In the FX on Hulu limited series Under the Banner of Heaven, Oscar-nominated actor Andrew Garfield delivers a acclaimed performance as Detective Jeb Pyre. Pyre is a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whose faith is shattered while investigating the real-life 1984 murders of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her baby.
Overview of Under the Banner of Heaven
Released in April 2022, Under the Banner of Heaven is a seven-episode true-crime miniseries created and written by Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black. The drama is based on Jon Krakauer’s best-selling 2003 non-fiction book Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. The narrative examines the brutal double murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her 15-month-old daughter, Erica, in the suburb of American Fork, Utah.
While Krakauer’s original book functions as an investigative journalism piece interweaving the 1984 murder case with the broader history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), the television adaptation required a central protagonist to anchor the drama visually and emotionally. Creator Dustin Lance Black—who was raised in a Mormon household—introduced the fictional character of Detective Jeb Pyre, played by Andrew Garfield, to act as the viewer's surrogate.
Through Garfield's character, the series explores how religious devotion can collide with systemic cover-ups, dogma, and fundamentalist extremism. Pyre’s journey moves from unwavering belief in his faith community to a painful reckoning with its historical realities.
Who Is Detective Jeb Pyre?
Detective Jeb Pyre is a fictional composite character created specifically for the television adaptation. In the series, Pyre is a family man living in Utah, deeply integrated into his local LDS ward (congregation). He is depicted as a dedicated husband to his wife, Bernadetta (Chloe Pirrie), a loving father to twin daughters, and a devoted son caring for his mother, who suffers from dementia.
Pyre’s identity is anchored entirely in his faith and his community:
- Religious Commitment: Pyre prays before meals, attends church regularly, respects church leadership authority, and views his law enforcement role as a calling to protect his community.
- Professional Integrity: As a detective in the American Fork Police Department, Pyre is methodical, patient, and empathetic, preferring thorough investigation over hasty conclusions.
- The Partnership: Pyre is paired with Detective Bill Taba (played by Gil Birmingham), a Paiute Native American officer who is an outsider to both Utah and the LDS Church. Taba’s external perspective acts as a pragmatic counterweight to Pyre’s internal cultural loyalty.
By creating Pyre, the series places a devout believer at the center of a horrific crime committed by individuals using early LDS doctrine to justify their actions. This setup creates an intense personal conflict: investigating the murder forces Pyre to examine the very foundations of his personal identity.
The Crisis of Faith Narrative Arc
The core emotional trajectory of Under the Banner of Heaven relies on Jeb Pyre’s internal crisis of faith as he uncovers the truth behind the Lafferty family.
1. Initial Trust in Community
At the start of the series, Pyre approaches the murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her infant daughter with the assumption that such violence must be the work of an outsider or a non-believer. He trusts his fellow church members and instinctively seeks counsel from local LDS priesthood leaders.
2. The Unraveling of the Lafferty Family
As Pyre and Detective Taba interrogate members of the extended Lafferty family—a prominent and respected LDS family in the area—Pyre observes a shift toward fundamentalism. Driven by financial strain, anti-government ideology, and patriarchal extremism, brothers Dan (Wyatt Russell) and Ron Lafferty (Sam Worthington) claim to receive direct revelations from God ordering the "removal" of Brenda and her baby.
3. Historical Parallels and Hidden Truths
To understand the theological justification claimed by the killers, Pyre begins researching early LDS history. The series uses flashback sequences that parallel Pyre's investigation with historical events from the 19th century, including the teachings of founder Joseph Smith, the leadership of Brigham Young, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and early doctrines such as "blood atonement."
For Pyre, learning about these controversial aspects of church history—some of which he had never encountered in standard church curriculum—causes deep cognitive dissonance.
4. Psychological and Spiritual Breakdown
Garfield portrays Pyre's psychological strain through physical and emotional cues rather than melodrama. As the evidence mounts, Pyre experiences insomnia, anxiety, and profound grief. One of the series' pivotal moments shows Pyre sitting alone in his police cruiser late at night, weeping hysterically while reading historical texts that challenge his spiritual worldview.
By the end of the series, Pyre does not necessarily abandon his personal morality or love for his family, but his naive faith in religious institutions and community hierarchies is permanently altered.
Comparing Fictional and Historical Figures in the Series
To adapt Jon Krakauer’s non-fiction work, the miniseries blended historical figures involved in the 1984 trial with fictionalized characters created for narrative structure.
| Character Name | Played By | Real Person or Fictional Creation? | Role in the Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeb Pyre | Andrew Garfield | Fictional (Composite) | Lead detective whose LDS faith is challenged during the investigation. |
| Bill Taba | Gil Birmingham | Fictional (Composite) | Non-LDS detective partner who offers an outsider's objective perspective. |
| Brenda Wright Lafferty | Daisy Edgar-Jones | Real Historical Person | Murder victim; a broadcast journalism student married to Allen Lafferty. |
| Ron Lafferty | Sam Worthington | Real Historical Person | Eldest Lafferty brother who claimed revelation to execute the murders. |
| Dan Lafferty | Wyatt Russell | Real Historical Person | Brother who embraced fundamentalism and anti-government ideology. |
| Allen Lafferty | Billy Howle | Real Historical Person | Brenda’s husband, initial suspect, and youngest Lafferty brother. |
| Dianna Lafferty | Denise Gough | Real Historical Person | Ron Lafferty’s wife, who resisted fundamentalist influence. |
Critical Acclaim and Performance Analysis
Andrew Garfield’s performance in Under the Banner of Heaven was widely praised by television critics for its restraint, authenticity, and emotional depth. Rather than playing a standard, hardened detective, Garfield brought a soft-spoken vulnerability to the role that reflected his character's upbringing in a tight-knit religious culture.
Key Acting Techniques
- Subtle Physicality: Garfield adopted gentle speech patterns, hesitant body language, and expressive facial reactions that mirrored the struggle of a man trying to maintain composure while his worldview collapses.
- Authentic Cultural Nuance: Critics noted that Garfield accurately captured the polite mannerisms, dialect nuances, and community dynamics unique to intermountain West LDS culture.
- Emotional Escalation: The performance relies on a gradual buildup. Pyre begins as a composed officer and gradually breaks down as the case uncovers dark realities, leading to powerful, unscripted-feeling emotional moments.
Awards and Industry Recognition
Garfield’s work on the limited series received major nominations during the 2022–2023 award season, confirming his performance as one of the standout television roles of that year:
- Primetime Emmy Awards: Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
- Golden Globe Awards: Nominated for Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television.
- Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards: Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series.
- Critics' Choice Television Awards: Nominated for Best Actor in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series.
Cultural Context and LDS Community Response
The portrayal of Mormon culture in Under the Banner of Heaven sparked widespread discussion among critics, historians, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Portrayal of Faith vs. Fundamentalism
Showrunner Dustin Lance Black emphasized in press interviews that the series was not intended to attack modern LDS members, but rather to examine how fundamentalist ideology can develop when individuals claim direct divine authority above civil law. By placing Jeb Pyre—a moral, compassionate Latter-day Saint—at the center of the story, the show sought to distinguish between mainstream religious devotion and radical extremism.
Critical Discussion of Accuracy
- Cultural Nuances: Former and active members of the LDS faith noted that while details like prayer phrasing, dress codes, and church terminology were accurate, certain dialogues occasionally felt over-stylized for dramatic effect.
- Historical Integration: The inclusion of historical events (such as early polygamy practices and 19th-century conflicts) was praised by some historians for tackling difficult topics, while others felt the show correlated early history with modern violence too directly.
- Official Statements: Official representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expressed concern regarding the depiction of church history and culture, maintaining that the acts committed by the Lafferty brothers in 1984 were extreme, anomalous crimes rejected by the church community.
Key Episodes Showcasing Garfield's Performance
For viewers analyzing Garfield's acting work in the series, several specific episodes highlight his character's progression:
Episode 1: "When God Was Love"
Introduces Detective Pyre’s happy family life and his initial response to the crime scene. Garfield establishes Pyre’s gentle nature, his respect for his elders, and his confidence in his community before the central crisis begins.
Episode 4: "Church and State"
As the investigation reveals the extent of the Lafferty family’s anti-government fundamentalism, Pyre confronts the reality that the suspects are using scriptures he holds sacred to justify crime. Garfield conveys a growing sense of isolation from his community peers.
Episode 6: "Revelation"
Contains some of Garfield's most intense dramatic acting. Pyre's personal life collides with his professional duty as he faces pushback from community leaders who prefer the crime handled quietly. Pyre struggles to reconcile his faith with his duty to justice.
Episode 7: "One Nation Under God"
The finale completes Pyre's transformation. Garfield portrays a man who has processed profound grief and come out the other side with a re-evaluated sense of spirituality, prioritizing truth and family over institutional perfection.
Production Background and Garfield's Preparation
Andrew Garfield took on the role of Jeb Pyre shortly after completing his Oscar-nominated performance in Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021) and returning as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
To prepare for the role of Detective Pyre, Garfield engaged in deep research into Mormon culture and law enforcement practices in Utah:
- Cultural Immersion: Garfield met with current and former members of the LDS Church to understand the nuances of their daily lives, spiritual terminology, and family dynamics.
- Consultation with Investigators: He spent time speaking with law enforcement officers from Utah to learn how faith influences police work in predominantly LDS communities.
- Literary Study: Garfield thoroughly studied Jon Krakauer’s source text as well as additional historical literature on early American religious history.
Garfield has noted in interviews that playing Pyre was one of the most emotionally demanding roles of his career due to the heavy subject matter, which required portraying a complete spiritual crisis while remaining grounded in a tragic true story.
How to Watch Under the Banner of Heaven
For viewers interested in seeing Andrew Garfield's performance, Under the Banner of Heaven remains widely available across major streaming platforms:
- United States: Available to stream in its entirety on Hulu (under the FX on Hulu banner).
- International Markets (UK, Canada, Australia, Europe): Available on Disney+ under the Star hub.
- Format: 7-part limited series (runtimes vary between 50 to 68 minutes per episode).
- Content Rating: TV-MA (due to intense themes, depictions of violence, crime scene imagery, and heavy thematic elements).
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Detective Jeb Pyre a real person in the 1984 Lafferty case?
No. Detective Jeb Pyre is a fictional composite character created by series writer Dustin Lance Black. In real life, multiple officers from the American Fork Police Department and state investigators handled the case. Pyre was created to provide a centralized narrative perspective for the television audience.
Did Andrew Garfield win an Emmy for Under the Banner of Heaven?
Andrew Garfield was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie in 2022 for his role as Jeb Pyre. However, he did not win; the award went to Michael Keaton for Dopesick.
Is Under the Banner of Heaven accurate to real events?
The miniseries accurately details the core facts of the 1984 murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty, including the motives and belief system of Ron and Dan Lafferty. However, the specific characters of Detective Jeb Pyre and Detective Bill Taba, as well as their personal subplots, are dramatized fictional additions.
Why did the show create a fictional detective instead of following the original book?
Jon Krakauer’s original 2003 book is a work of non-fiction journalism without a traditional central character narrative. To adapt the book into a compelling TV drama, showrunner Dustin Lance Black created Detective Pyre so viewers could experience the unfolding mystery through the eyes of someone inside the culture.
How many episodes feature Andrew Garfield in the series?
Andrew Garfield appears as the lead actor in all seven episodes of the limited series Under the Banner of Heaven.
Final Takeaway and Recommended Viewing
Andrew Garfield's role in Under the Banner of Heaven stands as a pivotal point in his acting career, demonstrating his ability to handle subtle, internal character studies alongside high-concept roles. His depiction of Detective Jeb Pyre offers viewers an empathetic lens through which to explore complex themes of faith, doubt, systemic pressure, and institutional history.
For viewers studying modern television drama, true-crime adaptations, or performance art, Under the Banner of Heaven serves as a strong case study in how fictionalized protagonists can be successfully integrated into real-world historical tragedies without losing emotional truth.
