Banshee: Season 1 (Cinemax)

I tuned into "Banshee," not sure what to expect. I had really only seen a few commercials for it here and there. What I found was a TV show with an intriguing premise, solid acting, and some of the most brilliantly choreographed fight scenes I've ever witnessed. Make no mistake, if you don't like violence (or sex), you won't like this show. The basic premise (an ex-con assumes the identity of a freshly-dead sheriff) sounds on the surface a bit absurd and tough to expand on. "Banshee" takes that premise and runs with it, escorting you to a world that's fresh, exciting, and brutal. It's not just a small town, it's a small town in Amish country with a "crime lord" (but not the kind you're used to) and an illegal drug ring, among other things. "Banshee" never bores, never stalls, and never falters. The characters are unforgettable and unique. One of the highlights of the series is the female lead (Carrie Hopewell, played by Ivana Milicevic), who is NOT your stereotypical weak-willed woman in danger. Even in a scene where she should be considered a "damsel in distress" and is presumably rescued by an officer of the law, we see glimpses of the resourceful & powerful woman she really is. In a later episode, she engages in a brutal fight that - including other scenes cut in to break the tension - spans nearly 2/3 of the episode. I mentioned it before, but I can't emphasize it enough: the fight choreography in this series is incredible. It's taken to a level that should come across as fake and over-the-top, but it never does. Perhaps that's due in part to the actors' dedication to the scenes. You see no restraint, fear, or apprehension. Even as the season ends on a fevered pitch, you never get the feeling that the show is running out of steam, and there is certainly no doubt that our characters' stories could carry through into a second season with ease. SUMMARY: If you love engaging stories, memorable characters, stunning fight sequences, and a unique setting, "Banshee" is right up your alley!

I bought Banshee, sight unseen, based solely off a recommendation of a friend whose taste I trust. After having finished the season, I'm glad to say I now know for sure said friend has excellent taste. Banshee is a fast, fun, adult show that doesn't pull any of its many, many punches. The fights are bonebreakingly, blood gushingly brutal. The sex scenes are steamy, sticky, and frequent. The characters are layered, dynamic, and always fun. Banshee is a very high quality show. The story follows an unnamed protagonist who after being released from prison, tracks down his old partner to the town of Banshee, and because of a ill fated bar fight, finds himself impersonating the soon to be sheriff of the small town. The characters are varied and interesting, and rarely come off as cliched. Because this is a Cinemax show, as previously stated, violence, cursing, sex, and brutality abound. But, and this is important, none of these things, in my opinion, are as gratuitous as many would have you believe. When people fight, they bleed. We have become used to the overly stylized form of violence that has overtaken our entertainment. People have knock down, drag out fights, yet walk away with nothing more than ruffled hair and a cut lip. In Banshee, the consequences of combat are far more realistic. What it comes down to, if you're looking for a fast moving, action packed, well written show, and aren't offended by sex and violence, you aren't going to do better than Banshee. An excellent show and a definite buy.

Overall this series is wonderful. The performances are outstanding and the story line keeps your interest. The only episode I didn't care much for was the one with the biker gang. The story line was too fake in that episode and I only sat through it to make sure I didn't miss any of the character development. The series is shot in a non-Hollywood type way. Due to this, the series is even more interesting. Did the mention the acting is outstanding! Starr, Faison, Thomsen, Lee, Cross, and Milicevic create characters that are interesting to watch. One of the best scenes of the series is between Starr and Milicevic where they confront each other after a betrayal by Milicevic's character. The scene has very little dialogue but shows what talented actors can accomplish by reactions alone. I am a little worried about the series continuing due to lack of publicity. Most viewers and fans come from word of mouth. Hollywood is built on promotion and most of the actors are not typical as far as remaining in the public eye. I have a lot of respect for that but want to see the series continue on its merits and that means playing the Hollywood promotion game. I have always believed that Hollywood treats us like we are brain dead. The garbage Hollywood produces keeps me from watching their crap! For a well written and acted series- this is it. Check it out and tell others. One note: if you are offended by sexuality and violence, this is probably not the show for you.

Ich kann jedem die Staffel Banshee nur empfehlen. Sie entwickelt sich im laufe der Geschichte zu einer super spannenden Action Serie, die teils ordentlich blutig ist. Ich hab Staffel 1-4 verschlungen, weil man immer wissen wollte wies weiter geht. Die einzelnen Charaktere sind spitzenmäßig dargestellt. Schade das die Serie nach 4 Staffeln vorbei war. Schon länger nicht mehr so ne geile Staffel gesehen! Staffel 1-4 einfach Top. Kann ich jedem nur empfehlen! Wärend blödel Staffeln wie zbsp BIG BANG in die unzähligste Runde weiter gehen, sind die besten Staffeln immer viel zu früh zuende! Wie auch diese! Traurig! Absolut empfehlenswert! Alle Staffeln dieser Serie! Einfach Top! Vorallem das Intro und der Soundtrack! Schön düster! Sehr geil!

HBO has a great reputation for quality TV, this series helps show why. For the gangster-police genre this is very rich thematically. It weaves multiple strands together very credibly. NY Russian mafia, mid-west crime lords, drugs, diamonds, Indian reservations, 'Amish farmers, small town life, cowboy sheriff, trailer trash, raves, teen coming of age, prize fights, casinos, ex-cons, old vengeance, old love, many complex families of all sorts, mistaken identity, assumed identity, forgery, buried bodies in the woods at night, pick pockets, politics.... it even has a moment for police paperwork (the irony!) And that's just the first 3 episodes. It is hard to see any formula or idea that the writer allows to slip past unexploited. It uses each fully, satisfyingly and cleverly. There is real, understated wit everywhere. The characters, sympathetic or not, all engage you, all are real and human and fully fleshed out. The dialogue and behaviour is 18. The menace is palpable and there's plenty of graphic violence, drugs and sex , though lots is effectively left to the imagination too. But it is done with purpose, and so fits with alot less jarring than mindless or gratuitous graphic scenes trigger. And our main character does not live without his demons and PTSD. If not perfectly credible everywhere is certainly hard to beat any many much higher p[rofile series could learn a lot from this. This was a french box, all cover text in french but plays films and bonus material in English (5.1) as default but offers French (5.1), German (5.1), Polish (2.0) and subtitles in all those plus Dutch and Portuguese too. Bonus material is not subtitled, includes quite alot: NY-bus-crash behind the scenes, Banshee origins, Town of secrets, cut scenes, season 1 and 2 trailers, episode 7 and 8 trailers, audio commentary. 4x DVD in a slip case and standard size box. 10 episodes. RECOMMENDED - Oh yes!

Une série intense, un western moderne. C'est violent, inattendu et à ne pas offrir à votre petit neveu pour ses 10 ans. Bien sûr, on devine que ça va mal se passer et que Monsieur le Shériff qui a par ailleurs deux ou trois choses à cacher va s'énerver. Et bingo ça se passe mal sauf que ce n'est pas du tout de la manière que l'on avait imaginée et attention les yeux ça déménage fort...très fort. J'ai vu tous les épisodes sur deux jours. J'attends avec impatience les épisodes suivants.

The best show that you never heard of if you like action, and sex. There is a cross-dresser in the show so if this is an issue for you be forewarned though his character (Job) is awesome and all he does is just dress in well dressed clothes for the most part...he (Job) does not engage in any sexual/physical/relationships if you have issue with that...

Extraordinaria serie. Fantástica. Te atrapa de principio a fin. Todos los personajes tienen matices interesantes. Recomiendo esta serie a todo el que busque algo diferente.