Lawmen: Bass Reeves Episode 7 Recap: 10 Story Reveals

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode 7.

The penultimate episode of Lawmen: Bass Reeves is also the shortest of the entire series and features the Old West lawman at his darkest point. At just 32 minutes in length, Lawmen: Bass Reeves Part VII sees Bass Reeves tried for murder in front of Judge Parker, the same person who appointed him Deputy U.S. Marshal just two years prior. While the real-life Bass Reeves did actually get arrested for murdering a cook as depicted in Taylor Sheridan’s new Western series, the circumstances surrounding the supposed “accidental” murder were much different.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode 6 revealed the identity of the mysterious Mr. Sundown, a mythical slave hunter who was rumored to have been a cannibalistic night stalker with a large ranch made of bones. While the character had certainly been dramatized by Bass Reeves’ former prisoner Ramsey, Bass eventually figured out that Mr. Sundown was none other than Esau Pierce (Barry Pepper), a violent and untrustworthy former Confederate soldier who had killed Bass’ young friend Curtis years ago. Ever since making this discovery, Bass has been haunted by Pierce’s chilling message who tries to convince Bass that he’s a cold-blooded killer just like him.

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10 Deputy U.S. Marshal Ike Rogers Arrests Bass Reeves

Bass is brought before Judge Parker as an alleged murderer

Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode 7 opens up with Bass Reeves getting arrested by fellow Deputy U.S. Marshal Ike Rogers. At the start of the episode, the audience is unaware of why Bass is being arrested and whether Bass is actually guilty of his alleged crimes. As mentioned before, the real-life Bass was truly brought before Judge Parker for killing a cook but it’s unclear whether Ike Rogers was the one who brought him in. Bass willingly goes with Ike to Hell on the Border in Fort Smith, saying goodbye to his trusted horse Pistol.

9 Judge Parker Notices The Effects Of The Job On Bass

Bass is unlike himself and haunted by Esau Pierce

Prior to Ike Rogers arresting Bass Reeves, Bass and his wife Jennie hosted Judge Parker and his wife at the house for dinner. It’s obvious to Judge Parker that Bass does not seem like himself as he is haunted by the swirling messages of Esau Pierce inside his head. Without saying it so bluntly, Judge Parker takes notice of the effect of the job on Bass, and as a result, gives him less of a workload in the coming days. Although Parker is strict and principled, he still clearly respects and cares for Bass.

8 Esme Leaves Edwin Jones & Apologizes To Jennie

Esme had worked with Edwin on an idealistic business venture

After an extremely awkward visit with Edwin Jones, Esme returns to the Reeves house to make amends with her old friend Jennie. Esme was caught in a scheme to get Edwin in front of Bass to propose a business concept that would essentially take land from Indigenous Peoples and implement exclusively black communities. Bass doesn’t agree with Edwin’s vision of the future and eventually Esme comes around as well, ending her partnership with Edwin and apologizing to Esme.

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7 Young Girl Clementine Strangely Appears At Reeves House

Clementine was the rude girl that cut Sally at the carnival

Clementine, the same young girl that Sally told off at the fair in Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode 5, shows up at the Reeves house looking for information about Sally and Bass. Jennie is naturally friendly to Clementine, who is just as rude to Jennie as she was to Sally at the carnival earlier in the series. Clementine eerily asks whether Sally and Bass are home before abruptly saying, “I have to leave now”, and walking off. Jennie is left confused and concerned about the young girl’s purpose for visiting her home.

6 Bass Reeves & Billy Crow Peacefully Arrest Moody O’Neil

Moody willingly accepts her fate for committing murder

Bass is on another assignment with his sidekick Billy Crow looking to arrest a known murderer named Moody O’Neil. Bass is surprised to discover that Moody is actually the name of an elderly woman and even more surprised when she reveals she is the murderer he’s looking for. Moody sits causally on her porch, posing no threat to Bass and Billy whatsoever. Moody willingly allows Bass and Billy to put her in manacles and hands Bass a silver candelabra, telling him that it’s the murder weapon.

5 Jennie & Sally Discover A Burning Effigy In Their Front Yard

The effigy was likely placed by Clementine’s brother Brent

Jennie, Sally, Esme, and the Reeves children sit around their dining table in their home sharing warm conversation. Suddenly, they notice something burning in the front yard, sending terror throughout the house. Jennie instructs her children to take refuge upstairs as she and Esme look out the window to get a better look. They realize that someone had planted an effigy made out of wood and straw in their front yard and set it on fire, another strange and scary occurrence that likely has something to do with Clementine and her racist brother Brent.

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4 Bass Reeves Kills Billy’s Cook Willy After He Sets Moody Free

Willy calls Bass Reeves out and tries to pull a gun on him

Bass Reeves, who has been battling some serious internal demons ever since he ran into Esau Pierce, shoots and kills Billy Crow’s cook named Willy. Willy had released Moody during the night as Bass and Billy slept, confessing to Bass the next day after Moody was long gone. Interestingly, Moody had denied food the night before, claiming that it would be worthless for her to eat considering that she was destined to hang. Willy could have put a sedative for something similar in the food in order to get Moody out. Regardless, he tries to pull out his gun and Bass shoots him dead.

3 Bass & Judge Parker Have Intense Conversation About Their Past

Bass’s backstory brings Judge Parker to tears

With Bass in manacles and in the custody of the Hell on the Border jail in Fort Smith, he has a heartfelt conversation with his boss Judge Parker. Parker tells Bass a story about finding fool’s good when he was a kid and questions Bass whether he’s the real deal or whether he’s just fool’s gold. Bass tells Parker an emotional story about his father and makes it very clear that he is the real deal. Bass walks out of Parker’s office leaving him in tears and ready to accept whatever fate Parker will give him.

2 Judge Parker Pronounces Bass Reeves Not Guilty Of Murder

Parker determined that Reeves acted in self-defense

During the sentencing, Bass Reeves is surprised and relieved to hear that he has essentially been pardoned by Judge Parker, who finds him not guilty. There is an argument that Bass Reeves killed Willy in self-defense, which does appear to be the case as based on the scene in Lawmen: Bass Reeves. All charges against Bass are dropped and he is able to return to work as one of the best lawmen in the Old West.

1 Bass, Billy, & Sherill Lynn Set Out To Arrest Esau Pierce

Bass is determined to put an end to Mr. Sundown

Back on the job, Bass Reeves enlists Billy Crow and Sherill Lynn to set out to the Texas ranch of Esau Pierce. They believe they will be able to arrest Pierce, who has become a Texas Ranger, for the disappearance and suspected murder of Jackson Cole. With that successful conviction, Bass will ultimately stop Mr. Sundown in the series finale, since all signs in Lawmen: Bass Reeves point to Pierce being the gruesome serial killer and slave catcher.