4.1 Something Out Of The Bible Chief among them, and no doubt the big talking point of this final season’s premiere, the ignominious demise of Rebecca Bowman. While Banshee has never been shy about dispatching popular characters, Rebecca always seemed like one who would be around until the bitter end, Proctor’s niece/protégé/lover whose transformation from Amish rebel to powerful crime lord would surely be part of the show’s ultimate endgame. Instead, the cold open quickly drops her brutal death on us, right after the bombshell that it’s been two years since Job’s kidnapping and Hood has spent most of that time holed up like a hermit. In a word, it’s brave. It’s also so typically Banshee that I feel stupid for not anticipating something like this. With the end of season three teasing an exciting new collaboration between Proctor and Hood, the way forward seemed obvious. So of course, that was too easy for Banshee. Instead, the show slowly lets us in on where our characters have been over the course of its first hour back. Carrie is separated from her kids, having therapy sessions with Dexter’s Sergeant Doakes, and spending her time rebuilding a house and beating up criminals. Brock is now the Sheriff and struggling with an office he fears has been infiltrated by Proctor, who, by the way, is now the Mayor. Bunker has recovered from his brother’s assault and is taking his revenge by secretly sleeping with his wife. Sugar is more or less the same, Job is still missing, and Rebecca is dead. At this early stage, I have no idea who the killer could be. One of Proctor’s enemies is the obvious choice, but, again, obvious isn’t exactly Banshee’s wheelhouse. Every other option I can think of seems equally unlikely, but Banshee has earned itself the kind of privileged position where speculation can never quite match up to where the story will actually go, so it’s better to just hold on tight and enjoy the ride. The news that this year will be Banshee last still feels strange. The show has always been a gripping, exhilarating delight, but last year it staked a claim as one of the best things on television. There’s nothing else that has ever quite managed the same blend of pulp and depth (sorry Sons Of Anarchy), and with the series only just hitting its stride, Season Four seems like an early place to bow out. But by all accounts this was a creative decision made to send the show out on a high rather than let it slowly burn itself out. Like always, Banshee has made the unexpected choice, but you can see how it will work. And while I would happily sign up for several more years of this underrated gem of a show, I would rather four excellent seasons in my Blu-ray collection than seven of declining quality. Read Gabriel’s review of the season three finale, We All Pay Eventually, here.
