When we last left Billy the Kid, the MGM+ series' titular outlaw (Tom Blyth) had made the difficult decision to leave his outlaw gang - led by old friend Jesse Evans (Daniel Webber) - and align with the law-abiding Tunstall crew.
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When Season 2 kicks off, in Lincoln County, New Mexico during the summer of 1878, it seems the consequences of that choice are closing in on the Kid. Trapped in a flame-engulfed building, he and his men attempt to fight their way outside, where things are no more inviting. Gunmen surround the structure on all sides, calling for Billy to come out and meet his fate.
A few of his allies attempt to clear a path, but are quickly riddled with bullets and left to bleed out. With his fallen friends in front of him, and the building behind him now entirely consumed by the blaze, Billy pushes forward, firing his pair of pistols and fighting to survive what looks like unbeatable odds. Let's recap what happened in "Billy the Kid" Season 2 Episode 1 as well as speculate what's on the horizon in the coming episodes.
Warning, spoilers ahead for "Billy the Kid" Season 2.
Brewing battle between businessmen
MGM+
With that tense, dramatic opening effectively nudging us to the edge of our seats, the episode - titled "The Road to Hell" - takes a breather. Following the opening credits, it rewinds the clock a year to a time before the simmering Lincoln County War has completely boiled over.
Still, that war is coming, and Billy, his new boss, Englishman John Tunstall, and their allies are preparing for battle. They've added to their numbers, recruiting Juan Patron - a supporter with strong ties to the Hispanic community - as well as Dick Brewer. Tunstall appoints the Kid as his second in command, but Billy feels Brewer is better suited and more deserving of the position. Tunstall doesn't want bloodshed, but he's not backing down from furthering his ventures either. In fact, the emboldened businessman plans to open a bank, a risky move that'll further cripple the competition's fragile financial situation.
Speaking of the competition, we next catch up with Lawrence Murphy (Vincent Walsh) and his partners, John Riley (Shaun Benson) and James Dolan (Chad Rook). It seems the pair have bought out the crooked, perpetually inebriated businessman, but they still allow him to run the show. They warn him of the coming war, the Kid's involvement, and Tunstall's bank, which will no doubt anger their biggest backer, Thomas Catron (David Cubitt). But Murphy's more concerned with his reputation, which he fears Jesse and his Seven Rivers thugs have dragged through the mud with their murderous intimidation tactics.
Riley and Murphy next head to Jesse's camp, where they meet new recruit Buckshot Roberts, an "amazing sharpshooter" who'll no doubt help their chances of winning the range war. But Jesse, who seems a good deal meaner than he was in Season 1, has no time for pleasantries. Despite Murphy's concerns about Jesse's violent tendencies, Riley and Dolan give him the go-ahead to raid some of Tunstall's cattle. They also tell him to focus on the real thorn in their side, Billy the Kid.
Love in Lincoln County
MGM+
We take a break from the brewing war to catch up with the Kid's budding romance with Mexican heiress Dulcinea Del Tobosco (Nuria Vega). Out for a peaceful ride on the prairie, the two discuss Billy's new, legitimate employment with Tunstall, as well as Tobosco's heritage-rooted, traditional parents. She likes Billy but doesn't think her family will approve of her being courted by a white man, one who's appeared on "wanted" posters, no less. She's also worried about the coming fight he's involved in. Still, Dulcinea sneaks him back to her ranch, where she showcases her ability to command a horse she's tamed. The Kid is clearly smitten.
We also get a brief meeting between the Kid and Charlie, the new husband and father-to-be who helped bring Billy into Tunstall's camp last season. The Kid warns him of the coming danger and especially, the high stakes for a family man. But Charlie's committed to the cause and isn't backing down. After a fresh shave from his wife, she even says he looks like a soldier.
When we catch back up with Riley and Dolan, they're being paid a visit by Edgar Walz, son-in-law and agent of the aforementioned Thomas Catron - who's clearly being set up as a big, bad player this season. Walz isn't happy. He's concerned about the struggling business and wants them to squash Tuntsall's bank plans. Before leaving, he threatens to "remove them from the equation" if they don't right the ship.
With this fresh pressure applied, Riley and Dolan pass it on to Murphy. They strongly suggest their new partner retire, but the smug businessman - enjoying his usual whiskey and cigar - refuses to relinquish the reins of his empire. Riley points a pistol at his head while Dolan gives him the nod to pull the trigger. But it's Dolan who ends up with a hole in his head, as Murphy and Riley are apparently in cahoots. But it seems a strained, fragile relationship, as the latter tells the former he could be next if he doesn't play ball.
Following this, er, business restructuring, Murphy holds a meeting for all interested parties, including a Hispanic man and longtime supporter of his with strong influence in the Mexican community. Riley assures all in attendance that business is good despite Dolan's recent "suicide." Riley also pulls Jesse aside and gives him the green light to raid Tunstall's stock, which is kept at Dick Brewer's place while John visits Las Vegas on business.
The meeting takes a dark, disturbing turn, however, when Evans invites one of the Hispanic man's daughters into a nearby room for an impromptu tryst. Her father walks in on them and pulls a gun on Jesse, prompting Murphy to intercede. Feeling his oats, Jesse not only fires a shot at the man's feet, but informs him he'll have his way with his daughter - and the whole world - if he so pleases.
Rising stakes and escalating tension
MGM+
Another meeting is taking place at Tunstall's, where we learn sharp-dressed attorney Alex McSween (Luke Camilleri) plans to fight Murphy and his corrupt ring connections in court on behalf of the farmers they're cheating. During this same rendezvous, Billy's also brutally honest with some of his men, telling them that while he believes in Tunstall, his forces aren't as skilled as Murphy's seasoned killers. John also pulls the Kid aside to ask a delicate favor: He wants Billy to pay Jesse a visit to try and persuade his old friend to leave Murphy's employment.
The Kid agrees, later showing up at the Seven Rivers camp to confront his estranged buddy. He tells Jesse he cares about him and hates seeing him mixed up with the crooked Murphy. But Jesse doesn't appreciate Billy showing up on his literal white horse, preaching to him about right and wrong. The pair ultimately pull pistols on each other. The Kid gets the jump, but doesn't take the shot. Accepting that his former friend is past the point of no return, Billy bids him farewell and rides off.
But Billy also makes a new friend in this episode, one Tom O' Folliard (Pepe Johnson.) The famed, historic figure shows up from Texas, wanting to meet his "hero," Billy the Kid, and hopefully team up with him for some outlaw adventures. But looking out for the eager young man's best interests and safety, Billy turns him away. He has a change of heart, however, when he learns O'Folliard's tragic past closely mirrors his own. He agrees to take him on and teach him ranching.
Back in town, Billy and Charlie spy Dulcinea with another man. The Kid seems crushed when his friend tells him she's supposedly engaged to be married. Our visit to town also introduces Judge Wilson, an old man with an affection for cats but no love for the Santa Fe ring. He agrees to help the visiting McSween file charges against Murphy, who apparently had a hand in killing the judge's son.
In an episode full of fresh faces, we meet one more in the episode's final moments. Edgar Walz - who you'll remember paid Riley and Dolan an ominous visit earlier in the episode - returns to Santa Fe to meet his boss and daddy-in-law Thomas Catron. Cocky and confident with Murphy's partners, Walz now comes off like an intimidated puppy dog before Catron.
More menacing mafioso than boring banker, the businessman is unconcerned with Murphy, Riley, or Walz's recent dealings with them. He wants to know about the Kid. He prides himself in possessing knowledge and power but seems to be lacking in both when it comes to the notorious outlaw he's been hearing so much about. With a clenched fist, he commands his cowering son-in-law to look into the matter: "Who the hell is Billy the Kid and how do I get to him?"
"Billy the Kid"'s Season 2 premiere ends as it started, with a fire. But this blaze is significantly different than the one threatening Billy's life in the episode's cold opening. The Kid's sitting in front of a peaceful campfire when an apparition-like figure emerges from the darkness. It's the kind, old wagon train leader that initially led Billy and his family out west in episode 1. The surprise visitor, who also taught Billy how to handle a gun when he was just a boy, tells him he's proud of the path he's taken but warns: "Just remember. Things don't always turn out the way you want them to." With that, the man fades away, we see a quick flashback of Billy's doting mom on her deathbed, and the screen goes black. As the credits roll, we hear a gun cocking, firing, then loading another bullet into its chamber.
Questions and Predictions
- Where's Pat Garret? The outlaw turned lawman plays an important role in the series, not to mention the actual history of Billy the Kid, but he's absent in the Season 2 opener. He was definitely missed, but given that he's the man ultimately credited with the Kid's death, we expect him to pop up in a big way real soon.
- Prediction: The series will have some fun with Billy and Dulcinea's budding romance: If the show continues down its historically accurate path, there won't be much narrative room for plot twists and character-driven surprises. That said, the increasingly complex relationship between the Kid and Dulcinea -- and her supposed fiancee -- is fictional, allowing the writers to get creative and throw some curve balls into the existing Old West history.
- Fact, fiction, or a little bit of both? Season 2 has already introduced a ton of real-life figures, from Buckshot Roberts and Thomas Catron to Dick Brewer and Tom O'Folliard. But while a quick Google search will tell you what became of these famous faces, it's unclear if the series will side with history or spice things up with its own take. Either way, we look forward to comparing the show's retelling with what really happened.
- Prediction: The gun-slinging action is about to skyrocket: The premiere spent most of its runtime setting the stakes, introducing the prominent players, and generally preparing us for the coming Lincoln County war. As such, we expect the remainder of the season to heat up significantly, letting the bullets fly and body counts rise as the exposition-heavy premiere gives way to several weeks of the sort of heart-stopping action that was hinted at in the episode's fiery, flash-forward opening.
New episodes of "Billy the Kid" Season 2 air Sundays on MGM+.
