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Banshee - A new action series from the creator of True Blood - Fridays - 10 - Cinemax

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R

RatskyWatsky

Hunky Nostradamus


Executive produced by Alan Ball, Greg Yaitanes, Peter Macdissi, Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler, the primetime action series stars Antony Starr as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pa., where he continues his criminal activities, even as he's hunted by the shadowy gangsters he betrayed years earlier. The production was shot in and around Charlotte, NC. The series also stars Ivana Milicevic as Carrie Hopewell, Hood's former partner in crime, who now lives in Banshee under an assumed identity with her new family, who know nothing of her past; Ulrich Thomsen as Proctor, an intimidating, wealthy local businessman who believes he is above the law; Frankie Faison as Sugar Bates, a wise, powerful former boxer and ex-con who now owns the local watering hole; Rus Blackwell as Gulf War hero Gordon Hopewell, Banshee's district attorney, who is married to Carrie; Ryann Shane as Deva Hopewell, Carrie and Gordon's rebellious daughter; and Ben Cross as Mr. Rabbit, a ruthless Ukrainian gangster who has been hunting Lucas and Carrie, his former top thieves, for 15 years.
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Cast




Top, left to right:

  • Lucas Hood is an ex-convict and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, PA, where he continues his criminal activities even as he's being hunted by the gangsters he betrayed years earlier.

  • Carrie was once a notorious jewel thief, but now lives in Banshee under an assumed identity with a husband and children who know nothing of her past.

  • Kai is an intimidating and wealthy Banshee businessman who considers himself above the law. Disowned by his Amish family, Kai has a hand in nearly all of Banshee's criminal enterprises.

  • Rabbit is a ruthless Ukrainian gangster who has been hunting down Lucas and Carrie since they betrayed him 15 years earlier.
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Bottom, left to right:

  • Job is a cross-dressing hair stylist and genius computer hacker who plays a key part in Lucas' criminal endeavors.

  • Sugar is a former boxer, an ex-con and the owner of the local watering hole, The Forge. Sugar knows Lucas' secret past and has his back.

  • A deputy in the Banshee sheriff's department, Emmett is a strong, devoutly Christian man who can kick ass when he needs to.

  • A local Amish girl in her early 20s, Rebecca is observant during the day, but parties at night.
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Videos

Series premiere trailer
Town of Secrets Featurette
Oath teaser
Convict teaser


Promo photos








I'll link to any articles and reviews that I see pop up.
 
Wiktor

Wiktor

Member
I remember when the show was announced they said the guy was martial arts expert, but now it kind of vanished from the promo materials. Did they decide to scale down his skills?
 
W

War Machine

Member
This show is supposed to be in Pennsylvania, but in the bottom pic you can see the top of the Bank of America headquarters in Charlotte
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
I went to the comic shop today to pick up some stuff, and they gave me a free Banshee | Origins comic. Haven't read it yet, guess it's a prequel.

20130109_215308mxoey.jpg
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N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
RatskyWatsky said:
Whoa nice! I didn't know that was a thing. Post your impressions after you read it!
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I posted the cover above, I'll post my impressions in a few minutes. Jon Stewart grabbed my attention, heh.

Edit: Ok, read it.

It's decent. I'm not a huge fan of the art. Seems kind of like a standard criminal-in-love-with-don's-daughter-gets-double-crossed-and-shit-goes-to-hell. Turns out this comic I was given is actually the first of a mini-series that'll be be published digitally and in print. We do get a set up as to who the villains are, Ukrainian mob. The cross-dressing techie seems pretty fun. Though to be honest, the issue left me a little cold. I get that it's set-up, but we don't really get much of a liking for the characters, no real insight or anything. All we know is, a) the two protagonists are in love and great thieves, b) the mob boss is the girl's dad, c) he's a nasty piece of work.
 
R

RatskyWatsky

Hunky Nostradamus
NotTheGuyYouKill said:
I posted the cover above, I'll post my impressions in a few minutes. Jon Stewart grabbed my attention, heh.

Edit: Ok, read it.

It's decent. I'm not a huge fan of the art. Seems kind of like a standard criminal-in-love-with-don's-daughter-gets-double-crossed-and-shit-goes-to-hell. Turns out this comic I was given is actually the first of a mini-series that'll be be published digitally and in print. We do get a set up as to who the villains are, Ukrainian mob. The cross-dressing techie seems pretty fun. Though to be honest, the issue left me a little cold. I get that it's set-up, but we don't really get much of a liking for the characters, no real insight or anything. All we know is, a) the two protagonists are in love and great thieves, b) the mob boss is the girl's dad, c) he's a nasty piece of work.
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Yeah, sounds kinda meh. I'm excited for the cross dressing techie though - here's hoping he's a new Lafayette.
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
RatskyWatsky said:
Yeah, sounds kinda meh. I'm excited for the cross dressing techie though - here's hoping he's a new Lafayette.
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Yeah, I think he might end up being the highlight of the show if the leads aren't charismatic enough. You know what it's missing, is a sense of danger and/or fun. I hope the show has that. Like, this is a heist/con, right? If the comic had the feel of 'Leverage' (if they wanted to go for Fun) or Heat (if they wanted to go for Danger), that'd be great, but it doesn't really commit either way.
 
X

xenist

Member
I'm in. Strike Back has earned at least a four episode grace period for every Cinemxa show. Plus, Alan Ball and Skinemax? It's gonna be T&A central.
 
C

Cornballer

Member
Reviews:

- Entertainment Weekly
Despite the somewhat strained setup, Banshee is a kick: ultraviolent, over-the-top, and wickedly fun.
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- NY Post
It's all much better than it sounds, and more importantly, like "Strike Back," is written better than you'd expect. 3 out of 4 stars.
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- Tim Goodman @ THR
The Bottom Line: Violence, sex and intrigue are all wrapped up in better-than-expected writing.
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- Slant Magazine
Neither a clear message nor steady mood can be properly discerned amid the taxing commotion. 2 out of 4 stars
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- Newsday
BOTTOM LINE Check your brain at the door -- and, while you're at it, hand over your taste, judgment and sophistication, too. "Banshee" is baloney, but viewed as pure camp, there are some good action sequences and amusing moments. GRADE C
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- Ed Bark
Its overall implausibility and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink plotting work against what little promise Banshee has.
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C

Cornballer

Member
- James Poniewozik for Time.com
But it’s hard to find too many great moments amid all the cliched pay-cable gore, to find real surprises amid the loose teeth and detached digits. If you’re going to make a drama about an underworld criminal laying down the law in Amish country, there shouldn’t be such a feeling that we’ve all passed through this town before.
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- Warming Glow review:
There’s definitely something promising bubbling beneath the already busy premise, and as the pulpy storylines come into sharper focus, it could make for a guilty — and maybe even compelling — Friday night series.
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- NY Times
Through two hours this all feels more artificial and cooked up than involving, though the small-town locations, shot in North Carolina, look great, and the occasional line of dialogue draws a chuckle.
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- Washington Post
“Banshee” has the audacity to behave as though its bloody violence, implausible set-up and studied ugliness are somehow vanguard television. In fact, it’s just more of the same.
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- Boston Herald
“I usually get by with my charm,” Lucas says at one point. Judging from the first two episodes, “Banshee” will soon be quieted.
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- Pittsburgh Post Gazette
As with "Strike Back," "Banhsee" isn't afraid of violence, gore or nudity, although it seems less prominent. What really distinguishes Cinemax's latest effort is how all the pieces of the town fit together. It's the characters of Banshee and their labyrinth of relationships that make the show an engrossing, entertaining portrait of a fictional small town.
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- Wall Street Journal
That's exactly how things turn out to be in "Banshee," which makes the seductiveness of the show all the more impressive. 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 grows ever more enticing.
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C

Cornballer

Member
- Onion A|V Club
Sound overly complicated, increasingly convoluted, and altogether dull? You wouldn’t be wrong. Nearly every minute of the pilot is dedicated to the heavy lifting required to get this many balls in the air. Yet rather feeling like an overstuffed introduction to a complex world, the gears in Banshee creak along at a snail’s pace. Grade: C
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- Matt Zoller Seitz
The new Cinemax series Banshee, which debuts tonight, is so plot-driven, so utterly dependent on “I can’t believe they did that!” twists, that I’m reluctant to describe any part of it in this opening paragraph. So I’ll just say that while it’s emphatically not a great show, it is an overheated yet intriguing one, driven more by visuals than words — and if you don’t mind that its gory action and soap-opera plots aren’t yet matched by dialogue and performance, it’s worth a look.
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- THR: 'Banshee' Boss on Cinemax Thriller: 'There's Nothing Like It on Television Right Now'
 
M

Munin

Member
Sounds like it could be something like American Horror Story, not really objectively good by any measure but something different and entertaining? Dunno.
 
R

RatskyWatsky

Hunky Nostradamus
Premieres tonight!

Munin said:
Sounds like it could be something like American Horror Story, not really objectively good by any measure but something different and entertaining? Dunno.
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At least initially, yeah. As with AHS, critics seem pretty divided so far, though i'd be curious to know how many episodes they've seen. A lot of shows start off in a not quite formed state (like Spartacus) and end up finding themselves later on, becoming something special. I hope that's the case with Banshee.
 
R

RatskyWatsky

Hunky Nostradamus
There's obviously room for improvement, but overall I thought it was a good, intriguing start. Antony Starr was pretty good, though somewhat lacking in the charisma department. He actually reminds me a lot of Scott on Strike Back. If Banshee gets cancelled I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Scott has an older brother that is also really good at hunting down guerrillas in remote parts of the globe.

Other thoughts:

The opening credits aren't good. They're not terrible, they're just really blah. I think the show would really benefit from having a more kickass, blood pumping credit sequence ala True Blood.

The first action sequence was cool. I wasn't expecting that huge truck to flip over and chase Lucas down the street.

Job is basically a less fabolous, more cross dressy Lafayette. Excellent. I expect great things from him; exploding his salon using a necklace detonator is a good start. :p
 
X

Xevren

Member
I didn't hate it, really loved the brutal fight in the bar though. Will keep checking it out since I needed something to watch on Fridays.
 
M

Munin

Member
It was fun enough, but the music is horrid and the main dude is super bland. Will keep watching though.
 
Wiktor

Wiktor

Member
I liked it. The action scenes were well done (especially the bard fight..jeez), the whole set-up is deliciously stuffed with plot hooks and the main hero is pretty sympathetic, badass, but not inhumanly so.
Plus the pilot felt long, in a good way.

Definitely will keep watching.
 
X

xenist

Member
I liked it quite a bit for what it is.

Higher forms of entertainment are desirable of course but even if it remains on the current levels of titilation and violence I'm on board. Nothing wrong with some T&A and blood.
 
C

Cornballer

Member
bluemax said:
I'm 5 minutes in and we already have gratuitous sex and violence.
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I just turned it on and lol'd and him banging the bartender about a minute into the premiere.

EDIT: Stab-stab-stab-stab-stab at the bar. I was waiting for him to say "Beef Stew!" after that.
 
C

Cornballer

Member
Moderately entertaining with a couple high points. Probably enough for me to keep watching for a few more weeks. I felt like a lot of it was them having characters act quirky for the sake of being weird rather than it serving a purpose. The pilot was well shot and looked great.
RatskyWatsky said:
Antony Starr was pretty good, though somewhat lacking in the charisma department. He actually reminds me a lot of Scott on Strike Back.
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Yeah, I agree on the charisma bit. Hopefully they flesh him out a little better in the upcoming weeks. He reminded me of Garret Dillahunt as Burt Chance.
 
C

Clevinger

Member
Just saw it. I liked it, actually. Well directed, well acted crime drama. Gotta turn your brain off a bit, but whatever.
 
N

NotTheGuyYouKill

Member
Just watched the first episode.

That. Was. Awesome.

I liked the actors and characters. Kai Proctor is so fucking weird, it's hilarious, with the tattoo and Amish fetish with the black chick. Liked the random naked waitress at the beginning. Fucking great action with bizarre dark comedy. Random oral sex scene out of nowhere with the flashbacks. Love the crossdressing badass tech wizard. Really like the main character. How the first sheriff got killed was so funny. I predict a lot of comedy with Hood trying to act as a Sheriff with zero training. Oh, and the Ukrainian mob guy who survived an explosion with minor burns. And the crazy action sequence at the beginning.

It's like True Blood minus the sucky bits with a ton better action. I had a lot of fun. Glad I checked it out.

I rate this episode:

i7mFcgj8v9Www.gif


Anyone know what the opening credits and closing credits songs were?

lol, Cinemax did an animated GIF premiere of Banshee:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/banshee/a-new-beginning-8bqh?b=1

http://bansheegifshop.tumblr.com/

tumblr_mgfagoKOMS1rmt3tbo1_400.gif


tumblr_mg3zaeZrCP1rmt3tbo1_400.gif
 
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