One of the most intriguing facets of the legend of Billy the Kid is its conspiratorial air surrounding his death. The tale goes that Billy met his end in Pete Maxwell's house in Fort Sumner, at the hands of Pat Garrett. However, many people believe otherwise, with myths and legends sprouting like wildflowers, and years later, individuals claiming to be the grown-up Billy the Kid. I bring this up because "Breaking the Shackles," Episode 5 of Season 3, seems to have devoted three entire episodes to Billy's death, leaving us wondering what we'll do with the remaining time if he's already gone. Most of the other major characters are already dead or not particularly compelling, and their stories only matter in relation to Billy's. Are we going to delve into the idea that Billy the Kid's death wasn't as it seemed?
We start where we left off, with Pat having arrested Billy after killing Charlie Bowdre. Billy is quickly tried, sentenced to death, and ordered back to Lincoln for execution, escorted by Pat. When Pat has to ride to Santa Fe to pick up his death warrant, he leaves Billy caged and under the watchful eye of his two remaining deputies, James Bell and Bob Olinger. While Olinger and Billy despise each other, Bell is more accommodating, fetching Billy food and even sitting with him in his cell to play cards – a move that seems like a recipe for disaster.
Naturally, it's Bell that Billy manipulates to facilitate his escape. Using a trip to the bathroom as an excuse, Billy jumps Bell and holds him at gunpoint. But when Bell refuses to follow instructions, Billy is forced to kill him, albeit reluctantly. Olinger doesn't get the same courtesy – Billy shoots him without hesitation. And just like that, he's free again. The citizens of Lincoln are more than happy to see him go, including Emily, who earlier argued with her father over his irrational hatred for Billy based on his Irish heritage.
Billy heads straight to reunite with Dulcinea while gaining even more infamy in the press. One of the more popular stories – a complete fabrication – is that he's specifically gunning for Thomas Catron, which terrifies him so much that he starts working on his marksmanship in the back garden. He also gives Pat a month to round up a new posse and hunt him down again or face losing his badge.
In my opinion, Billy the Kid Season 3, Episode 5 falters slightly, as it condenses a two-month period into a mere handful of scenes. It might have been more effective to stretch this out slightly, amplifying the tension under which Pat finds himself, and perhaps even intensifying Catron's growing paranoia as Billy remains at large. However, that does not occur. Instead, Pat embarks on a brief tour of all Billy's known associates, including the heavily pregnant Dulcinea, who he slaps for refusing to divulge any information. He then patiently awaits the inevitable confrontation at Pete Maxwell's place.
"Breaking the Shackles" ends with Pat striking the decisive blow on Billy, shooting him in the darkness, presumably fatally. But there's a bit more left unaddressed elsewhere. Jesse and the other Regulators are held in Mesilla, New Mexico, but since there's no active warrant out for their arrest, they can't be charged, and all end up being released. They ride back for Lincoln, with the exception of Jesse, who decides to head for Silver City instead, believing that they cannot help Billy and not wanting to witness his demise. And this is the last we see of them, really. There must be more to come from everyone, especially Jesse, whose fate was never confirmed, than this.
