The clash between the House and John Tunstall continues to rage on multiple fronts in Billy the Kid Season 2, particularly in Episode 2, "Sickness." We find Thomas Catron, the head of the Santa Fe Ring, who made a brief appearance in the premiere, issuing orders to shut down Tunstall's bank while he's away on business. The ongoing conflict is tearing not just the major players and their gangs apart but also the ordinary townsfolk caught in the crossfire, raising the stakes and pitting citizens against their community's figureheads. The tension is palpable, yet the series remains relatively restrained for now.
While Tunstall is away, Jesse and his gang liberate some horses under the protection of the deputy sheriff, who uses his position to coerce the actual sheriff, bribed and paid for by Catron, into leading a posse to hunt down Jesse and his crew for the crime. This is the main event of the episode, resulting in Jesse's gang being apprehended and his horses being released. However, this outcome is later reversed for reasons that will be explained in due course.
Before delving into the meat of the matter, let's address the dryer stuff first.
Rumors abound that Billy's love interest, Dulcinea, is already betrothed, and when Billy sees her playing nice with another man, he falls into a major sulk. Dulcinea explains that the man he saw her with is her brother, but she is indeed arranged to be married to a man from a wealthy family since she was a child. This prompts Billy to take a bold step and visit Dulcinea's father to air his grievances about the concept of arranged marriage. His argument is persuasive, and later, Dulcinea's father opens up to her about his own marriage to her mother. He has come to believe that being free people in a free country like America means having the freedom to make their own choices, and he wants Dulcinea to have that freedom too.
As Tunstall returns from his sojourn in Vegas, he embarks on a bold venture, ordering his men to liberate Jesse and his comrades from the local jail. The impetus for this daring move? Fear, a potent force that lurked in the shadows while he convalesced from smallpox in the city. In his most vulnerable state, Edgar Walz, like a sly predator, loomed over him, brandishing the threat of death unless he complied. This near-death experience left Tunstall trembling with a newfound sense of dread, and he returned home with a resolve to broker a fragile peace.
The release of Jesse and his crew was but the first step in this delicate dance of diplomacy. Tunstall reasoned that Murphy would be more receptive to negotiation following such a gesture of good faith. Despite Billy's reservations, he was compelled to join in, as the sheriff was bribed into turning a blind eye. Yet, Tunstall's gamble proved miscalculated when Jesse, without hesitation, put one of his men in harm's way and declared that peace between them was an unattainable dream.
Jesse's message was clear: while he might spare Billy's life, the war between them was inevitable. The episode concludes with Tunstall finally awakening to this unyielding reality. He apologizes to Billy for his lack of transparency and for not heeding Billy's concerns. As they shake hands, there is an understanding that Tunstall will now trust Billy unwaveringly, and he is resolute in his determination to face the fire with fire, regardless of the consequences that may follow.
