Banshee

Sometimes a predictable plot with good action, violence sex and nudity is all you need. And this show provides it. Not every shown has to be overwhelming deep and confusing.

Sex, drugs, the Amish, stolen identities, lost love, organized crime, disorganized crime, Native Americans and corrupt casinos, fistfights with a hundred punches--any one of which in real life would put the combatants in hospital... nothing is too much for this lunatic series that never takes its foot off the accelerator.

Shameless fun, and we can only envy writers commissioned to stop at absolutely nothing to pique our interests or perversely curious natures. One of those times when excess succeeds.

And Lili Simmons.

The story is unbelievable. The action, fights (some of the best choreographed fights ever in any medium), sex, language are all WAY over the top, sometimes to the point of ridiculousness. But that is what set this show apart from anything else on television and what makes it so worth watching. Is it for everyone? Probably not. But the characters...the good ones and the bad ones (and most of the main ones are a little of both) are all outstanding as are the actors that portray them. I watched Banshee from the first airing and it instantly became one of my favorite shows ever and at the end of each episode I couldn't wait for the next. If you are a fan of 80's & 90's action movies then this is a show you need to watch.

Every once in a while a show comes along that catches you completely off guard; you only want to check out the pilot because you've read a comment or two on IMDb comparing it to some other show you kinda like – and BOOM: you're blown away. That's what happened to me with 'Banshee'.

It's amazing this show hasn't found a bigger audience. It has its fans, sure, but as far as the amount of steady viewers is concerned, it's nowhere near playing in the big leagues – yet. When I started to watch the first episode, I expected a decent, but low budget 'neo-noir' crime show with some sexy women and a few good shoot-outs. What I got instead is high-octane pulp cinema that gets your heart pumpin' with adrenalin from the first second, and an opening chase/shoot-out that wouldn't have to hide behind any mega-budget action production Hollywood has churned out recently.

Needless to say, I was hooked. This show is raw, gritty, brutal and over-the-top; it's got everything most action films lack these days – and it's absolutely NOT PG-13. Granted, it's pulpy, trashy, sometimes even down-right ridiculous – but I loved every minute of it so far. The production values are among the best I've seen on TV and the cast is fantastic. Up until now, every episode felt like an injection of pure testosterone (and let's be honest: sometimes, that's just what the doctor ordered). My favorite guilty pleasure at the moment. 8 stars out 10.

Favorite films: http://www.IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/

Lesser-known Masterpieces: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070242495/

Favorite Low-Budget and B-movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054808375/

Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075552387/

That's no exaggeration. This show is basically unknown to anyone. I have come across one single other person who has seen this show before (aside from the 25+ people who heard about it from me, with nearly every opinion being extremely positive.)

How is a show with this little popularity one of the best shows ever made? I love it so much. The story is amazing and never gets stagnant, constantly moving with major plot points in every episode. The fight scenes are intimate and brutal. The music is fantastic. The characters are awesome. The villains are beastly.

The entire show is filled with intensity and intrigue. I ate it all up. A top 5 all-time show for me.

Seasonal ratings: 10, 9, 9, 8.5.

(Seasons 1-3: 3 viewings, Season 4: 2 viewings, 12/13/2023)