The journey begins at Taylor Sheridan Yellowstone prequel series.

Disclaimer: This is a preview of Episode 101 of 1883, so there will be loads of spoilers here. We highly recommend you not read this if you haven’t watched the episode yet. If you read it before watching the episode and then complain about the spoilers, we’ll have to ask some badass Pinkertons to call you. Sorry, but those are the rules.

A great journey to the west begins with a wide range of travel companions. Here are our five takeaways from the aptly titled “1883”, Episode 101 of 1883.

Take away 1

Kudos to writer-director Taylor Sheridan for quickly establishing vividly-drawn characters – and, better yet, generating interest in some of them – in a first episode that, frankly, could be enjoyed even by people who have never watched a minute of Yellowstone. Yes, we do know that little John Dutton here played by Audie Rick will become the grandfather of John Dutton played by Kevin Costner in the other Sheridan series. But it seems like we can safely tell people who don’t know this, but love westerns, that they don’t need to watch excessively. Yellowstone before they agree 1883. Unless, of course, they really want to.

Take away 2

The opening minutes of Episode 101 suggest that Sheridan will be walking a fine tightrope here, balancing traditional Western tropes with more revisionist notions of how the West was won – or, depending on your perspective, lost. In what appeared to be a flashforward – until 1884? – Elsa (Isabel May), daughter of James (Tim McGraw) and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill), was evidently the only white survivor of an Indian attack on a wagon train. (Immediately revealing her role as the show’s narrator, she voiced, “If this is hell and I’m in it, I must be a demon too!”) But even as she struggled for stay alive, one of her attackers reminded her that she and her fellow pioneers are unwanted intruders. Graham Greene and Martin Sensmeier have been announced as star actors in future episodes, and either is unlikely to sign for a series that denigrates Indigenous peoples. Still, this is a series about pioneer settlers, so… Stay tuned for further developments.

Takeaway meals 3

In his very first scene, a flashback to years ago where his character, Shea Brennan, bid a fiery farewell to his wife and child, both victims of smallpox, Sam Elliott was so good as it was. almost scary. Some great actors don’t need dialogue to break your heart – Elliott is one of them. In the here and now of 1883, Brennan continues to be so haunted by distressing memories that, from what we see in Episode 101, Thomas (LaMonica Garrett) – Brennan’s partner and companion Pinkerton – has to routinely dissuade his boyfriend from killing himself. with passive and harsh aggression. (If Brennan wants to shoot herself as they walk through the wilderness, “Think about it quickly. If I dig a whole thing, I’d rather do it before the sun was up.”) Luckily the two men were able to. remain alive and reasonably well, and proceeded to Fort Worth, where they met the German pioneers from whom they were hired to guide the wagon train to Oregon.

Takeaway 4

On the way to Forth Worth, they witnessed an impressive display of badassery as James Dutton single-handedly wiped out the team of horse thieves determined to grab his wagon and end his life. James was understandably grieved when he realized that Brennan and Thomas hadn’t done anything corn witness. (Brennan shrugged at James’ snarling observation, “You seem to get it!”) So it wasn’t all that surprising when, after arriving in Fort Worth to meet her family for their own journey west, James initially refused the Pinkertons offered to accompany – for a fee – their train wagons. But he changed his mind after a more difficult day and night in the violent city of Texas, during which he shot dead a galoot who tried to rape his daughter in his hotel room. James agreed to join the wagon train with his extended family – including his sister-in-law Claire (Dawn Olivieri), a scolded widow, and daughter Mary (Emma Malouff), his brooding daughter – but not as a killer in pledges. “I don’t work for you,” he warns Brennan. “I’m just riding with you.”

Take away 5

Brennan gladly accepted James’ terms because, as he and Thomas had determined upon their first encounter with the German settlers, all were singularly ill-prepared for trips across the country through dangerous territory, lacking in basic skills. such as handling horses and handling firearms. . Indeed, only one member of the group, Josef (Marc Rissmann), could speak English. Anyway, Brennan and Thomas needed all the help they could get, especially after being turned down – in this episode, at least – by cowboys Ennis (Eric Nelsen) and (Wade James Landry Hébert). Of course, both actors playing these characters feature prominently in the opening credits, so it’s a cinch that these two characters will change their minds as well. What else could the future bring? Well, with all due respect to McGraw, Hill and May, who give solid and persuasive performances, we look forward to more heated give and take between Elliott and Garrett, who could be the best odd couple to have their cow. -boy since Don Murray and Otis Young rolled together in the 1968-69 television series The outcasts.