You ever finish a show and just sit there in the dark for a minute? That’s basically the universal experience of finishing Under the Banner of Heaven Hulu. It isn't just another true crime adaptation. Honestly, it’s a heavy, sprawling, and deeply uncomfortable look at how faith can be twisted into something unrecognizable.
Andrew Garfield plays Detective Jeb Pyre. He's a fictional creation, sure, but he serves as our moral compass in a story that is very much based on a gruesome reality. The show centers on the 1984 murders of Brenda Lafferty and her infant daughter, Erica. It’s a case that rocked Utah. It’s also a case that forces you to look at the history of the LDS Church, whether you want to or not.
The series is based on Jon Krakauer’s non-fiction masterpiece. If you've read the book, you know it’s dense. It jumps between the 80s investigation and the 19th-century origins of Mormonism. The Hulu series does the same thing, which is a bold choice for a TV drama. It works because it shows that the "originalist" views held by the Lafferty brothers didn't just appear out of thin air. They were rooted in a specific, bloody history.
The Lafferty Case: What Really Happened?
Brenda Wright Lafferty was a vibrant, ambitious woman. She was a broadcast journalism student. She had dreams. When she married Allen Lafferty, she didn't realize she was marrying into a family that was slowly spiraling into religious extremism.
The show gets the tension right. It wasn't just a sudden snap. It was a slow burn. The older Lafferty brothers—Ron and Dan—started rejecting modern church teachings. They moved toward "fundamentalism." They started believing in things like plural marriage and "blood atonement." This isn't just TV drama filler; these are actual theological concepts that the real Ron and Dan Lafferty obsessed over.
Dustin Lance Black, the show's creator, grew up in the Mormon faith. You can feel that. He doesn't treat the religion as a caricature. Instead, he shows the warmth of the community and then contrasts it with the absolute darkness that occurs when people believe they are receiving direct revelations from God.
Imagine believing God told you to "remove" people for the sake of the kingdom. That’s what the Laffertys claimed. They didn't see themselves as murderers. They saw themselves as instruments of divine will. That is the scariest part of Under the Banner of Heaven Hulu. It’s not a "who-done-it." We know who did it. It’s a "why-done-it" that digs into the psychology of fanaticism.
The Andrew Garfield Factor
Garfield is incredible. Seriously.
📖 Related: Howie Mandel Cupcake Picture: What Really Happened With That Viral Post
He plays Pyre with this quiet, crumbling dignity. As he uncovers the truth about the Laffertys, his own faith starts to disintegrate. It’s painful to watch. He’s a man who loves his family and his church, but he’s also a cop who can’t ignore the evidence.
The scene where he’s sitting in his car, crying while trying to pray? That’s the heart of the show. It’s about the cost of truth. Sometimes the truth doesn't set you free; it just breaks your world.
Why the Non-Linear Storytelling Matters
Some people found the historical flashbacks annoying. I get it. You’re invested in the 1984 investigation, and suddenly you’re in 1844 watching Joseph Smith. But here is the thing: the show argues that you can't understand Ron and Dan without understanding Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
The show draws parallels between the early struggles of the church and the perceived "persecution" the Lafferty brothers felt. When the brothers felt the modern church was becoming too "corporate" or too "liberal," they looked back to the early days. They wanted the rugged, uncompromising version of the faith.
- The Mountain Meadows Massacre is referenced heavily.
- The concept of "The Peace Maker" is discussed.
- The tension between state law and divine law is the central theme.
It's a lot to take in. It’s dense. But it’s necessary to show how the brothers justified their actions. They weren't just "crazy." They were following a logic—a terrifying, extremist logic—that they found in their own history.
Accuracy vs. Creative License
Look, it’s a TV show. There are changes. Detective Pyre and his partner, Bill Taba (played by Gil Birmingham), are fictional. Taba, an indigenous detective, provides a crucial perspective. He’s an outsider looking at this insular world. His chemistry with Pyre is one of the best parts of the series.
However, the details of the murders and the Lafferty family’s descent are chillingly accurate. The "Removal Revelation" that Ron Lafferty wrote down? That was real. The way they treated Brenda for being an "independent woman"? Also real.
👉 See also: Austin & Ally Maddie Ziegler Episode: What Really Happened in Homework & Hidden Talents
The show does a great job of showing how the brothers moved from tax evasion and "sovereign citizen" vibes to full-blown violent extremism. It started with small rebellions against the law and ended in a double homicide.
Dealing With the Backlash
The LDS Church wasn't thrilled about the show. That’s an understatement. Official statements emphasized that the Lafferty brothers were not members of the mainstream church at the time of the murders. They had been excommunicated.
And that’s true. The show doesn't claim the mainstream church sanctioned the murders. But it does ask hard questions about how the culture of obedience can be exploited. It looks at the "Velvet Prison" of a tight-knit religious community. If you’re told to never question leadership, what happens when your "leader" is a radicalized family member?
It’s a nuanced take. It’s not an "anti-Mormon" show so much as it is an "anti-extremism" show. It explores how men use religion to control women and how power structures protect themselves at the expense of the vulnerable.
Practical Realities of Streaming the Series
If you haven't watched it yet, you should know what you're getting into. It’s a seven-episode limited series. It’s not a "binge in one night" kind of show. It’s too heavy for that.
You need time to process each episode. The cinematography is beautiful—lots of wide shots of the Utah landscape—but the content is visceral. It’s rated TV-MA for a reason. The violence isn't gratuitous, but the psychological weight is immense.
The Legacy of Brenda Lafferty
One of the best things the show does is give Brenda a voice. In many true crime stories, the victim is just a body on a floor. Here, Daisy Edgar-Jones brings Brenda to life.
✨ Don't miss: Kiss My Eyes and Lay Me to Sleep: The Dark Folklore of a Viral Lullaby
We see her intelligence. We see her try to help her sisters-in-law. We see her stand up to the brothers when nobody else would. She wasn't a victim because she was weak; she was a victim because she was the only one brave enough to call out the madness.
The show serves as a tribute to her. It highlights the danger of being a "disruptive" woman in a patriarchal system.
Why You Should Care Now
Even though the events happened decades ago, the themes of Under the Banner of Heaven Hulu are weirdly relevant today. We’re still dealing with the fallout of radicalization. We’re still seeing people go down internet rabbit holes that lead to real-world violence.
The show is a warning. It shows how quickly "I have a strong opinion" can turn into "I have a mandate from God."
Actionable Steps for Viewers
If you’ve watched the show and want to dive deeper, or if you’re about to start, here’s how to handle it:
- Read the Book: Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven is essential. It provides much more historical context than the show could ever fit into seven hours. It’s a masterclass in investigative journalism.
- Research the "Affidavits": If you’re interested in the legal side, look up the real trial documents. The evidence against Ron and Dan was overwhelming, and the legal battles over Ron’s competency lasted for years.
- Check Out "Stranger Than Fiction": Look for interviews with the real Brenda Lafferty’s sister, Sharon Wright Weeks. She has been very vocal about the case and the show, providing a grounded, human perspective on the tragedy.
- Watch "Murder Among the Mormons": If the intersection of Mormon history and crime fascinates you, this Netflix docuseries about Mark Hofmann is a great companion piece. It covers a different era but explores similar themes of deception and faith.
- Evaluate the "Fundamentalist" Divide: Understanding the difference between the LDS Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) or other breakaway groups is key to understanding the Lafferty brothers' mindset.
This series doesn't offer easy answers. It doesn't tell you that religion is bad or that faith is a lie. It just shows you what happens when people stop listening to their conscience because they think they’re listening to the Divine. It's a haunting piece of television that stays with you long after the credits roll on the final episode. If you're looking for a shallow crime thriller, keep moving. But if you want something that actually makes you think about the nature of belief and the dangers of certainty, this is it.