In the most explosive and grandiose episode of Billy the Kid Season 2 thus far, the Lincoln County War officially ignites, the Regulators take shape, and a pivotal character bites the dust. Episode 3, titled "The Agony," whips through this entire gamut in a seamless 45-minute span, an impressive feat given the sheer magnitude of events unfolding. This feels like a pivotal moment, both for Billy as a character and for the show itself, as it builds to a sinister crescendo for both. The stakes have never been higher, and the tense stand-offs where neither man pulls the trigger seem like a distant memory.
Power, it turns out, requires a face, albeit one that is often borrowed. In Lincoln, New Mexico, that face belongs to Sheriff Brady, who in reality wields little power. Yet he seems to have more than anyone else thanks solely to his association. He strides into Tunstall's store and revokes Dick Brewer's deputy badge on the orders of Thomas Catron, knowing full well that Brewer or McSween can do nothing about it.
And everyone in town knows what's happening. Brewer calls out the corruption openly. McSween threatens legal recourse, which Brady knows is futile given the House's control over the courts. It's a frustrating scenario that's all too relatable, staring at that face and imagining the corruption lurking behind it.
Billy's insistence on the inevitability of war with Tunstall stems from a profound understanding of human nature's relentless pursuit of power. The ill-fated jailbreak in Episode 2 was a testament to Tunstall's naivety in believing that those in positions of authority would willingly share their power. Yet, history has taught us that such a notion is but a distant dream. Tunstall's naivete cost him his life, as he met his end at the hands of Jesse Evans and his gang, who came to repossess the cattle and horses.
Tunstall's death was a mere afterthought in the eyes of Jesse and his crew, who saw no resistance in an empty ranch and decided to take their hunt elsewhere. The encounter was over in a matter of seconds, and Tunstall's days were indeed numbered, regardless of his survival against smallpox.
Billy, who had come to see Tunstall as a father figure, took his death hard. He vowed to take revenge on all those responsible and formed the Regulators, an outfit with a singular purpose: to seek justice or, failing that, extrajudicial retribution against the men who killed Tunstall.
The Regulators consisted of Billy, Dick Brewer, Charlie Bowdre, Tom O'Folliard, and Alex McSween at their helm, imbuing the group with a semblance of legal legitimacy. Billy was all in on this plan, so much so that he blurted out his intentions to Dulcinea and insisted that war was coming to Lincoln County sooner rather than later. His reformed nature seemed to be nothing but a facade.
In the climax of "The Agony," Billy and the Regulators tracked down Billy Morton and Frank Baker, two members of Jesse's gang. It was here that things took a dark turn.
At this point, the Regulators still operated under the guise of legitimacy. Dick Brewer, despite not wearing a badge, had a heart for law and trusted the process. However, Billy did not share this sentiment, and he was probably right not to. The shootout that ensued left Billy and Frank surrounded, with Billy understanding that their arrest would be but a temporary respite. If they were taken back to town, Brady would find a way to release them one way or another.
