Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Under the Banner of Heaven, which delivers FX’s most provocative and emotionally devastating limited series, using a brutal double murder to explore how religious extremism corrupts faith and destroys families with unflinching honesty that will shake you to your core.
Under the Banner of Heaven premiered on FX and Hulu on April 28, 2022, featuring 7 episodes with approximately 60-minute runtime each. Based on Jon Krakauer’s acclaimed non-fiction book and created by Dustin Lance Black, this true crime limited series stars Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, and Daisy Edgar-Jones in a story that examines the 1984 murders of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her infant daughter by her fundamentalist Mormon brothers-in-law.
Under the Banner of Heaven isn’t just another true crime series. It’s a profound examination of how religious fundamentalism can twist faith into violence, using the Lafferty family tragedy to explore the dangerous intersection of absolute belief and patriarchal control. The series functions as both murder investigation and historical interrogation, showing how extremist interpretations of scripture can justify the unthinkable.
When Faith Becomes Fanaticism: The Lafferty Family Tragedy
Under the Banner of Heaven follows Detective Jeb Pyre, a devout Mormon investigating the brutal murders of Brenda Lafferty and her baby daughter by brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who claimed divine revelation commanded them to kill. As Pyre uncovers the family’s descent into fundamentalist extremism, he confronts uncomfortable truths about his own faith and the LDS Church’s historical connections to violence.
The investigation reveals how the Lafferty brothers’ radicalization began with their rejection of modern Mormon practices in favor of what they believed were original church teachings, including polygamy and blood atonement. The series demonstrates how religious fundamentalism creates closed systems of thought that justify increasingly extreme actions while isolating believers from outside perspectives that might challenge their beliefs.
Detective Jeb Pyre: Andrew Garfield’s Crisis of Faith
Andrew Garfield delivers a powerhouse performance as Jeb Pyre, a fictional Mormon detective whose investigation forces him to confront the dark history and teachings of his own church. Garfield brings his characteristic intensity to show a man of deep faith whose certainty crumbles as he uncovers connections between fundamentalist violence and mainstream Mormon doctrine.
Pyre’s character arc represents the series’ exploration of how genuine faith can coexist with institutional criticism, as his investigation leads him to question church leaders who seem more concerned with protecting the institution than seeking justice. Garfield’s performance captures the agony of someone whose worldview is fundamentally challenged, showing how true faith sometimes requires confronting uncomfortable truths about religious institutions.
Brenda Wright Lafferty: Daisy Edgar-Jones’s Tragic Heroine
Daisy Edgar-Jones portrays Brenda Wright Lafferty, the young mother whose independence and feminist views made her a target for her fundamentalist brothers-in-law. Edgar-Jones brings intelligence and strength to the role, showing a woman who refused to submit to patriarchal control even when that defiance became dangerous.
Brenda’s character represents the series’ exploration of how fundamentalist movements specifically target women who challenge traditional gender roles, as her education, career ambitions, and refusal to accept polygamy made her an enemy in the eyes of men who believed women should be completely submissive. Edgar-Jones creates a portrait of courage that makes Brenda’s ultimate fate all the more tragic and infuriating.
The Revelation That Justified Murder
The series’ most chilling episodes explore how Ron and Dan Lafferty became convinced that God commanded them to murder Brenda and her daughter through what they called “divine revelation.” The show demonstrates how religious extremism creates self-reinforcing belief systems where violence becomes not only justified but holy, as the brothers interpret their anger and resentment as divine will.
The climactic episodes show how the murders were not spontaneous acts of rage but planned executions based on the brothers’ twisted interpretation of Mormon doctrine about blood atonement and the role of women in God’s plan. The series refuses to sensationalize the violence while making clear how religious extremism transforms ordinary prejudices into deadly fanaticism.
Faith, Doubt, and Institutional Protection
Under the Banner of Heaven features excellent supporting performances from Sam Worthington as Detective Bill Taba, Gil Birmingham as the church-skeptical investigator, and Denise Gough as Brenda’s mother. Each supporting character represents different relationships to faith and institutional authority, from unquestioning belief to healthy skepticism to complete rejection.
The series particularly excels at showing how religious institutions protect themselves by controlling information and discouraging critical thinking, as church leaders consistently prioritize institutional reputation over justice for victims. The supporting cast helps create an authentic sense of how Mormon culture operates to maintain conformity while marginalizing those who ask uncomfortable questions.
Success on FX/Hulu
Under the Banner of Heaven achieved significant critical acclaim despite controversy from LDS Church members who felt the series unfairly portrayed their faith. The limited series earned Emmy nominations for Andrew Garfield and widespread praise for its sensitive handling of both the murder case and broader questions about religious extremism. The series demonstrated FX’s commitment to tackling difficult subjects with intelligence and moral complexity.
Why This Religious Thriller Demands Your Attention
If you want to understand how religious fundamentalism can transform faith into violence, Under the Banner of Heaven is the perfect series to binge on Hulu. This isn’t just crime entertainment; it’s essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand how extremist interpretations of scripture can justify horrific acts while institutions protect themselves rather than victims.
Why This Series Exposes Essential Truths
Under the Banner of Heaven succeeds because it refuses to separate individual crimes from the institutional and ideological systems that enable them. By showing how religious extremism develops and spreads, the series creates television that’s both dramatically compelling and socially urgent. It’s disturbing, thought-provoking, and absolutely necessary viewing for understanding how faith can be weaponized against the innocent.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 7 episodes
Platform: FX/Hulu
Release Year: 2022
Current IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Genre: True Crime Drama/Religious Thriller
Status: Limited series (concluded)
Protagonists: Andrew Garfield (Detective Jeb Pyre), Daisy Edgar-Jones (Brenda Lafferty)
Antagonist: Religious fundamentalism and the systems that enable extremist violence