When I first heard about R.I.P.D., a 2013 movie that also starred Bacon and that I enjoyed, even though its box office performance was not good at all.

The second aspect of The Bondsman that caught my attention was its showrunner, Erik Oleson. The last project I watched with Oleson's creative input was Daredevil season 3. The showrunner led what I not only consider to be the best season of the popular Netflix series, but also my favorite entry in any superhero TV show. I was sad when Daredevil season 4 was canceled due to Disney+'s plans for Marvel, so upon seeing that Oleson was behind The Bondsman, I knew it was right up my alley — and I was surprised by what we get.

The Bondsman Does Not Shy Away From Going Full Camp

The Supernatural Series' Humor Is What Makes It Charming

I have to say that the show did not hook me at first. The Bondsman is definitely an acquired taste. Fans of horror projects like the Evil Dead franchise or the Preacher TV show will find a lot to enjoy in Prime Video's new supernatural series. The Bondsman is unapologetically campy, knowing exactly what tone it is going for and never backing down. Sure, there are many serious moments throughout the show's eight episodes, but the comedy is the beating heart of the series and, for the most part, it works.

The Bondsman features plenty of nasty deaths that are certainly not going to be for everybody's taste.

While the VFX for the demons is not always on point, their ultimate look helps sell the show's tone. Another key aspect of The Bondsman is how gory it can get, though I was never fazed by it. After spending a lot of time with shows like The Walking Dead, one does become numb to these kinds of bloody kills. However, The Bondsman features plenty of nasty deaths that are certainly not going to be for everyone. I enjoyed the show's action sequences and felt the gory factor was appropriate for its tone and the story it wanted to tell.

As for the horror part of the series, I never felt like The Bondsman was scary, nor do I believe that to be the show's intent. The supernatural backdrop serves to put in motion an interesting mystery with plenty of action set pieces along the way. The Bondsman very much plays like a B-movie but in the format of a TV series. There is a charm to how that is pulled off, and while I struggled to get into it at the start, the show and its characters grew on me throughout the season.

Kevin Bacon's Hub Halloran Is A Flawed Character

The Bondsman's Cast Is Charismatic

The main reason The Bondsman works is due to its cast. Bacon's lead role as Hub Halloran is quite interesting. This is not a typical action hero but a complex man with moral dilemmas and a deep love for his family. Sympathizing with Hub is not always possible, but Bacon's performance is solid throughout the series, making the character truly sing once we start to peel back Hub's layers and learn more about his past, how he landed in the position he is in, and whether he can truly change.

The Bondsman ends with an exciting hook that could continue the supernatural story with a greater sense of urgency in a potential season 2.

Hub's family grounds him and helps us see his humanity. Beth Grant's Kitty, Hub's mom, is my second favorite character in the show. While her son is a flawed man we can't always connect with, Kitty remains a charismatic presence who adds a lot of heart and laughs to the show. Jolene Purdy's Midge is the focus of one of my favorite episodes of the series. Jennifer Nettles' Maryanne and Maxwell Jenkins' Cade — as Hub's ex-wife and son, respectively — help peel back the layers of Bacon's demon hunter. Finally, Damon Herriman's Lucky is easy to hate.

I had a few issues with the show during the first half of the season, but as we started to delve deeper into the characters and saw more of Hub's family, I felt like the final four episodes really helped sell the show's vision to me to the point that I would love to see more of them. The Bondsman ends with an exciting hook that could continue the supernatural story with a greater sense of urgency in a potential season 2. After getting to know these characters, I'm not entirely ready yet to say goodbye.