Banshee Preview: A Look Into Season 2 of the Small Town with Big Secrets

Banshee will begin its second season on Cinemax Friday night at 10PM and from the looks of things, all hell is about to break loose in the fictional Amish town in Pennsylvania. But before we get to Friday’s debut, let’s first look back at the key characters and plot points from the first season.

By Michael Stets— Staff Writer/Co-Host ‘Charming’s Most Wanted

The mastermind behind True Blood, Alan Ball, along with Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler created an over the top, sexually charged and violent town, where skeletons are in every closet, and criminals hide in plain sight—by the way, one of them is the sheriff!

The tangled web of Lucas Hood and those surrounding him

We don’t know Lucas Hood’s real name, we just know that he assumed the identity of the incumbent Sheriff from Church, Oregon who died at the local watering hole called The Forge, before being sworn in to protect the town. He headed up to Banshee upon his release from prison, because he found out his ex-lover and fellow jewel thief, Carrie Hopewell—who he formerly knew as Anna—has moved on with her life, after he was captured 15 years prior during a diamond heist gone wrong.

She is also married to the DA, Gordon Hopewell, and has two children; one belongs to Hood. The man they stole from? Hopewell’s father, Mr. Rabbit, a Ukrainian mobster who has been hot on Hood’s tale since he was released from prison and is still intent on finding his daughter.

Making matters worse for Hood while he was getting acquainted with his new resident town was the local crime lord, Kai Proctor. Proctor’s slaughterhouse disguises that he has his hands in any and every criminal facet inside of Banshee. He wields the kind of power possessed by Brad Wesley in Road House. His wingman is Clay Burton—who speaks with expressions, kills willingly and rocks a dickie bow at all times.

The two men that have Hood’s back at all times are an old ne’ er do well accomplice, Job, a cross-dressing computer hacker who lost his cover at the Hi-Shi salon (hey I said it was over the top) in New York and headed up to Banshee himself, after helping Hood find out where to find Anna. Job rings levity to the show with funny dialogue and in appearance. For instance, wearing an alligator t-shirt that says “Oh snap.” His other ally is the owner of The Forge and former boxing champion, ‘Sugar’ Bates. The moral compass and voice of reason in the town, Bates offers some sage advice and a plentiful amount of bourbon neat. Something Hood often needs to digest the swirling narrative continuing to unfold around him.

It’s a neo-noir thrill ride meets a Leone western coupled with the flare of a Fincher film. Hood is the cowboy that rode into Banshee—which itself is a character—and doles out justice with his two fists, a style that draws much surprise and suspicion from the town’s longest serving deputy, Brock Lotus. He is intelligent, can talk tough and back it up, and he’s on a quest for his girl, like a moth to a flame, while leading the man who wants him dead right to them.

Rebecca and the Longshadows

Also a pretty important player on the show is Proctor’s niece, Rebecca Bowman. She is the abiding Amish family girl by day, promiscuous and adventurous pleasure seeker by night. She has slept with Hood, been ostracized by her family and lives with Proctor, who cares deeply for her since he too was cast out by his Amish family.

The Longshadows are the owners and operators of the neighboring Indian casino. Looking to settle an ongoing dispute, they sent an anonymous henchmen to kill Proctor in his own dwelling. Burton—once again wearing a bowtie—put an end to the attack with a straight razor to the achilles tendon and a piano wire around the throat. Proctor then had the head of the assailant dropped at the doorstep of Alex and Nola’s home.

How last season ended

The season one finale culminated with a head spinning, bullet flying climax to say the least. Carrie survived a brutal beating at the hands of Rabbit’s main assassin Olek, had her son Max kidnapped by her father, and her family turn their back on her after she chose Hood over them, because he gave himself up to Rabbit in exchange for Max.

In several flash back scenes, which are placed in a scarce yet well timed fashion, Hood is talking with a prison psychiatrist that we find out was working for Rabbit to get information from Hood on the whereabouts of his daughter.

Rabbit’s men shot up the old Cadillac dealership that serves as the police barracks and would’ve killed Hood if not for Kai Proctor executing them seconds before they got to him. Proctor suggested Hood owed him a favor in return, which adds to the complex arrangement of their relationship. The FBI came to town and were poking around at the shootout and kidnapping of Max. Hood then handed over his badge to Lotus before turning himself in to save Max.

Lotus pulls over Sugar, Job and Carrie and catches them heavily armed. After explaining the situation, Lotus joins them and the other deputies follow suit in an attempt to free Hood from Rabbit’s clutches. A crazy shoot out ensues, Hood is freed, Lotus and Sugar are shot but survive.

Finally face to face with her father Carrie shoots him twice. As the police and FBI arrive afterward we learn the body of Rabbit was not recovered. A body that was discovered by the Feds was none other than the original Lucas Hood, who was obviously not buried well enough.

Where the story is headed

On top of now owing Proctor a favor for saving his life and not knowing whether or not Rabbit is dead after his body was never found at the crime scene, the son of the dead sheriff whose identity Hood obtained is looking for his father and is on his way to Banshee. After the credits ended in the finale, we saw the son watching a Youtube video of Lucas Hood fighting an MMA fighter (a scene from episode 3) and discovering it was not his dad.

With the FBI already in Banshee combined with the suspicions from Lotus on Hood’s curious methods and brand of justice, it appears it’s only a matter of time until his true identity is discovered. But will we ever find out what Hood’s real name is? Like the old Clint Eastwood character, he is truly “The Man With No Name.”

Carrie will most likely be trying to piece together her family, as it seems a life with Hood is just not realistic, even know their flame has been rekindled and the love between them is very deep and real. Complicating things further is her daughter Deva’s anger and resentment toward her and the fact that she is actually Hood’s daughter.

Rebecca was last scene joining her Uncle and being handed his phone to make a phone call that would blow up one of the Longshadow’s new buildings. Perhaps that was the beginning of a future life following Proctor’s footsteps.

New Blood

Joining the mysterious cast of characters this season will be seasoned actors Julian Sands and Zeljko Ivanek. Sands will play Rabbit’s brother, while Ivanek will play an FBI agent who has been pursuing Rabbit for 15 years.

Season 2 Trailer

“Every time I think I know the way forward, something always kicks me back” –Lucas Hood

AK-47’s, piano wire, Proctor beating someone with a baseball bat, Carrie ducking bullets, Rebecca covered in blood and holding a gun, Gordon punching Hood, a burning house and a speeding 18-wheeler are a few glimpses of what we can expect to see in this Season 2 trailer.