Season #1
Thankyou to Karen for the time and effort spent on writing these episode synopses.
The Kid
This episode follows Kid (Ty Miller) as he joins up
with five other “boys” (Stephen Baldwin, Josh Brolin,
Travis Fine, Gregg Rainwater, and Yvonne Suhor) to man
a way station in the newly formed Pony Express. This
station is located outside the town of Sweetwater and
is to be the home to these boys when they aren’t
delivering the mail.
After the introductions of all the characters is
finished, the boys must track down and retrieve the
stolen mail pouch. In the process they learn much
about each other. (especially Kid and Lou), and begin
to form the friendships that will see them through the
adventures they are to face together.
Gunfighter
While trying to come to terms with memories from his
past Jimmy (Josh Brolin) accidentily spooks a
gunfighter’s horse causing the man to fall off and
land in the mud. This starts a chain of events that
leads to a confrontation between Jimmy and the
gunfighter, Longley.
Speak No Evil
Ike (Travis Fine) witnesses a stagecoach robbery and
the murder of one of its passengers. While handling
his guilt over not stopping the murder, he runs into
the man responsible (Nickerson). Ike decides to turn
him in. This is when the fun starts because now Ike
and the other riders must manage to get Ike to the
place where the trial is to be held and keep him and
themselves alive long enough for Ike to testify.
Home of the Brave
When the Kiowa decide to go after the Pony Express,
Buck (Gregg Rainwater) must decide where his loyalties
lie. This becomes even more important an issue when
Ike(Travis Fine) is captured by the Kiowa. This
dilemma is made even harder for Buck because the war
chief of the tribe that is causing the trouble for the
Pony Express is Red Bear(Michael Wren), Buck’s older,
half-brother.
Bad Blood
Lou goes to get Teresa and Jeremiah from the
orphanage, only to discover that they have been taken
by their father. When the other riders go to help get
them back, they discover that Lou is really Louise
(Yvonne Suhor).
Black Ulysses
The arrival of a runaway slave causes problems for Sam
and the riders when a Missouri State Militia comes
after him.
His presence also causes Kid and the others to take a
look at some of their views and beliefs.
(Presonal note: The scene where Teaspoon (Anthony
Zerbe) does his best to delay the militia on its way
to Sweetwater is one of my favorite._
Ten Cent Hero
After Jimmy humiliates a “dime novelist”, he writes a
book making Jimmy out to be a gunfighter. The new
found fame causes Jimmy much grief in the form of
teasing from his fellow riders, townspeople, even
Emma. Jimmy also has to deal with strangers who think
he’s the new “king of the hill” and want to make a
name for themselves by taking him down..
False Colors
Kid’s older brother, Jed, shows up in an army uniform
after a ten year separation.He regals the riders with
tales of his life. He shows them how to have a good
time. We learn that Kid’s life before the express was
not a happy one.
Unfortunately, Jed is not the man he seems to be, and
is after the army’s gold.
(Personal note: Once again there is a wonderful scene
for comic relief as Teaspoon tries to teach the riders
how to play baseball.)
A Good Day to Die
While on a run, Kid finds a waystation that has been
burned. There is one survivor who mentions that the
mail pouch was taken and then says “Snake Man”. Kid
takes this to be the name of the person responsibile.
As he looks around the area, he finds a Sioux brave,
Curly (Rob Estes). While trying to take Curly to town
to face trail, Kid encounters many obstacles. He
finally gets Curly to town only to discover that he’s
brought in the wrong man. The Indian agent and some of
his friends are trying to cause trouble so they can
get the land for the Sioux. In the end, the riders
find out and stop anything from happening.
(Personal note: I have to agree with Jimmy when he
says about Curly, “I love this guy’s attitude.”. Curly
has some really great lines. My favorite is when after
Kid asks him about knowing Snake Man and he has
responded no and Kid asks, “He’s Indian, ain’t he?”
and Curly replys, “Do you know every white man by
name?” I knew from that point on that I was going to
like this character. :-) )
End of Innocence
Emma is going to Fort Reunion to be with an old friend
who is giving birth. Jimmy is assigned to accompany
her and protect her because there is some Indian
trouble in the area. It turns out that the trouble is
because of the captain at the Fort. He has lead an
unprovoked attack on an Indian village that is suppose
to be under the army’s protection.
Jimmy and Emma develop a closeness on this trip. We
learn about Emma’s ex-husband and the death of their
child. We learn a little about Jimmy’s past and the
fact that he grew up with sisters.
Blind Love
Jimmy meets an intriguing and mysterious woman who
appears to be trapped in an abusive relationship with
a much older man. Jimmy gets drawn into the situation
and winds up in a mess of trouble.
This episode also begins to deal with the development
of the growing tension between Kid and Lou and Jimmy
and Kid.
The Keepsake
Amanda O’Conner arrives bearing news from Teaspoon’s
past. She introduces herself as Elizabeth Kelley, the
daughter of an old flame of Teaspoon. She tells of her
life with her mother and presents Teaspoon with a
letter from her mother. The letter contains
information about money that has been left for
Teaspoon and how he is to claim it. The letter also
tells Teaspoon that Elizabeth is his daughter.
(Personal Note: This is a great Teaspoon episode.)
Fall from Grace
An old friend of Teaspoon shows up in Sweetwater and
ends up getting killed. The riders get involved in
finding out why. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Teaspoon have a
falling out and Jimmy leaves the pony express. Jimmy
goes to work for Grace at the brothel in town.
(Personal Note: The fight scene in the brother between
Bo (the strong man who keeps order) and Jimmy and Cody
is great.)
Hard Time
On the way home from a special ride to St. Joseph, Kid
and Cody take a side trip to the town of Prosperity.
While there, Kid is thrown in jail for causing a
disturbance. This leads to the riders uncovering a
corrupt lawman and a mining operation that has been
stolen by the local banker.
(Personal Note: Once again Teaspoon provides the
impetus for the comic relief by the purchasing of a
volasapie--an old-time bicycle with the one large and
one small wheel.)
Lady for a Night
At the end of a run, Lou decides to stay at the hotel
in town instead of the way station. Since it’s not
Sweetwater, she decides to buy a new dress and be a
lady for the evening. While out, she meets Tyler
Dewitt, an insurance salesman, and allows him to spend
time with her.
When it later turns out that Tyler is a thief, Lou is
instrumental in his capture.
(Personal Note: I thing the scene with Emma that leads
up the the ‘tea party’ to introduce the others to
Louise is a gem. I also think the scene where Lou
shoots Tyler is one of the best of the series. I love
when she tells him, “Don’t be surprised. You had it
coming.”)
Unfinished Business
A wagon train of settlers headed for Salt Lake is
attacked. Everyone is left for dead. The guide, Evan
Crandall, survives and escapes with the hidden
treasure that was meant for the church. He shows up in
Sweetwater where it is revealed that he is Emma’s
husband. He askes Emma for a place to stay for a short
time. Emma agrees because she feels she owes him for
something he did years before that allowed her to turn
her life around and become the person she is today.
It turns out that he was involved with the robbers and
they know he has the treasure. This brings problems to
Sweetwater and the riders when the robbers come
gunning for him.
(Personal Note: The scene between Sam and Emma while
she is mending his pants is really cute.)
Matched Pair
A man,Brad, from Jimmy’s past comes seeking his help.
He needs to find the daughter, Clara, of the man that
taught them how to shoot. This brings up memories of
his past, and allows us to find out some about Jimmy.
Jimmy agrees to go help because he was close the
Clara.
When it turns out that Clara wasn’t kidnapped as Jimmy
was told, he tries to stop them from taking her. Clara
ends up killing herself and Jimmy is injured.
He gets back to the way station to find that Clara has
sent him the leager that can protect them. He decides
to make things right and in the process must fact
Brad. This is how Jimmy gets his matched pair of guns.
The Man Behind the Badge
In this episode, Sam’s past is explored. When a man
from Sam’s past comes to Sweetwater and tries to take
over, Emma, Teaspoon, and the riders help Sam stop
him. Sam’s life before Sweetwater is explained, and
why he turned to the gun and back away from it.
Then There Was One
As the twenty-fifth anniversary of the fall of the
Alamo approaches, Teaspoon is having trouble dealing
with the fact that he made it out alive. When another
“survivor” shows up and tells him that he fears they
are being hunted, Teaspoon joins him on a quest to
find out what is going on. Jimmy and Buck follow
despite orders not to.
Gathering Clouds (parts I & II)
This is the two-part season one finale. As the war
between the states approaches, there is a gang -
Hawk’s Raiders - that is giving the army a hard time.
They are stealing shipments and dispatches. They seem
to have inside information. To catch them, Kid goes
undercover and joins the group. Jimmy also gets
involved and the two of them unmask the Hawk.
There is a side story about Ike and a mail-order bride
named Annie. She came from St. Louis only to find that
her husband to be is presumed dead after a cave-in at
the mining company he works for. Ike is attracted to
Annie and starts to court her. Just as he is preparing
to ask her to marry him, her fiance shows up.
