The Bondsman

The Bondsman" isn't too bad - it has an interesting premise and Kevin Bacon brings his usual charm to the role. But honestly, I expected more considering the Devil literally resurrects him to fight demons. With that kind of setup, you'd think he'd come back with some dark powers, a cursed weapon, or even some unholy strength. Instead, he's just... alive again. It feels like a wasted opportunity. The show has potential, but it needs to lean harder into the supernatural elements to really stand out. Right now, it's missing that extra spark to make it truly memorable. I'm missing 31 characters so here they are.

Those whose memory is able to extend back to 1999 will immediately recognize the "inspiration" for The Bondsman. Okay, a direct copy is the better comparison. In Brimstone , Peter Horton was a New York City police detective, who was sent to Hell because he took pleasure in killing his wife's rapist. John Glover, the Devil, gave the detective a chance at a second life if he would return 113 demons who escaped from Hell.

The Bondsman is still a bingeworthy program, and I really like the mother and son dynamics as they play off each other in the course of returning demons to Hell. Unfortunately, there's no one streaming the original concept in Brimstone, and it isn't available on DVD or Blu-ray. Those who like and enjoy The Bondsman, would really appreciate Brimstone. Still, it's a pleasant watch in its own right and it deserves a second season.

I don't typically write reviews. On the contrary, I typically leave it to others. But the polarized nature of the reviews currently given to this show have inspired me to give a, perhaps, more nuanced take.

The Good: For one, this show is easy to watch. The short episode run-times mean you can watch an episode or two without committing a huge amount of time, e.g. When you're commuting.

Additionally, the plot is easy to follow, but likewise engaging enough to where it'll keep you interested - hence why I call it "comfort TV".

Thirdly, it's got a great soundtrack, which is well balanced and feels thought out. Definitely a plus that adds to the overall experience.

The VFX are pretty good, too. Don't expect excellence, but it's certainly a far improvement from what most such shows had 10-15 years ago.

The Bad: The acting is far from phenomenal. It's not terrible, but don't expect any Oscar-worthy performances, either.

It's also not a show for die-hard mythology fans, the mythological elements are kept pretty simple, and don't go on a deep dive. This may be an upside to some, though, as (again) it makes the show easy to follow.

Also, the sub-plots aren't super deep, and can at times feel a bit forced, but overall they're just ok.

Overall: I'd say the show is definitely worth a watch. The plot is engaging enough to where you want to keep watching, and it's a fun experience. I'm interested to see where season 2 goes with the premise.

Complete and Utter fun, Easy to Watch, Easy to keep watching. The writing is painfully cheesy but In a charming way, it feels intentional, kind of nostalgic. Deserved to have been made in the late-90's-Early 2000's, would have had a more mainstream audience.

I also forgot how much I missed the episodic formatting, 'Episode 1 Spoilers ahead' 1 Demon per episode makes it a blast to watch.

The world-building is also very interesting, I constantly want to know more about the way the world/afterlife operates. One of my only concerns is that it's only 8 20-minute episodes, but If anything; that just means that it's less of a commitment.

Bondsman is a show that utilizes a modest budget, a simple premise and Kevin Bacon to full effect. The episodes are all 30 minutes long, don't overstay their welcome and are typically entertaining throughout. The characters are endearing enough and there is enough drama, albeit cliched, to add family tension each episode.

Loved Kevin Bacon as a kid watching him in one of my favorite B movies, Tremors, and Kevin still has it in him to hold the screen. He kicks a lot of Demons butts with a good mix of practical/CGI gore to satisfy the horror fans. There is a lot of moments where I found myself chuckling along the absurdity of the story line.

Bondsman is a nice surprise. It's not overly demanding, deep or intelligent by any means. Yet fans of B movies, Evil Dead and some fun horror action will get a kick out of Bondsman. I would give it a 7.5 overall if IMDB allowed it.