Black Bird

8.1
2022

Production

Logo for Imperative Entertainment
Logo for EDEN Productions
Logo for Crime Story Media
Logo for Hans Bubby

As Jimmy Keene begins a 10-year prison sentence, he gets an incredible offer: If he can elicit a confession from suspected killer Larry Hall, Jimmy will be freed. Completing this mission becomes the challenge of a lifetime.

Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: Official Trailer

Official Trailer

Thumbnail for video: Opening Title Sequence

Opening Title Sequence

Thumbnail for video: An Inside Look: The Story of Jimmy Keene

An Inside Look: The Story of Jimmy Keene

Seasons

6 Episodes • Premiered 2022

Still image for Black Bird season 1 episode 1: Pilot

1. Pilot

7.8

Jimmy Keene is living in the fast lane—until he gets a 10-year prison sentence. Behind bars, he's approached about a high-stakes deal for freedom.

Still image for Black Bird season 1 episode 2: We Are Coming, Father Abraham

2. We Are Coming, Father Abraham

8.0

Agent McCauley prepares Jimmy for the mission. Detective Miller questions Larry about the missing women, leading to a polygraph test.

Still image for Black Bird season 1 episode 3: Hand to Mouth

3. Hand to Mouth

8.1

Struggling with his transition to maximum security prison, Jimmy initiates a friendship with Larry. New holes in Larry's stories are uncovered.

Still image for Black Bird season 1 episode 4: WhatsHerName

4. WhatsHerName

7.9

In the aftermath of a prison riot, Jimmy and Larry find themselves with time to learn more about each other.

Still image for Black Bird season 1 episode 5: The Place I Lie

5. The Place I Lie

8.3

Jimmy's mounting fear and paranoia compel him to provoke Larry. McCauley and Miller have a breakthrough. Larry's therapist grows concerned.

Still image for Black Bird season 1 episode 6: You Promised

6. You Promised

8.5

Jimmy reaches his breaking point. Larry becomes suspicious. McCauley and Miller talk to an important person in Larry's life.

Cast

Photo of Taron Egerton

Taron Egerton

James 'Jimmy' Keene

Photo of Sepideh Moafi

Sepideh Moafi

Lauren McCauley

Photo of Greg Kinnear

Greg Kinnear

Brian Miller

Photo of Ray Liotta

Ray Liotta

James 'Big Jim' Keene

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Reviews

O

ObjectivityGate

7/10

[Minor Spoilers]

So, I watched the entire show today. I have to say it was one of those stories you just couldn't leave lying. I had to finish it. To put it briefly, it was an incredibly solid true crime Tv Show. Highly reminiscent of True Detective and Mindhunters. Right up there in the same caliber.

I don't think it was better than Mindhunters, but I do think it was better than True Detective S1. So that is where I stand.

Now this show was great. It lacked some details about the main character I would have liked, they never really explored him. I never really felt like I got to know him. Even when he was telling the antagonist it didn't feel genuine, and I don't think it was supposed too anyway. He was lying very often to garner the thing he needed from the antagonist.
Perhaps the highlight of the show would be the character of Larry Hall, played surrealistically by Paul Walter Hauser. Who said he was incredibly happy to be able to work with Ray Liotta, who passed during the filming of this show. Paul's acting elevated to an entirely new level. He continues playing the soft-spoken innocent guy mostly, until he can't help but show his true dark side. It's uncanny how well Hauser did. Definitely reminds me of Mindhunters and Ed Kemper's actor.

There is a sense of being played with by the antagonist throughout the show that makes you feel like the main character, being toyed with almost.
I suppose the rest of the show wasn't really too standout. It was shot well. Especially the episode before the finale. The director really nailed the tension in that beginning scene with the therapist. I suppose the show stands out as 4 stars to me because I couldn't drop it all day. I suppose I should change the rating to 3.5 to better reflect that its certainly above average but perhaps not in Zodiac (fincher) territory.

If it's a question about these filmmakers talents? It has been answered. Solid, Solid show. It felt a little rushed at the end in that last episode but ok.

Really recommend it. My particular bent for this type of story is that the Antagonist really makes me wonder why God creates serial killers.

There is a line in a Koan poem by a Zen monk, that I was reminded of while watching it. Thich Naht Hanh wrote it.
"I am the pirate who is raping the child,
but I am also the child being raped.
Call me and know me by my true self."

You've reached the end.