Episode 2 of Outer Range's second season kicks off with Royal wandering through the vast pasture. As he surveys the landscape, his gaze falls upon mysterious holes dotting the ground. Intrigued, he discovers a tent peg buried in the soil, inscribed with the words "Property of UW."
Meanwhile, Cece's faith has waned, and she seeks to rekindle it within the church's walls. She arrives armed with flyers, determined to spread the news about Amy's disappearance. Autumn, enraged by the whispers surrounding Cece's plight, boldly speaks out, labeling the gossipers as "hypocritical hypocrites."
As the two women depart, Autumn opens up to Cece in the car. She reveals that she's suffered from a nagging headache since childhood, and her adoptive mother has never offered any satisfying explanations. Autumn's roots remain a mystery to her.
Elsewhere, Wayne's voice echoes through the silence, serenading the unconscious Billy. Luke, however, is on the verge of a breakdown, struggling to maintain composure. Suddenly, a shout rings out, heralding the arrival of Patricia. But it's not Patricia's voice that rouses Billy from his slumber; it's a song, a melody echoing in Billy's mind, sung by Autumn. Upon awakening, Billy reveals a brand on his chest, the mark of Abbott's ranch. Wayne is stunned, his resolve hardening. He vows to confront Royal, adopting an "Old Testament" approach.
At the cat motel, the owner's infatuation with Rhett is palpable. A fleeting scene unfolds, reminiscent of the comedic truck driver car wash scene in Dodgeball, adding a bizarre yet surreal touch to the narrative. As Rhett works to fix their vehicle, Maria arrives and suggests they set their sights on Montana, specifically Whitefish, when they hit the road again.
Royal presents his findings to Dr. Nia at UW, eager for answers. She examines the evidence from the wilderness, puzzled by its complexity. The elemental components confound her, and she posits a theory. She believes that "time" itself is trapped beneath the soil. "Science doesn't make sense until it does," she muses, determined to unravel the mystery, preferably with her own hands.
As Royal departed, he casually left a bullet resting on the table, a stark reminder that this land belonged to him and he would not relinquish it without a fierce battle. At the bar, Rhett and Maria paused to bid farewell, yet Rhett's heart sank upon realizing Amy's absence. He couldn't leave now, and though Maria felt a twinge of disappointment, she understood the gravity of the situation.
Royal was present, and the two engaged in a conversation. Royal was aware that the Tillersons were vying for his ranch, and now, an additional challenge emerged with Nia. Flashing back to the past, Perry, now adopting the moniker Ben, unexpectedly appeared at the bar, mirroring a scene we had witnessed in the current timeline. He spotted Royal and sternly warned him to cease his relentless pursuit of work. Perry was blunt, devoid of any pretense, and revealed that Royal was his father, having traversed the same portal. Given Royal's intricate backstory, it was plausible that he would believe Perry's claims.
As they delved into the future, or rather Perry's past, a perplexing question arose: Would divulging such information disrupt the fragile fabric of causality? After all, if one revealed someone's fate and they actively sought to alter it, wouldn't it unravel the intricate tapestry of time? Fortunately, we didn't delve into such depths, as Royal pondered the consequences if Perry remained stranded in the past. For the moment, Royal ushered Perry into his home, where a surprise awaited: Wayne Tillerson, romantically entwined with Cece, a revelation that shook Perry's worldview to its core.
The duo mounted their steeds and ventured forth, determined to address their rental concerns. But Joy's heart skipped a beat when she encountered the unlikeliest of sights—the diminutive Royal Abbott, accompanied by his family. In this era, the portal had seemingly vanished, rendering Joy's hopes of a return to her former life as mere wishful thinking. She had to embrace this new reality as her fate.
Upon returning to their camp, Joy clasped her phone tightly, gazing fondly at the faded photographs before its battery succumbed to the inevitable. With no means to recharge it, she felt a sense of finality wash over her, signaling the end of her old life.
As the episode drew to a close, the scene shifted back to the present timeline. Cece engaged Royal in conversation, revealing the gaps in his knowledge. She mentioned Amy and how Rebecca had reclaimed her after her affair with Lewis Mays, a fact we had gleaned from earlier episodes. However, Amy's whereabouts remained shrouded in mystery.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Autumn cycled through the pages of her bible, stumbling upon passages about kindness and compassion. But amidst these pious words, ominous signs hinted at turmoil brewing beneath the surface. What role would Autumn play in this intricate puzzle? We would have to bide our time and watch with bated breath.
