When I first heard aboutThe Bondsman, I knew I had to check it out. There were multiple elements that intrigued me. The first was its concept. Kevin Bacon’s Hub Halloran is killed while serving as a bounty hunter, and then he comes back to life to hunt demons for Satan. That premise sounded like a lot of fun. It is also similar enough toR.I.P.D., a 2013 moviethat also starred Bacon and that I enjoyed, even though its box office performance was not good at all.
The second aspect ofThe Bondsmanthat caught my attention was its showrunner, Erik Oleson. The last project I watched with Oleson’s creative input wasDaredevilseason 3. The showrunner led what I not only consider to be the best season of the popular Netflix series, but also my favorite entry in any superhero TV show. I was sad whenDaredevilseason 4 was canceled due to Disney+’s plans for Marvel, so upon seeing that Oleson was behindThe Bondsman, I knew it was right up my alley — and I was surprised by what we get.
The Bondsman Does Not Shy Away From Going Full Camp
The Supernatural Series' Humor Is What Makes It Charming
I have to say that the show did not hook me at first.The Bondsmanis definitely an acquired taste. Fans of horror projects like theEvil Deadfranchise or thePreacherTV show will find a lot to enjoy in Prime Video’s new supernatural series.The Bondsmanis unapologetically campy, knowing exactly what tone it is going for and never backing down. Sure, there are many serious moments throughout the show’s eight episodes, but the comedy is the beating heart of the series and, for the most part, it works.
The Bondsmanfeatures plenty of nasty deaths that are certainly not going to be for everybody’s taste.
While the VFX for the demons is not always on point, their ultimate look helps sell the show’s tone. Another key aspect ofThe Bondsmanis how gory it can get, though I was never fazed by it. After spending a lot of time with shows likeThe Walking Dead, one does become numb to these kinds of bloody kills. However,The Bondsmanfeatures plenty of nasty deaths that are certainly not going to be for everyone. I enjoyed the show’s action sequences and felt the gory factor was appropriate for its tone and the story it wanted to tell.
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As for the horror part of the series, I never felt likeThe Bondsmanwas scary, nor do I believe that to be the show’s intent. The supernatural backdrop serves to put in motion an interesting mystery with plenty of action set pieces along the way.The Bondsmanvery much plays like a B-movie but in the format of a TV series. There is a charm to how that is pulled off, and while I struggled to get into it at the start, the show and its characters grew on me throughout the season.
Kevin Bacon’s Hub Halloran Is A Flawed Character
The Bondsman’s Cast Is Charismatic
The main reasonThe Bondsmanworks is due to its cast. Bacon’s lead role as Hub Halloran is quite interesting. This is not a typical action hero but a complex man with moral dilemmas and a deep love for his family. Sympathizing with Hub is not always possible, but Bacon’s performance is solid throughout the series, making the character truly sing once we start to peel back Hub’s layers and learn more about his past, how he landed in the position he is in, and whether he can truly change.
The Bondsmanends with an exciting hook that could continue the supernatural story with a greater sense of urgency in a potential season 2.
Hub’s family grounds him and helps us see his humanity. Beth Grant’s Kitty, Hub’s mom, is my second favorite character in the show. While her son is a flawed man we can’t always connect with, Kitty remains a charismatic presence who adds a lot of heart and laughs to the show. Jolene Purdy’s Midge is the focus of one of my favorite episodes of the series. Jennifer Nettles' Maryanne and Maxwell Jenkins' Cade — as Hub’s ex-wife and son, respectively — help peel back the layers of Bacon’s demon hunter. Finally, Damon Herriman’s Lucky is easy to hate.
I had a few issues with the show during the first half of the season, but as we started to delve deeper into the characters and saw more of Hub’s family, I felt like the final four episodes really helped sell the show’s vision to me to the point that I would love to see more of them.The Bondsmanends with an exciting hook that could continue the supernatural story with a greater sense of urgency in a potential season 2. After getting to know these characters, I’m not entirely ready yet to say goodbye.
The Bondsman
The Bondsman follows backwoods bounty hunter Hub Halloran, who returns from the afterlife for a second chance at life and love, while navigating his past as a musician. As he resumes his work, he discovers his former occupation now involves a supernatural element.
