The inevitable was upon us sooner than we thought. Even Billy the Kid couldn't outrun his fate forever, and Season 3 has been a relentless reminder of that truth. The outlaw's journey is a rollercoaster of progress and setbacks; he forms new alliances only to be betrayed, teams up with Jesse to send a message to Pat Garrett, and then finds himself immediately cornered by Pat and his posse. Billy is cursed, and "The Shepherd's Hut," Episode 4, proves it.
The episode's title is fitting, as a shepherd's hut serves as Billy and the Regulators' hiding spot. It's an isolated shack in the middle of nowhere, supposed to be safe from scrutiny. However, the episode's comedic rhythm is accidentally hilarious as Billy comes up with bright ideas about their next move only for Pat to be right on their tail, thanks to the information he's receiving. This creates a feeling of cruel inevitability, but it mostly seems silly, like Pat has been reading the script.
The dialogue is laden with foreboding, even the Regulators starting to doubt the mission, if not Billy himself. An inevitable march to death has that effect on you. Despite having seen the House's capabilities firsthand, endless war, skirmishes, and life on the run don't seem like viable alternatives. Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on your perspective), Pat removes the need for tough choices. But I believe they would have been made regardless.
In "Billy the Kid" Season 3, Episode 4, there's a sense that Billy has become slightly unhinged. He can't see the forest for the trees. With "Wanted Dead or Alive" posters everywhere, he becomes obsessed with not being taken alive at any cost, even if it means his loyal followers being gunned down around him. Even when that potential future arrives and one of his closest allies lies dead on the ground, Billy is still reluctant to surrender. The idea of going out in a blaze of glory crosses his mind more than once. It takes all the Regulators surrendering themselves first to convince him that sometimes it makes more sense to live to fight another day.
On that note, RIP Charlie Bowdre. He's cornered by Pat's posse early on in "The Shepherd's Hut," but he's given a chance to save himself by parting ways with Billy's gang. He claims he will, then goes straight to Billy about it. This is partially why the whole gang set out on a lonely trail to the supposed safety of the hut. It's only fitting that Charlie meets his end during the ensuing stand-off, another decent set-piece of this season, though tempered by the fact that there's simply no way Billy and the Regulators will escape their fate.
And, alas, it is so. Charlie, mortally wounded, embarks on a perilous sacrifice, hoping to take with him one or two of his relentless pursuers. But it is a brutal, unceremonious demise for the character, whose unwavering gaze is repeatedly returned as a poignant reminder. Horse-loving fans may want to steer clear of this particular outing; there was simply no need to shoot that horse.
As for Billy the Kid, I am left pondering Pat Garrett's true intentions. He is charming enough with Emily, humbling himself after his foolish attempt to woo her. However, his pursuit of Billy borders on the psychotic, making it difficult to take seriously moments like when he threatens to shoot Bob Olinger if he executes Billy after giving him his word that he would take him alive. Is this a man who truly values his word, or is it simply about not being seen to break it publicly, thereby preserving his image? This is the justification Jesse uses when trying to compel Billy to surrender peacefully – that Pat will not allow him to be killed in cold blood, as someone in his posse would surely mention it. It strikes me as narcissistic.
With Billy still alive, we are not at the end of the story yet, and I would not be surprised if there were another escape in our immediate future. Although we have a rough understanding of what will happen, at least historically speaking, I have a hunch that there will be one or two more twists before we reach the conclusion.
