Gripping action series are ten a penny these days, and good ones can often slip through the cracks.
That’s exactly what’s happened with Banshee, an overlooked gem of a TV series.
This gritty crime drama features New Zealand actor Antony Starr, best known for playing the corrupt superhero Homelander in The Boys.
And in Banshee, Starr also plays a character whose morals aren’t too dissimilar to Homelander.
Here’s the trailer for the first season of the show…
Banshee season one trailer
Banshee originally aired from 2013 to 2016, spanning four seasons and 38 episodes.
The show follows an ex-convict (Starr), who is released from prison after 15 years and makes his way to the small town of Banshee in Pennsylvania Amish country.
There, he assumes the identity of the area's deceased police chief Sheriff Lucas Hood in an effort to hide from a ruthless crime lord (Ben Cross).
The plot also weaves in Hood’s former lover and accomplice, Anastasia (Ivana Miličević), who has also assumed a new identity in the small town.
Banshee has remained one of TV’s hidden gems despite the first season airing over a decade ago.
Antony Starr in Banshee
All together, the series boasts an impressive 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, as well as an 8.4/10 rating on IMDB.
However, though critics and audiences alike love the show once they’ve seen it, many have just never given it the time of day.
Here is a sample of some of the glowing write-ups Banshee earned from reviewers throughout its run.
AV Club: "Banshee has grown into one of the most entertaining shows on television, a gloriously over-the-top example of pulp fiction strengthened by the support beams of solid characterisation and inspired direction."
Collider: "Banshee has distinguished itself from among other ultra-violent dramas by incorporating a gorgeous visual style, and linking together a cast who each shine in their memorable roles."
Independent (UK): "This is pulp television at its best, a fast, furious blast of over-the-top plotlines, scenery-chewing villains and tightly shot action scenes."
Yahoo! TV: "The series remains the best action show on TV by far."
The past ten years has seen Banshee become one of television’s best kept secrets, So, if you’re eagerly awaiting the new season of The Boys, or just need a new crime drama to sink your teeth into, Banshee is just what you’re looking for.
The series in its entirety is available to stream on Sky TV or with a NOW TV membership.
