Apple TV has made headlines for its terrific selection of science fiction programming, including Severance, Foundation, and the recent hit Pluribus. But what shouldn’t be overlooked are the streamer’s gripping crime shows. Whether it’s Jake Gyllenhaal‘s turn in Presumed Innocent, hidden gem Dope Thief,or the underrated reimagining of The Mosquito Coast, the service has developed some immersive shows that offer updated, modern renditions of different crime subgenres. There has been no shortage of true-crime shows in recent years, but Black Bird is a terrifying, thrilling examination of the psychology of serial killers that features some of modern television’s best performances. Despite having only six episodes, Black Bird has more thrills and chills than many shows that ran for multiple seasons.
What Is Apple TV’s Gritty Crime Series ‘Black Bird’ About?
Dennis Lehane‘s Black Bird is partially inspired by the true story of Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), a former football star who is arrested as part of an undercover sting targeting a drug conspiracy and isn’t given the option of parole. The show took inspiration from Keene’s autobiography, In with the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption, in which he detailed his time working as an informant for the FBI while incarcerated. An unprecedented deal offered to let Keene off clean if he could cooperate in befriending inmate Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser), a rapist and convicted serial killer of at least 14 women. Black Bird doesn’t just unpack an upsetting story about one of the most dangerous men in American history, but offers biting commentary on the challenges that are inherent to the prison-industrial complex.
Now’s the Time To Binge Apple TV’s 92% Crime Series Before It Returns for Season 2
One of the minds behind ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘Scrubs’ took his skills to the crime genre.
Black Bird goes deeper and far beyond what most crime dramas tend to do because Keene is an untraditional protagonist who has his own psychological baggage. Although the series does acknowledge that he has certain privileges that made it easy for him to elude justice, Keene is depicted as a broken man who has lost sight of his priorities in the wake of his time as a beloved athlete. It’s because all other traditional means have failed that Keene is offered a life-changing deal; at the same time, Keene doesn’t realize until deep into the sting that he may have been selected because he is someone that the FBI isn’t concerned about becoming a casualty. Egerton may be best known for playing upright, charismatic characters, but Black Bird shows that he is capable of playing more complex, morally gray roles.
Paul Walter Hauser’s ‘Black Bird’ Performance Is Terrifying From Start to Finish
Egerton’s portrayal of Keene as a desperate man in search of a way out makes it all the more impactful when Hauser appears, giving one of the most terrifying performances in recent television history. Hauser depicts Hall as a quiet, childlike character who seems almost docile at first, which makes Keene’s ability to court his friendship seemingly easy. However, it is soon discovered that Hall’s moderate behavior is a result of how accustomed he has become to killing, as he lacks the awareness to show even the slightest bit of empathy for his victims.
Hauser’s ability to find the mundanity in Hall’s casual brutality makes the performance all the more sickening. The dynamic he shares with Keene is nuanced because, at first, it’s easy to imagine them bonding as two men that have been subjected to the indignities of being held behind bars. It’s after opening himself up to Hall in ways that are surprising that Keene begins to recognize that he may be the one who is being conned; Hauser is among the most underrated and versatile character actors working today, but Black Bird might be his crowning achievement.
While the chemistry between Egerton and Hauser is enough to keep you glued to the series, Black Bird is especially captivating because itexamines the layers of a covert operation by showing the perspectives of multiple players involved. The show examines the friction that exists between the FBI and the local law enforcement, as the Illinois detective Brian Miller (Greg Kinnear) frequently finds that his investigation into the disappearance of Hall’s victims is thwarted by the federal mission.
The series also features an incredible performance by the late great Ray Liottain one of his final roles ever as Keene’s father, a former criminal known as “Big Jim.” Liotta has played more than a few career criminals, but Jim is a character who has grown up so accustomed to a life on the run that he has forever shaped the expectations of his son, who doesn’t fully understand how to break free and live an independent existence. The scenes Egerton shares with Liotta offer a powerful examination of a wounded father-son dynamic that has been built up by years of wasted moments, and culminates in tremendous performances from both actors.
Black Bird is a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase that finds claustrophobic tension within the confines of a secluded prison, but the show has deeper questions on its mind in looking at the banality of evil. Although much of the FBI’s investigation stems from an attempt to rationalize why someone like Hall would act the way that he did, it’s Keene’s focused approach that recognizes an inexplicable desire for control that cannot be anticipated. The show’s indictment of toxic masculinity is seen not just within Hall’s dehumanizing treatment of women, but within Keene’s pained relationship with Jim, as well as the brutality prisoners suffered at the hands of the guards. Black Bird is a disturbing viewing experience for many reasons, but especially due to the uncomfortable conclusions it draws about the monsters that are hiding in plain sight. It’s not only one of the most gripping shows in Apple TV’s history, but perhaps its most important.
- Release Date
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2022 – 2022-00-00
- Showrunner
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Dennis Lehane
- Directors
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Dennis Lehane
- Writers
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Dennis Lehane
