1883 Season 1 Episode 1 Recap

The show begins with a narration of Elsa’s experience in the Great Plains, “American Desert”. Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) witnesses a group of Indians killing white people. She frantically runs toward a man with two arrows in his upper body. As she grabs the man’s pistol, a Warrior yells, “I said No.”  When the Warrior (Jeremy Gauna) refuses to let her go, she points the gun at him and fires. The man has just enough time to hit her with an arrow before falling off his horse. With the arrow sticking out of her body, she begins shooting at the other Indians.

Captain Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott) sits on his porch. He takes a deep breath before opening the door to his deceased daughter’s (Natalie Dickinson) bedroom. She is placed in the bed beside her mother (Melissa Ladd). He throws a lit torch into a window and stands back to watch the house burn. Thomas (LaMonica Garrett) walks up as Shea holds a gun underneath his chin. Thomas asks Shea if he is coming. He wants to dig a hold before the sunset. Shea puts his gun away and goes with Thomas.

James Dutton (Tim McGraw) is being chased by a group of outlaws. Shea and Thomas watch from a short distance away. James brings his horses to a halt, points his rifle, and shoots an outlaw. The chase continues, as Thomas and Shea watch. Shea says the outlaws will probably shoot the horses. Thomas disagrees because the outlaws are probably after the horses. James shoots his rifle again and brings his horses to a halt. The outlaws ride a short distance and decide to go back. James runs into the tall grass, loads his rifle, and fires until all the outlaws are dead. Shea and Thomas ride up as the shooting comes to an end. They suggest he not take a horse, as it would alert others of the shooting. He vomits before leaving the scene.

James arrives in Hell’s Half Acre, Fort Worth, Texas. He stops at Thomas James Hewitt Livery to pick up two horses that were shipped to the town. get a quote for his wagon and horses. The livery manager (Chris Warner) quotes $20 plus an additional $2 for each housing the wagon and horses. He removes his rifle and bag from his wagon and heads to the hotel. During an encounter with prostitutes, a thief pickpockets his wallet. He mistakenly attacks an innocent man until he spots the thief who already fled the scene. He shoots the thief (Shawnee C. Muncy). A young boy yells, “Pickpocket.” James walks over to retrieve his wallet from the pickpocket. The townspeople beat and hang him. A shootout sends the locals running for cover.

Thomas and Shea enter Pinkerton’s National Detective Office to be greeted by a room full of German immigrants. Shea warns the people of the danger they face traveling to Oregon. Josef (Marc Rissmann) says they have wagons and oxen that will not survive the heat. They do not have firearms. Shea tells Thomas more men will need to be hired to protect the group. Josef becomes offensive when Shea tells him they need to pay more than $200 per family. Shea grabs him by the shirt when he accuses them of trying to rob them. They have no horses, guns, or skills to ride horses. Shea calls him a “fu**ing fool” and tells him to take the train. Josef speaks to his people and agrees to pay the extra money.

Elsa stares out the window at the scenery when she is encountered by a male train passenger (David McReynolds.) She switched to the first-class car to look out the window. The man asks about her family. She is embarrassed when he calls her “pretty.” Her mother, Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill) walks in and begins hitting the man. They return to their seats. Elsa says one day she will right the front of the train. Margaret scolds her, saying, “A woman’s goal is to never ride train again because she has a home she never wants to leave.” Claire Dutton (Dawn Olivieri) tells Margaret she shouldn’t let Elsa sass her. Margaret gives her the authority to discipline Elsa. She slaps her across the face until she cries and apologizes to her mother. Margaret’s daughter, Mary Abel Dutton (Emma Malouff) says you had it coming.

Shea and Thomas try do convince two men to go to Oregon. One of the men believes the immigrants are trying to die because they can’t swim or ride. Bandits and Indians plague the immigrant wagons all the way to Oregon. Thomas disagrees, “Indians are on reservations.” The other man says they are all on reservations and they aren’t anymore. The Indians will pluck immigrant wagons like chickens. Thomas spots James sitting at the bar. He pays for his supper for intruding. He asks James to join them in taking a wagon train north. He and his family will head up north tomorrow and don’t want their help. Shea hopes James has enough luck to make the journey.

Elsa and her brother, John Dutton Sr. (Audie Rick) are excited about getting to Fort Worth. Elsa leaves her family behind and runs out the door at the back of the train car. Claire scolds Margaret when she asks where Elsa is at. Elsa unladylike climbs over a railing to get to James. Claire is shocked by Elsa’s behavior. A story from John about a passenger crapping on himself entices Claire to tell James his children are “feral.” A carriage driver (Ryon Marshall) transports them to their hotel.

James shows Claire and Mary Abel to their room. James says the death of Claire’s husband did not soften her. Margaret says soaking Claire in buttermilk would not soften her. Margaret and James have their own room. He goes to retrieve hot water for her a bath.

Shea is having a drink at a local saloon. A woman walks over to his table, picks up his glass, and says, “Absinthe.” He responds, “Soda water.” He doesn’t drink alcohol or gamble. She asks him why he sits, and watches people do things he doesn’t do. He doesn’t sleep because he doesn’t want to be alone with his memories. She asks who she is. He says “Helen.” She shoves her away when she gets too close. A man comes to her defense. Shea pulls his gun and asks, “You know what I am doing here, looking for a reason.” He walks over to the woman and whispers “Helen” in her ear. It didn’t work.

While looking out her hotel room window, Elsa spots a couple making out.

James and Margaret take a bath. She shaves his beard while he talks about the west. They make out in the tub.

A drunk man (Heath Hensley) mistakes Elsa’s hotel room for his own. He undresses and gets into her bed. When he realizes she is there, he pulls back her cover and begins to unbutton her nightdress. She screams, jumps out of bed, grabs John, and runs. The man grabs her hair and jerks her back into the room. She unsuccessfully fends him off. He knocks her out and unbuttons his pants when James shoots him in the chest. Elsa frantically runs to her mother.

Shea is trying to convince a stockyard manager (Vance W. Boyd) to trade horses for the German immigrants’ oxen. He agrees to trade a mixture of horses and mules for the oxen. Thomas warns Shea that half the immigrants will not make the trip. He says they need to get ready. Shea wants to wait until they are ready. They will never be ready.

James collects his horses and wagons. Shea teaches the Germans about the dangers of rattlesnakes, poison ivy, and poison water while Josef acts as an interpreter. James enters Pinkerton’s National Detective Office to talk to Shea. He agrees to help Shea and Thomas take the German immigrants to Oregon. He refuses his payment over.

Claire inspects the women while James inspects the men. One of the men has smallpox. Shea orders the man and his wife to leave down because they are going to die in about three days. They pick a place to meet.

Shea and Thomas, with the German immigrants, reach the meeting place, where James and his family are camping out as the episode comes to an end.

 

1883 Review

Another Taylor Sheridan creation that may not live up to the hype. The show is like watching an R. limacum “slug” crawl across a leaf. While Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are dominant country singers, acting may not be their forte. Sam Elliott is the perfect fit for Shea Brennan.

While Australian actor, Aden Young was successful in his role as Daniel Holden in Rectify, many actors have tried and failed miserably. If you are accustomed to the authentic Southern accent, some members of the cast were not convincing. Never could understand how they get these roles so wrong when there are endless actors with genuine Southern accents.

Some viewers are praising the episode for its portrayal of American history. Didn’t really get the same vibe but, hopefully in the next 11 episodes. The episode deserves 7.

Get more 1883 recaps here.