its original programming content, and it joins Strike Back (co-produced with BSkyB) and Steve Kronish's Sandbox. Banshee premiered on January 11, 2013.[6] The show was first revealed in August 2011, when it was announced that Alan Ball would produce the crime drama. Ball helped develop the project alongside creators Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler. Banshee was originally set up at Cinemax owner HBO, but moved to Cinemax when it was decided to increase original programming on that network. By August, Cinemax was finalizing casting and financial details with the intention of filming in Spring 2012 in North Carolina.[7][8] In January 2012, Cinemax ordered ten episodes for the show's first season, with the first episode being directed by Greg Yaitanes.[8] In March 2012, Servitto, Dunn and Owens were cast as, respectively, Brock Lotus, Siobhan Kelly, and Mayor Dan Kendall.[4] Later that month, Starr was cast as lead character Lucas Hood, alongside Grosse as deputy Emmett Yawners, Thomsen as Kai Proctor, Lee as Job, and Milicevic as Carrie Hopewell.[9][10][11] Simmons was cast in April as Proctor's niece, Rebecca Bowman, an amish girl who lives a rebellious double life,[12] and in August 2012, Odette Annable was cast in the recurring role of Nola Longshadow, a native American assassin.[13] Tropper, Schickler, Ball, Yaitanes and Peter Macdissi serve as executive producers.[14]

During the first day of shooting on the series, Starr suffered a facial injury when stunt fight choreography went wrong, splitting his lip open. He continued to film for six hours to complete the scene before going to hospital to receive six stitches. The injury required digital removal for all scenes set before the fight but filmed after the stunt, resulting in lengthy post-production on the first episode. Some of the many fight scenes on the show can take up to 25 hours to film.[15] Yaitanes cited Jason Statham-starring action films, and John Carpenter films Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and They Live (1988) as inspiration for the fights and violence in Banshee. Marcus Young serves as the series' fight choreographer.[16]

On January 29, 2013 Cinemax renewed Banshee for a 10-episode second season which premiered on January 10, 2014.[17][18] The season's opening action set piece featuring Milicevic, Starr, and Lee, performing a high-speed heist, was filmed across five miles of closed highway. Tropper originally wrote the scene for the show's accompanying graphic novel, showing the trio sixteen years earlier, but he decided that it would be an interesting live action stunt.[19]

After three episodes of the second season had aired, it was renewed for third season, which will premier in January 2015.[20]

Reception

Critical reception of Banshee has been mixed. Banshee currently holds a 61/100 meta score on Metacritic.[21]

Wall Street Journal critic Dorothy Rabinowitz wrote, "Its smartness comes shining through despite the claptrap (none worse than the parade of sex scenes, soft-porn variety, whose noisiness is exceeded only by their unconvincingness); its story, littered with intriguingly repellent characters, like Kai Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen), local evil tycoon, grows ever more enticing".[22]

The San Francisco Chronicle said about Banshee, "It has a solid pedigree. It's also part of Cinemax's effort to expand its original programming. That effort pays off with Banshee".[23]

Banshee has also had less favourable reviews. A Boston Herald critic described the series as: "A slow-pokey drama punctuated by shocking violence and sex".[24]

Ratings

Season one of Banshee drew Cinemax's highest ever ratings for an original series, averaging 433,000 viewers per episode and 727,000 in the 7 days after each episode was released. The season finale drew 455,000 viewers during its initial screening and 655,000 during its repeat, the largest audience ever for a Cinemax original series finale, and the third-highest ratings achieved by Banshee at that point.[25]

Accolades

Banshee won the award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects at the 65th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.[26]

References

  1. ↑ Keene, Allison (January 11, 2013). "Series Preview: Why You Should Give BANSHEE a Shot". Collider. Retrieved February 23, 2013. 
  2. ↑ Poniewozik, James (January 11, 2013). "TV Tonight: Banshee". Time. Retrieved February 23, 2013. 
  3. ↑ Wagner, Curt (January 24, 2012). "Antony Starr enjoys his 'Banshee' beatdowns (page 2)". RedEye. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Andreeva, Nellie (March 2, 2012). "Trio Cast In Cinemax Series ‘Banshee’". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014. 
  5. ↑ Ghahremani, Tanya (January 22, 2014). "Here's a First Look at "Banshee's" Newest Character". Complex. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014. 
  6. ↑ "Shows A-Z – banshee on cinemax". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 19, 2012. 
  7. ↑ Zeitchik, Steven (August 10, 2011). "'True Blood's' Alan Ball will have a new series -- on Cinemax". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Andreeva, Nellie (January 25, 2012). "Alan Ball’s Drama ‘Banshee’ Gets Series Order At Cinemax, Greg Yaitanes To Direct". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014. 
  9. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 12, 2012). "Cinemax’s Alan Ball-Produced New Series ‘Banshee’ Casts Antony Starr As Its Lead". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014. 
  10. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (March 14, 2012). "'Bond' Henchman to Co-Star in Alan Ball's Cinemax Drama 'Banshee'". The Hollywood Reporter (Prometheus Global Media). Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014. 
  11. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 14, 2012). "Ivana Milicevic To Star In ‘Banshee’, Derek Richardson Joins ‘Anger Management’". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014. 
  12. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (April 10, 2012). "Exclusive: Disney Channel Starlet Takes Racy Turn in Cinemax Drama Series Banshee". TVLine. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014. 
  13. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (August 6, 2012). "Exclusive: House Reunion on Cinemax's Banshee as Odette Annable Reteams With Greg Yaitanes". TVLine. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014. 
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (August 11, 2011). "Cinemax Prepping Amish Country Series Executive Produced by Alan Ball". Deadline. Retrieved August 2, 2012. 
  15. ↑ Wagner, Curt (January 24, 2012). "Antony Starr enjoys his 'Banshee' beatdowns". RedEye. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014. 
  16. ↑ Willmore, Alison (January 2, 2014). "The Boldest Show You Haven't Heard Of (Yet): Showrunner Greg Yaitanes Talks Cinemax's Pulp Saga 'Banshee'". Indiewire. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014. 
  17. ↑ http://www.thewrap.com/banshee-gets-season-2-premiere-date/
  18. ↑ Rose, Lacey (January 29, 2013). "'Banshee' Renewed for Second Season at Cinemax". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 30, 2013. 
  19. ↑ Wagner, Curt (January 16, 2012). "'Banshee' car chase: 'It's bonkers awesome'". RedEye. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014. 
  20. ↑ http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/30/banshee-renewed-for-third-season-by-cinemax/233279/
  21. ↑ "Banshee: Metascore". CBS Interactive. 
  22. ↑ "Wall street Journal Review". Wall street journal. 
  23. ↑ "San Francisco Chronicle review". San Fancisco Chronicle. 
  24. ↑ "Boston herald Review". Boston Herald. 
  25. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 18, 2013). "Cinemax’s ‘Banshee’ Wraps Solid First Season". Deadline.com. PMC. Retrieved March 18, 2013. 
  26. ↑ "2013 Creative Arts Emmys Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. JSeptember 15, 2013. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014. 

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