As the episode opens, Declan Harp (Jason Momoa) wakes up in a daze. He stumbles outside as his vision comes into focus. He musters all his strength, and with a pained wince cauterizes his many open wounds (with the aid of a hot knife). Ouch. Just ouch.
Meanwhile, a struggling Chesterfield (Evan Jonigkeit) sits with Grace (Zoe Boyle) in a quiet corner of the Ale House. She tries to get him centered. It’s imperative that Chesterfield arrest Benton now, and soon he will be Governor. Buoyed by Grace’s support, Chesterfield exits. His timing is perfect, as Grace barely restrains the panic in her expression as Harp enters the Ale House. She supports his body weight as she looks around, Grace needs to get Harp somewhere safe.
While Grace patches up Harp’s wounds, they talk quietly. He is physically and emotionally drained from the last episode, but despite her pleas that he stay, Harp gets up to leave.
As he watches one of Johnson’s former soldiers (Jean-Michael Le Gal) receive 50 lashes in the courtyard, Benton’s (Alun Armstrong) already tenuous rule is cracking. Chesterfield attempts to argue, but it is to no avail. As Benton leaves, he demands that all of Harp’s associates are to be shot on sight.
At the same time, Team Harp’s escape becomes much harder as Clenna (Lyla Porter-Follows) trips and breaks her leg. Sokanon (Jessica Matten) and Michael (Landon Liboiron) are forced to carry her back to Fort James.
Meanwhile, Grant (Shawn Doyle) and Malcom Brown (Michael Patric) arrive at the Ale House. It seems, Grace has been corresponding with Grant. It turns out, the pelts she has been skimming from the HBC were in fact going to Grant. As Grant leaves for a meeting with Benton, there’s a flash of panic in Grace’s eyes. Will she be caught in her own betrayal?
While Grant and Benton talk in the Hudson’s Bay Company compound, Declan Harp hovers out the window. Meanwhile, Benton and Grant resolve to meet the next day as Grant has a “proposition” for Benton.
At the same time, there’s pulsating tension in the air as Chesterfield enters the Ale House. Sitting down, he is quickly joined by Malcom Brown. Things almost come to blows between the two, who are only stopped by a pointed interruption from Grace. She pulls the aggravated Chesterfield into the back of the Ale House where he promptly proposes marriage to her. The usually unflappable Grace is stunned. Furthermore, Chesterfield is dismayed by her response, “I’d rather marry Malcom… Brown”. He barely resists the urge to strangle her before he leaves in a huff.
Later, Harp meets with Grant. Speaking under the cover of darkness, the men negotiate terms to not only take out Benton, but also to negotiate safe passage for Grace when the time comes. While their conversation comes to an end Sokanon finds Harp. Once they are alone, she tearfully pleads to help him. However, Declan’s focus is Michael. He needs her to stay and help him.
The next day, Grace is still playing all ends from the middle as she meets with Malcom Brown. As the two talk, she gift wraps a time and a location for Malcom to surprise Chesterfield. With this information, he can avenge his brother’s murder.
Later, Chesterfield and Brown do come to blows at the spot Grace specified. However, Chesterfield is a much better fighter and he leaves Brown in a bloody heap on the ground.
That night, Michael and Declan hide in the bushes as Grant and Benton slowly approach. However, Grant is playing his own angle. As they slow down, he informs Benton that Harp lies in wait to ambush them. It seems to be too late as Harp and Michael spring from the bushes. While Michael and Harp try, their assassination attempt proves to be unsuccessful.
Benton once again places Harp under guard as gallows are built outside his window. Meanwhile, Michael was able to escape, and he and Sokanon are staging another plan to rescue their boss.
Meanwhile, Michael returns to Clenna, but the two have a tearful parting as she refuses to follow him. She tells Michael that she wants a life and family, and they can’t do that in the wilderness. She wants to go home, but Michael refuses to return to England. The two will likely never be quite on the same page.
Things come to a heated conclusion as Team Harp launches their final plan. As Harp is lead to the gallows, arrows fly in, killing the outlying guards. Suddenly, an explosion shatters the stillness of the night. While the floor drops out under him, Declan’s neck luckily doesn’t break. Thanks to Father Coffin (Christian McKay) and a strategically based blade, Harp quickly cuts through the rope round his neck. As Benton readies his musket to shoot Harp, Michael fires first. His shot connects, wounding Lord Benton.
In the distraction, the freed Harp pulls himself to his feet. However, as he comes face to face with Chesterfield, the Captain fires…
As the episode comes to a close, Harp wanders through the mountains by himself. He may feel tired and weak, but he’s alive.
Viewers can watch the entire first season of Frontier on Netflix. While a second season has been announced, the release date is yet to be announced.
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