As seen in “The Fangs of Freedom,” the American West remains as vicious as ever in Season 1, Episode 5. Taylor Sheridan and Christina Voros wrote and directed Episode 5, which involves our first major character death of the series, and it’s a doozy. While saving Isabel May from a bandit, Ennis (Eric Nelsen) meets his untimely demise while protecting Elsa, whom he had just begun dating. But the loss of Ennis is particularly painful because his and Elsa’s future looked so promising. There had been numerous casualties in 1883.
As the episode opens, Wade (James Landry Hébert), Ennis, and Elsa have just crossed the Brazos River and are now riding with the herd in pursuit of their prey. The scene turns to Captain Shea (Sam Elliott) weeping in frustration over the bungled river crossing as the trio worries about robbers and Native Americans that might be chasing them. We’re creating too many widows,” Shea tells Thomas (LaMonica Garrett). “There are too many orphans in our country.” To Thomas’ recollection, the buried waggon contained all of the settlers’ provisions. In response to Shea and Thomas’ efforts to get the group going, Josef (Marc Rissmann) screams and slams the door shut. To show leadership, Shea encourages Josef to confront a thief, but he is beaten up. The thief and his gang are expelled from the waggon train by Shea and James, who intervene to protect the peace.
Margaret goes to check on Elsa and the herd after the crossing. She discovers Elsa and Ennis having sex despite Elsa’s cautions to the contrary. Despite her fury, she manages to keep her feelings in check until the next morning. Elsa visits Ennis after a heated discussion with her mother, and the two decide to get married.
With his blessing unwillingly given (and a few punches to Ennis in frustration), James teams up with Shea, Thomas and Wade to engage the bandits before they can sneak up on the waggon party and strike on their terms. To get their hands on the bandits, the four men use Josef and Risa (Anna Fiamora) as bait. The settlers are armed and ready to defend themselves this time. Ennis is shot in the chest by a bandit who manages to get away. Elsa is enraged by the death of Ennis, so she takes her revolver and shoots the man who killed him. It is now Elsa’s turn to grow up.
1883 Episode 5 has several significant events, and we’ll take a look at the five most crucial ones here.
Contents
Josef and Shea Exchange Words
Shea and Thomas’ plans to keep going without a break after the horrific river crossing enrage Josef. It doesn’t take Shea long to deliver the unpalatable news to Josef: “We are here to show you the path. To ensure your safety. “We are not your people’s leaders; that is your responsibility.” “You best start soon because most of your food is in the bottom of that river since you opted to put it all on one fucking cart,” Shea says as Josef is taken aback. In an attempt to explain the group’s chemistry to Shea, Josef argues that “we had no option. We’re not all close friends or relatives, either. We only met because we were on the same ship. It’s not uncommon for certain people to take from others whatever they desire or require.
It’s no surprise that Shea and Thomas urge Josef to identify the culprits because they know how they deal with criminals. Shea advises Josef to face the food thief with a bushy beard himself to establish leadership. Immediately after saying, “Your food was our food before you took it,” Josef is handed his ass by the thief. Even though James is compelled to intervene (“You’re going to eat all of this alone, big boy?”) and Shea is the one to expel the robber from the waggon train, this moment is significant for Josef who begins to explain to the settlers his duty as the waggon train’s leader.
Some Motherly Advice
Margaret visits Elsa, the herd’s newest member, after leaving James to look after John for the week. Soon after, Elsa admits to kissing Ennis, saying, “Maybe I love him.” When he looks at me, I feel like I’m on a roller coaster. When he does, I get butterflies in my stomach. When Margaret isn’t sure whether or not Elsa understands the difference between lust and love, she brings her down to the river for a bath and shares some wisdom: “I envy you. Out here, becoming a woman. There are no rules. There’s no need to be concerned. “No one will tell you what to do.” Margaret tells Elsa, “This route is as free as you’ll ever be,” after listing the social obligations placed on women. Your heart’s rules are the only ones you need to adhere to.”
When Elsa chooses to follow her heart and be with Ennis, Margaret’s speech backfires like a tonne of bricks. Margaret keeps in her rage until the next morning when Elsa approaches her and she sees them together again. One wrong decision can alter your life for the rest of your days,” Margaret admonishes. Because of this, whatever decision you make must be extremely cautious. There is no such thing as free will, Elsa, and every option bears the threat of vengeance.” For once, Margaret wishes she could have seen the world through Elsa Elsa: “Just once I’d love to view the world through your eyes. For once, Margaret.” “You’ll see it through my eyes one day and it tears my heart.”
Elsa and Ennis Are in Love
Elsa is ready to fully commit herself to Ennis after a few innocent kisses and flirtations. Ennis is keeping watch at the camp due to the imminent danger of robbers when Elsa approaches him in her nightgown. He admits his virginity to her when they start kissing because Ennis had tried to sleep with someone in Dodge City but had been unsuccessful. I didn’t like her, he says. He explains: My body simply wouldn’t let it. You know she couldn’t put me through this. No matter how much I paid for her services. “If you want me to, I’ll do it.” “I want you to do it,” she tells him simply. The two have a tender moment under the sky.
The whole camp, including Margaret and James, quickly finds out about their night together. When Elsa asks Ennis whether he’ll help her raise a child before joining the herd, he responds, “Are you a man enough?” Ennis responds, “Hell yes, I’m man enough!” without hesitating. “I’m not sure if I’m that fortunate.” Before they launch their surprise attack on the bandits who have been chasing them, the two intend to be married. Elsa screams, “I chose it! I chose it!” as James knocks Ennis off his horse and begins to pummel him. I went to him and I love him.” I’ll take your licks if you’ve got more to give!” Ennis tells James. I’m a man, and I’ll take what comes my way. “Sure, I’ll include her.” It’s Ennis who responds, “I ain’t asking nothing,” to James’ question about asking for his permission to marry Elsa. I’ll take her if she loves me. If you don’t hand her over to me, I will go to hell and take her from you. “It’s true, I swear.” James’ praise of Ennis is motivated by his affection for his daughter.
The Wagon Train Vs. The Bandits
Even though they were powerless to stop the bandits from ambushing and killing the food thief and his gang, James, Shea, Thomas, and Wade vowed to protect their group. The waggon train departs, leaving Josef and Risa behind as a ruse for the bandits. Indeed, a bandit approaches Risa while she is preparing stew, and she and Josef shoot him dead with their shotguns. A group of robbers ambushes and attacks the villains as they ride up on horseback: Josef and Risa flee while everyone else starts shooting at them. This place? What is it?!” Risa screams at Josef. “What’s the matter with you?” We’d have the same queries.
As the bandits flee, Margaret and the other settlers open fire on them as well, with James, Shea, Thomas, and Wade following behind them. Once more, a bandit attacks the herd and Elsa, and Ennis is the only one who can stop him. Even though Ennis’ death is tragic, this attack brings the waggon train together. Finally, the settlers put the group’s interests ahead of their own and pay attention to its leaders.
The Death of Ennis
James travels to Ennis to be with Ennis in his final moments when the bandit is subdued. Ennis tells James one final time before he passes away: “I loved her.” I don’t doubt it at all, son,” James says with tears in his eyes. Elsa goes to Ennis as the bandit is taken into custody by the men. Margaret tries to comfort Elsa, but she can’t help it. When Sheridan writes, “Today my eyes died,” that’s exactly how Elsa feels. The world now appears to me as if it were seen by my mother. Freedom indeed has fangs, and they bit me. As a result of our mutual decision-making, I was rendered colourblind by a stranger’s decision to murder the guy I had chosen to love.
Ennis’ killer is hacked to death in front of the rest of her family and friends while Elsa stands silently by. En route back, Elsa says to Ennis: “Maybe killing this man would restore my sight.” Possibly not. But I decided to find out.” There is no longer the naïve girl who fell in love with the wilderness as a child. She is now an exhausted lady, traumatised for life by the brutality of the West’s civilization.
