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Netflix’s ‘Bass X Machina’ Is the Dark Western Epic You Didn’t Know You Needed | Review
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
The review presents Netflix’s *Bass X Machina* as a visually detailed animated Western that uses steampunk technology to examine the legacy of the Civil War, racial oppression and moral choices. It argues that the series offers more than action, though its focus on characters’ inner conflicts sometimes slows the pace.
Brian Tyree Henry voices Bass Reeves, a bounty hunter with a cybernetic arm who is tasked with finding a missing scientist alongside engineer Dana, played by Tati Gabrielle. Their investigation connects dangerous experiments to Bass’s past. Created by LeSean Thomas and produced by Studio Mir, the fictional series draws inspiration from the real Bass Reeves, one of the first Black Deputy US Marshals.
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In short
- The review praises the series’ thoughtful take on the Old West.
- Bass and Dana investigate dangerous technology and a missing scientist.
- Detailed animation and action are highlights; the pacing sometimes slows.
How this story developed
- 18 minutes ago Netflix’s animated series *Bass X Machina* combines a steampunk vision of the Old West with a story about the aftermath of the American Civil War.
- 20 minutes ago The review presents Netflix’s *Bass X Machina* as a visually detailed animated Western that uses steampunk technology to examine the legacy of the Civil War, racial oppression and moral choices.
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The case for
The series’ steampunk Western setting can give familiar action a richer purpose, using Bass’s investigation and past to examine racism, corruption, revenge and ethical responsibility. Its detailed animation and connection to the real Bass Reeves may also make the story’s imaginative world more resonant, even when the pace slows.
The case against
A Western built around a bounty hunter, dangerous experiments and revenge may be more compelling as genre adventure than as a vehicle for weighty social themes. The slow stretches could weaken that balance, and fictionalising a historical Black lawman in a cybernetic steampunk story may feel less illuminating to viewers who value a more grounded treatment.
Explained simply
Bass Reeves was a real lawman who served as one of the first Black deputy US marshals. The series takes inspiration from his life but places a fictional version of him in a steampunk Old West shaped by the aftermath of the American Civil War.
In the story, Reeves is a bounty hunter with a cybernetic arm, brought in to search for a missing scientist with engineer Dana. The investigation links to Reeves’s past and to dangerous experiments with technology.
The Western setting gives the series a way to explore racism, corruption, revenge and the choices people make under pressure. Its mix of history-inspired characters and imagined technology connects questions about power and justice with an action adventure.
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