The Bastard Executioner

:

Season 1
  • Network: FX
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 15, 2015
User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 92 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 92
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 92
  3. Negative: 24 out of 92
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User Reviews

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  1. DianaBr
    Oct 30, 2015
    0
    I was a big fan of sons which is a big reason why I looked forward to this show; however, I strongly dislike it. I have watched every episode but the last and have no idea where its going plotwise. I wont be watching it. Disappointed.
  2. suvoth
    Sep 18, 2015
    2
    OMG...I'm in so much shock. Being an avid SOA fan and After so much anticipation for this show, what a let down. The first scene (dream) was an absolute waste and shouldn't have been shown at all in my opinion. That actors "war cry" was more like a welp cry. If you don't have the conviction to do it, cut it out. Ugh. And while Katey Segal was absolutely brilliant in SOA, she doesn't feelOMG...I'm in so much shock. Being an avid SOA fan and After so much anticipation for this show, what a let down. The first scene (dream) was an absolute waste and shouldn't have been shown at all in my opinion. That actors "war cry" was more like a welp cry. If you don't have the conviction to do it, cut it out. Ugh. And while Katey Segal was absolutely brilliant in SOA, she doesn't feel right for this part at all. Perhaps it's the bad accent? Whatever it is, she doesn't fit. Stephen Moyer is great and more natural in this (I wasn't a fan of him in Trueblood). My favourite character is the guy who loves the animals and talks to them. And let's not even get started on how poorly done that white/grey castle in the background (and up close) is. Heck, when the band came across their entire village being killed, I felt like they lost their livestock...it was so bad (especially the primary actor). This felt like I was watching a high school play. Some actors were believable, but I think the failure here is on Sutter for how it plays out in the end. I hope they flesh it out and I hope it becomes brilliant...I don't think I will keep watching it though.… Expand
  3. katezoe
    Sep 20, 2015
    0
    Terrible acting. The writing is sophomoric. The story is not engaging. Lots of blood, gore, and boring sexual encounters. Bad televison show and a waste of time.
  4. bob516
    Sep 16, 2015
    0
    I was really hoping to like this show, thinking it would be on the same level as The Americans, Fargo, The Bridge, and Tyrant (first season). What I found was a trite, simplistic, melodramatic show in a setting, both geographic and political, that had such great potential. I struggled, really struggled to keep on watching the first episode. Don't see any reason to continue with this show.
  5. jazzythechef
    Nov 2, 2015
    3
    pretty mediocre stuff in my opinion. it feels like it went to screen at the idea stage, before the story and characters were fleshed out. ive noticed some praise for the main actor, i have to diagree in my opinion his atempts at any emotions are a little embarassing. moyer is a bit of a relief when he's on screen. this show really doesn't take me there, ive cringed through 7 episodes, ipretty mediocre stuff in my opinion. it feels like it went to screen at the idea stage, before the story and characters were fleshed out. ive noticed some praise for the main actor, i have to diagree in my opinion his atempts at any emotions are a little embarassing. moyer is a bit of a relief when he's on screen. this show really doesn't take me there, ive cringed through 7 episodes, i see no improvement.… Expand
  6. akila1
    Oct 7, 2015
    1
    These are the talented people who created Sons of Anarchy. This show is terrible. Take a break and recharge you batteries. Then hit reset and come back with something much better!
  7. Vaako
    Oct 3, 2015
    2
    Basically, this show is poor attempt to write a story around torture porn. Peg Bundy is miscast. She provides the show with a bad accent and even worse acting. I liked Sons of Anarchy so I thought I would this a try, but I'm out after three episodes.

Awards & Rankings

58
#58 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
81
#81 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 38
  3. Negative: 2 out of 38
  1. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Spencer Kornhaber
    Sep 25, 2015
    40
    The Bastard Executioner feels a bit more like people playing dress up than the best works in its genre should. The only characters to not fall into cliched dichotomies of rag-tag rebels and power-mad gentry are the women--a mystic of unclear purpose and unclear accent, played by Katey Sagal, and a demure but calculating baroness, played with quiet intelligence by Flora Spencer-Longhurst. Outside of them, the intrigue factor is low.
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  2. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Sep 17, 2015
    40
    This is one pretentious Bastard. [21-27 Sept 2015, p.17]
  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Hank Stuever
    Sep 16, 2015
    75
    The double-episode premiere drags like it has all the time in the world, leaving a viewer time to wonder if he or she has much room left for another show with swords, beheadings and rapey pillagings. But Sutter is skilled at balancing emotion and gore, and it isn’t long before you start to believe in this place and these people.
    Read full review
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