Netflix’s animated series Bass X Machina reimagines the story of Bass Reeves, the real-life escaped slave who became a deputy U.S. Marshal in Indian Territory. Created by LeSean Thomas and Studio Mir, the six-episode show combines Western drama with mechs, magic and anime-inspired action.
Brian Tyree Henry voices Bass, who begins the story as a bounty hunter seeking one last job. He is offered a steady position as a lawman if he can find Eugene Starr, an engineer with remarkable technological skills. Eugene’s niece Dana, voiced by Tati Gabrielle, joins the search, bringing an arsenal of gadgets and a commitment to nonviolence into a brutal world. Bass, meanwhile, has a cybernetic arm that fires magic bullets.
The series sets its story in the aftermath of the Civil War, where Confederate veterans led by General Rivenbark threaten the fragile peace. Bass also clashes with the Holy People, a group of Choctaw Nation women who can channel the elements. Their battles give Studio Mir opportunities for elaborate animated choreography, pairing elemental attacks with gunfire and powerful war machines. The review notes that the 3D animation in the final two episodes is less visually effective than the rest of the series.
Bass X Machina also confronts racism and violence in U.S. history, including massacres of the Five Tribes. Its central conflict follows Bass as he weighs the desire for revenge against the damage it could do to the peace he has helped build. The show’s broader argument is that breaking the cycle of violence requires confronting the past while trying to create a better future.
The music is another standout. Janelle Monáe voices Bass’ wife, Glory, and wrote the series’ original theme. Composers Roman GianArthur and Nate Wonder pair familiar Western rhythms with a faster pace suited to the show’s action.
Bass X Machina is streaming on Netflix.
Sources: Polygon.