Under The Banner Of Heaven
2022
8.5/10
This is a limited series crime drama recently released on Hulu. It’s based on actual events in the 1980s.
The story centers around the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS, Mormons) and how their extreme views, folklore and interpretation on Christianity affects them.
I looked it up and the story is written by a Mormon. He received support from the LDS and active members. Thru-out the series you will see small details of the religion that people outside are unaware of along with a lot of odd shit pertaining to the religion.
If you watch it, there are three stories taking place…
1. The murder of Brenda and the detectives trying to piece together the clues.
2. Introducing Brenda, her meeting the Lafferty family and events leading to her murder.
3. A brief history of the Mormon church starting with Joseph Smith (Founder) up until when the US Government came in to crack down on the religion in the late 1800s.
The series deals with racism, sexism and religious politics. They aren’t preachy and the subject’s are handled well thru-out the story.
For the Gay Agenda trackers, two scenes showing WM/WM kissing on the mouth. It isn’t what you think but plays into the character conducting it downfall.
For the InCell’s, this series is for you. All the women in the series are with the LDS. If you are familiar with them, women are in a submissive, sub-servant role in that church. They are all treated like property.
If you enjoy crime dramas, you will enjoy this. It is a slow burn series.
The series is full of well known, recognizable supporting characters from popular shows/movies. They all do a good job.
Andrew Garfield (Spiderman) does a decent job, hopefully this will help get him out of the typecast “Spiderman.
There are 7 episodes, 6 are one hour long, the finale is 90 minutes.
Synopsis
As Detective Jeb Pyre investigates the murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her baby daughter in a suburb in the Salt Lake Valley, he uncovers buried truths about the origins of the LDS religion and the violent consequences of unyielding faith.