BANSHEE does not have the most compelling storyline.
But, that’s not why fans have been tuning in. It’s the gratuitous sex scenes, violence and engaging characters that reside in a small town in Pennsylvania, which is also Amish country, that have incentivised the masses to keep tuning in.
And they have. While local viewers will be catching season two on Saturday, a third season is already on the cards.
The first season introduced the key players, namely Lucas Hood (the ex-con posing as the new town sheriff – played by Anthony Starr), his criminal past and romance with Anatasia (Ivana Milicevic), who is now married with two kids and settled into the suburban bliss of being a housewife.
There’s Kai Proctor, the crime boss of the town. He shunned his Amish background but still has a soft spot for his family. And there are several other colourful characters who contribute to the twists and mayhem that overrun all their lives.
Season two is monopolised by tribal chief Alex Longshadow’s efforts to build a casino. His plan, however, puts him in a direct line of fire with Proctor. And the fake sheriff has a new dilemma – the son of the man whose identity he took comes to town.
Commenting on season two, Starr told Collider.com: “It’s the toughest show I have ever been on. There was a little bit of knowing what was coming (in season two). That said, as we get towards the end, it still kicked my ass. I have no illusions about it going into season three. It’s an intense show.”
On those fight scenes, he shared: “Any show that has a character stealing the identity of a town sheriff is not real – so we are already in the land of make-believe.
“Technically, if you look at how quickly Lucas heals, he must have a special elixir of health. He takes a head beating, an ass beating and every kind of beating you can imagine. There is a pulp element to the show. Sex and violence is a part of it. Also, there is a comic book element. It’s pure entertainment. You have to leave it at that.”
As for his character’s enigmatic status still being maintained, he said: “It’s a delicate balance. You want to know a little more, but you don’t want to know too much. In terms of adding depth and richness to the show… it’s about picking and choosing what and when things come out.”
In case you are wondering, Rabbit, the Ukranian gangster and the biggest thorn in Lucas’ side, gets his comeuppance this season.
While he has discovered Carrie and he share a daughter, Deva Hopewell, their relationship remains as complicated and messy as ever.
And the father-daughter dynamic is pretty warped, too.
Again, there are scores to settle, frenemies to make and ruses to maintain in the second season of Banshee. Get that popcorn ready!
• Banshee airs on M-Net Edge (DStv channel 102) on Saturday at 9pm.