The Black Dagger Brotherhood Season 1: My Honest Review + Cast Ranking
I’ve been reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood since 2010, and when Passionflix announced a TV show, my first reaction was to brace myself. I’ve watched some Passionflix, I was one of the founding supporters when they launched. But doing the brothers justice takes money, and I didn’t think they would spend it, so I was planning to skip the whole thing.
My friend Jen watched the premiere and talked me into it. So Jen, Angela and I sat down to talk about season 1, which adapts Dark Lover, and pulled it apart, from Wrath and the chemistry to the production and, yes, the wigs. Now that season 2 is here with Rhage and Mary, this is where I landed on season 1 and how I ranked the cast.
Prefer to watch instead?
This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.
Is the Black Dagger Brotherhood show worth watching?
I gave season 1 a 4 out of 5. Jen landed in the same place, and Angela gave it a 3 that crept toward a 4 by the last episodes. We started with the bar on the floor, which helped, but it was also better than any of us expected.
The way I put it to Jen, the show grows on you like mold. You can see every problem and you like it anyway. If you’re a fan, I’d recommend it.
Wrath (and his wig)
Robert Maaser plays Wrath, and he was stiff in the first episodes. It took me a while to buy him as the king. As the season went on he loosened up, and some of his smiles with Beth felt natural, like something Wrath would only do in private with her. It also makes sense that he was cast, since he looks a lot like who J.R. Ward has said she pictured when she was writing him.
Then there’s the wig. It didn’t move. Beth had to push it out of the way, and it blended into the black sheets so often that I couldn’t tell hair from bedding. If there is one thing to fix for season 2 it’s getting him a better wig. Phury’s wig on the other hand was gorgeous. I think it took the whole wig budget.
The chemistry between Wrath and Beth
The show is steamy from episode one and I wasn’t expecting that so early. In the book everything between them feels intense. Olivia Applegate and Robert Maaser kept that and they added a playful side I enjoyed. They looked comfortable with each other, so those scenes never felt awkward to watch.
What worked and what didn’t
My favorite moments came straight from the book. When the brothers get up after dinner, walk over to Beth and kneel to plant their daggers at her feet, it looked exactly how I pictured it. And every Fritz scene. When Butch first shows up and Rhage is pinning him down, Fritz walks in with snacks and asks that if they’re going to bloody the human, could they please do it out back so he doesn’t have to clean up. That is Fritz from the books and I love him.
The pacing is slow. I watched with my husband, who has read up to book nine, and his biggest complaint was that nothing happened for the first three episodes. His biggest compliment was how closely the show sticks to the story. A lot of the season is also very dark on screen. Black clothes, black couch, black walls, black hair. Some scenes needed someone to turn on a lamp.
Butch and Marissa were a highlight for me. I was glued to the screen whenever they were together. Which wasn’t normal for me, since they’re not my favorite couple.
My Black Dagger Brotherhood season 1 cast ranking
In a second video, Jen, Angela and I each ranked our top eight characters from season 1. This ranking is about the show only. How I feel about the characters in the books is a separate list.
8. Vishous. I liked what Sia Zami did with the character. He plays a different kind of Vishous from the one in the books in my opinion, and that’s why he sits at eight.
7. Tohr. He was just okay. I think the vibes were book accurate though.
Would you like to save this?
Enter your email below, and we’ll send this post straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll join fellow readers and receive my book recommendations each week!
6. Fritz. The snack scene alone earned him a spot. He brought Fritz to life.
5. Mr. X. I thought he was really good, and Jen had him at five too.
4. Wrath. He’s this low because it took me so long to warm up to him. Once I did, I thought he did a good job.
3. Beth. I bought Olivia Applegate as Beth earlier than I bought Robert Maaser as Wrath, so she ranks above him.
2. Rhage. Alexander Cubis matches Rhage’s personality really well. Jen did point out that she doesn’t remember any Australian brothers. Fair. Can’t wait to watch season 2 though.
1. Butch. Michael Roark was Butch from the moment he walked on screen, mannerisms and all. I loved his scenes with Marissa, with Beth and with Vishous, and he isn’t even in my top five brothers from the books.
My honorable mentions go to Wrath’s wig, which earned its own credit, and the Scribe Virgin. Her talk with Wrath about his father gave her an emotional side I really appreciated.
Our fan cast vs. who Passionflix cast
Back in 2018 we put together a fan cast for the brothers here on the blog, going on vibes more than exact hair and eye color. Here’s how those dream picks line up against the real cast so far.
Wrath: Jason Momoa in our fan cast vs Robert Maaser on Passionflix
Beth: Liv Tyler vs Olivia Applegate
Rhage: Ken Van Bay vs Alexander Cubis
Mary: Phoebe Waller-Bridge vs Audrey Hare
Butch: Tom Hardy vs Michael Roark
Vishous: Goncalo Teixeira vs Sia Zami
Zsadist: James McAvoy vs Andrew Biernat
Bella: Olivia Wilde vs Mariah Davis
Phury: a model we couldn’t find a name for vs Zach Ignoffo
Tohr: Michael Thurston vs Joel Cederberg
John Matthew: Casey Cott vs Bobby Hogan
Season 2 and what’s next
Season 2 premiered on Passionflix on October 29, 2026. It adapts Lover Eternal, Rhage and Mary’s book, with Audrey Hare joining as Mary. It also introduces Bella and Zsadist, with Mariah Davis as Bella, and Bobby Hogan comes in as John Matthew. If you want to read ahead of the show, our Black Dagger Brotherhood reading order has every book in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch the Black Dagger Brotherhood TV show?
It streams on Passionflix. Season 1 adapts Dark Lover and season 2 adapts Lover Eternal. You can subscribe directly to them, or add a subscription to their service via your Amazon account.
Does the Black Dagger Brotherhood show follow the books?
Season 1 sticks closely to Dark Lover. We’ll see how season 2 does it.
Who plays Wrath in the Black Dagger Brotherhood show?
Robert Maaser plays Wrath and Olivia Applegate plays Beth.
Who plays Rhage?
Alexander Cubis plays Rhage, and season 2 is his story with Mary, played by Audrey Hare.
Final thoughts
Season 1 has its problems, from the pacing to the lighting to that wig and I still had a great time watching it with Jen and Angela. Tell me in the comments who your season 1 MVP was.
If the show has you itching to read, start with our Black Dagger Brotherhood reading order. If you’re already caught up, my Lover Enthroned review covers the newest book, and once you’ve finished the whole series, here are books like the Black Dagger Brotherhood to read next.
Pin It for Later
