Upamanyu Biswas
Prime Video’s ‘The Bondsman‘ walks the tightrope between the normal world and the paranormal through the eyes of an undead bounty hunter named Hub Halloran. When Hub is resurrected following an untimely murder, he realizes that his second chance at life comes with a few conditions attached – he must hunt down escaped demons from Hell for the Devil. Subsequently, Hub has to navigate his newfound duties as a demonic hunter while also trying to fix his issues with his estranged ex-wife, Maryanne Dice, a country singer, and their son, Cade Halloran. With the numerous responsibilities on his plate, taking care of one problem only leads to more issues somewhere else, especially as Maryanne has her own plans and ambitions, which have taken her away from Hub’s troubling lifestyle.
Hub Halloran: The Fictional Protagonist of a Demon-Infested Story
For the most part, ‘The Bondsman’ is centered on the exploits of Hub Halloran, a fictional character created by the show’s writers Grainger David, Satinder Kaur, Nina Kim, and Erik Oleson. Unlike other protagonists, Hub is an imperfect character with many flaws, making him relatable and human. He also displays a lack of a strong moral compass, which has led him to some bad decisions, the biggest of which lands him a spot straight to Hell. However, upon his death, Hub realizes he has a second chance to make amends and fix the issues that have plagued him all his life, including his failed aspirations as a musician and his broken marriage. To that end, the character is on a path to redeem himself, which proves to be more difficult in practice than in theory.
While describing Hub’s main characteristics, Oleson stated in an interview, “He’s a fun mash up of grizzled bounty hunter, failed musician, screw up father and chip on his shoulder Southern man who doesn’t take crap from anybody – and that includes the devil!” After learning that demons exist in reality, Hub takes a nonchalant approach to his fate and deals with it in a manner that feels at odds with the courage needed to embark on such a quest. However, he approaches his new task in a matter-of-fact tone showcasing his apathy and desire to survive, no matter the cost. As a result, we learn what really haunts the protagonist and what landed him a spot in Hell in the first place. The fictional character may be heightened in numerous ways, but it also makes him the perfect lead for a story brimming with madness, death, and the supernatural.
Maryanne Dice is a Small-Town Singer With a History With Hub Halloran
At the opposite end of Hub Halloran’s endless shenanigans is his former wife, Maryanne Dice, who used to be his stage partner until she broke up with him. Maryanne is a fictional country singer with a specific role in the narrative, one where she inadvertently forces Hub to try and change himself for the better, no matter how difficult it is for him. Like Hub, she is brought to life by the show’s writers. The character faces her own problems and worries, even outside her constant arguments with the protagonist. One of her biggest concerns is the caretaking of her son, Cade, who wishes to become a singer just like her. However, Maryanne is secretly disappointed that she has to follow her singing dreams solo because Hub gave up on his music career years ago. It ended up shattering their marriage.
“She has given Hub far too many chances to set things straight with her over the years, to the point where he is kind of holding her back from spreading her wings. That is one of the things that Hub needs to make amends for as he gets this second chance at life, courtesy of the Devil,” Erik Oleson explained. Singer-songwriter Jennifer Nettles portrays the character, bringing life and vibrancy to Maryanne’s voice, especially in her singing scenes at The Boxcar. At the start of the series, we learn that Maryanne is dating Lucky Callahan, the boss and owner of The Boxcar, which is another point of contention for Hub. Her well-being and winning her back are the prime motivating factors in Hub’s life as he tries to change his lifestyle to rectify past errors. However, it still does not change the fact that Maryanne is fictional in conception.
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