River – The show begins with the wagon train being held up by a wagon stuck in a rut. Several German immigrants are pushing the wagon while others are pulling it from horses. One of the men changes position from the rear to the left front wheel. The man ignores Captain Shea Brenan’s (Sam Elliott) orders to not push from that position. The man doesn’t have enough time to move out of the way when the wagon moves forward. The rear wheel runs over him. Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) provides narration about death in the prairie. The rear axle falls out from under a wagon, injuring another immigrant. A young girl is bit by a rattlesnake and dies.

The wagon train reaches the river, which is too high to cross safely. Shea and James Dutton (Tim McGraw) cannot agree on which direction to take. James is determined to go west. Shea believes it is too risky and wants to go east toward the Denison Ferry. West Texas is rough territory, James says it is all rough. Thomas (LaMonica Garrett) says it is another 100 miles or so west to find a better crossing. James continues to remind Shea he doesn’t work for him. They will lose two weeks if they go east to Denison. Thomas agrees with James because winter is approaching.

James’ wife, Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill) asks if they will cross here. He says west but does not know where. Ennis (Eric Nelsen) needs help with the herd. James suggests the German immigrants. He says they can’t ride. Isabel volunteers to saddle her horse, Lightning. James refuses to let her go alone because he is going hunting for meat. Margaret agrees to go instead. He isn’t thrilled about taking his 5-year-old son, John Dutton Sr. (Audie Rick) hunting.

James passes Thomas and Shea, as he heads out to hunt. Thomas says he is not much of a team player. Shea agrees but says he is capable. When there are two leaders, there is no leader. They encounter a Gypsy woman, Noemi (Gratiela Brancusi) struggling with her horses. Noemi’s husband was killed by bandits. Shea recommends she tend her horses before anything else and a fire. She says it is too hot for a fire. He says it is to keep snakes and bugs away. She offers to be his wife. He guarantees to get her to Oregon but doesn’t want a wife.

Thomas leads her horses to the river. When he returns to camp, he tells a joke to get Thomas to laugh and shows Noemi how to hobble her horses. He suggests she find her a handsome farmer in Portland. Let a man earn your love, not trade for it. She tells Shea German immigrants stole her supplies. Shea walks up and kicks one of the men in the face. Another man is beaten for questioning his authority. Thomas orders another man to get her supplies. He calls her husband a “thief.” Shea chops the men’s wagon tongue in half and warns the other immigrants about the repercussions of stealing. He sets the men’s horses free and threatens to kill them if he sees them again.

Shea orders the leader, Josef (Marc Rissmann) to police his people. He will find someone to replace him if he doesn’t get control of them. Josef says they are free, and he doesn’t get to make that decision. Shea reminds him, up ahead is Comanche country and they are headed to no man’s land, so they are not free yet. Thomas says the people must trust them or they will not follow them. Shea says they don’t trust each other. Their kids may do something to make the world better.

As Margaret and Elsa approach, Ennis (Eric Nelsen) says one for me and one for you. Wade (James Landry Hebert) reminds him that Margaret is married. Elsa and Ennis flirt for a bit before driving the herd to the river.

James and John hunt for deer. John refuses to be quiet, asking a series of questions. He cries when James raises his voice to keep him quiet. They spot deer in a field. James lets John pull the trigger on his rifle. They score a large buck. It’s his first kill, so he gets blooded. James encourages John to thank the deer for giving its life for saving another life. Shea is waiting when they return to camp. They discuss the direction of the wagon train. James is still determined to head west. Shea isn’t helping like he promised and is questioning his authority. They eventually agree for the wagon train to take the lead and James and the herd follow behind.

Elsa admires her mother as she helps round up the herd. She considered her mother a banker, hoarding her freedom with no passion or dreams. Her mother handed down her dreams to Elsa. She sees her mother as a magnificent woman.

Back at the camp, the German immigrants are protesting Shea. Darius complains about Shea breaking his wagon. Josef says you stole from Noemi. He claims to have stolen back what her husband stole from them. They want to leave the wagon train. Shea approaches as a man says they just need their guns and horses. He tells them to take them and asks Darius to take three steps to the right because he doesn’t want to hurt the others. Darius moves his vest back to expose his gun. Shea puts his hands up and waits for him to fire his pistol. He clumsily pulls his pistol, but not before Shea has his pointed directly at him. While he killed during the war, the wilderness disappeared. Darius cries and Shea gives him an opportunity to escape death. They are encouraged to carry as much water as possible for their trip west.

Thomas says Shea won’t win a meadow for wagon boss. Shea suggests keeping Noemi’s wagon upfront and they take turns driving it. They are concerned about Darius and the other men who stole Noemi’s supplies.

Wade, Margaret, Elsa, and Wade are watching the herd. Margaret and Elsa head back to camp. Margaret tells James about Wade having an interest in Elsa. He promises to shoot him in the morning. She would change nothing about her life, except maybe a big house.

The following morning, the wagon train prepares to head west. James approaches and tells Wade he can court Elsa. He doesn’t understand what court means. If he breaks her heart or gets handsy, they will have issues. Wade tries to joke, but James isn’t in the mood. Elsa provides a narration of world cruelty and what God made the world for as the episode comes to an end.

1883 Review

As the show moves along at a snail’s pace, Sam Elliott’s age is beginning to show. While he appears tired at times, he has not lost his spunk. It takes a lot of courage to take on such a feat at 77.

Glad to see LaMonica Garrett get more airtime. Initially, I questioned his ability to perform well in a Western drama, but he has proven himself in this episode.

The German immigrants must have had a copy of Rosetta Stone because they can now speak English fluidly.

Elsa’s narrations are still lacking in the Southern accent department. They put a lot of thought into the writing, but the pitiful replication of a southern belle makes it unbearable. The episode deserves a 6.5.

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