Boring The Devil
Episode 6 of 1883 sees the caravan head toward Doan’s Crossing. This is a border town of sorts, and somewhere the gang can catch their bearings and prepare for the next leg of their journey. ..
Elsa is consumed with grief, but out of all the people who know what she’s going through, it’s Shea who shows with wise words of wisdom. After burning his house down and losing his wife, Shea admits he has his own reasons for living. Shea believes no one is left to love him but he’s bound for the ocean to fulfill his own promise and dream to his beloved. It’s a really beautiful and touching chat, one that perfectly exemplifies how Elsa is feeling. In fact, it’s so touching that Elsa returns to work, albeit still grieving.
Elsa is having a difficult time controlling her anger and it’s beginning to get the group into trouble. James orders Elsa to leave and return to the caravan, warning her that if she doesn’t control her anger, it will get them all in trouble. ..
Thomas, the cook, is a hard worker who is always willing to help out with the caravan. He has strict but fair rules that require $600 for him to board, but he’s willing to go above and beyond to make sure everyone is comfortable. If there are any problems or shortages, he’s more than happy to help out.
Another new cowboy has been hired to replace Ennis. Colton, a young and charismatic man, is met with resistance from Elsa, the ranch owner. He apologizes for what happened to Ennis, admitting that he actually knew the man. “He was a good hand.” Colton says. Realizing she’s in mourning, he respectfully keeps his distance for now. ..
Unfortunately, the caravan is running into a river and they’re going to have to cross it again. Shea deplores that they’re losing time, “We should be in Kansas by now!”
The thing is, this is a tough crossing and after this, they’ve got the desert and then the mountain to tackle. Shea believes in tough love, determined to have the immigrants fend for themselves in order to survive. Thomas is far more understanding and level-headed than his partner, unsure whether this is actually a good place to teach them a lesson.
Thomas hires a cook to take care of his wife, Noemi. He also buys her gifts, specifically an off-the-shelf mirror. His reasoning comes from his belief that she is beautiful and he wants her to see herself as she is. However, Thomas soon realizes that taking care of Noemi and buying her gifts are acts of love in and of themselves. Under the flickering light of their campfire, Noemi strips off and kisses him. ..
In the morning, Noemi holds Thomas’s hand and stops him from calling her “ma’am.” She replaces the formal “ma’am” with the more intimate and informal “Noemi.”
Elsa begins to come to terms with her grief after a chat with her father and Shea. When Shea arrives, Elsa kisses him on the cheek and crosses to the other side.
The Episode Review
1883 is one of the best shows on TV right now. It’s beautifully written, with deep, interesting characters and some gorgeous scenery. Not only that but the themes this show wrestles with, including grief, loss, belonging and love, all resonate deeply through the individual episodes. ..
The showrunners have managed to keep the tension high throughout its entire run, but also manage to create reflective chapters that help to calm the nerves. The overall atmosphere is one of intense suspense and excitement, but also one of profound peace and tranquility.
Elsa’s grief is explored in depth in this chapter. Near the beginning of the chapter, Elsa and Shea have a conversation that perfectly sums up how to deal with grief. Numerous references to the devil are made, as this is an episode about crossing into more dangerous territory. I imagine we will see more deaths before the season is over. ..
The next episode of “The Walking Dead” looks set to take off in a new and exciting direction, with many questions yet to be answered. This should be an exciting and captivating show to follow.
