#luis reyes

Explanations of tiers and appearances under the cut

We’ll start with Hoyt. I’m glad this week we returned to Hoyt as a serious man/wily criminal who happens to be funny vs being the comic relief. I was audibly aw-ing throughout the entire exchange between him and Luis. It was so sweet to see that the Reyes’ actually do care for Hoyt, and we got to find out a little bit more about Hoyt’s family. Everyone is so untwined in Independence, it makes for such an interesting story. I died when Hoyt protected the tree stump as a landmark, so funny. Him throwing the fight and passing out on a chance for glory to get money and pull his weight on the ranch was indicative of the kind of man he is (secretly honorable underneath all of the ruffian behavior). And not to skip forward too far, but did anyone else catch the look on Francis’ face when his father mentioned there’s potentially a place for Hoyt at the ranch? I’m wondering if he killed his father in order to keep the ranch for himself, he did not look happy at the prospect of sharing the ranch with Hoyt.

A surprising amount of insight into Kate this episode, though it’s not super obvious. A past affair with her boss (no matter what wording she used with Abby) has me wondering if she used her feminine charms to get her job as a Pinkerton agent. Her inability to see who Hoyt actually is has me thinking that sometimes her self confidence blinds her, and while it’s what the team needs it could be her downfall at some point. Side note: I don’t trust Elliot at all. Between his meeting with the Sheriff and brushing Kate off after it became apparent that she wasn’t interested in sleeping with him, I think Kate might be a free agent soon.

I was not expecting the former sheriff to be Gus’ suspect! I really thought it was going to be Abby. In fact, I wasn’t expecting the former sheriff to make an appearance at all. I had just assumed he was an old man who died. What a character Otis is (or rather was, do we think he survived a shot to the abdomen?). Obviously looks are in the job description for sheriff of Independence, and I appreciate that. The case of who killed Liam Collins that seemed so straightforward has so many twists and turns. Plus now we have even more unanswered questions. And it looks like Abby is going to have to take a little break from that mystery to solve a more pressing one and clearing Calian’s name. A shame that it looked like Gus and Calian’s relationship was on the mend only for another suspicious death to happen. Was Calian hallucinating the little girl and accidentally shot Luis in a trance? Did Francis shoot his father and take advantage of Calian’s state to frame him? Who was that little girl, and what does the town of Independence/Otis have to do with her disappearance? It’s a shame that Calian’s fears about getting involved with the town had come true- he’s framed and behind bars in a world that doesn’t care to understand him or even see him as human. At least he has allies now, but will they be enough? Will his people stand behind him? What’s going through Gus’ brain? Augustus is so hard to read. I have so many questions! What a good cliffhanger.

I fall more in love with Tom Davidson every week. He’s scheming, but not in the way we all originally thought. I think he wants to put his criminal past behind him, become an honest (or as honest as you can be in the west) man, do his aunt/family proud and put Independence on the map. It was so hot when he got in that ring, and he didn’t even have to take his shirt off. What a man. And the way Abby’s presence gave him the strength to get up and got back to fighting? I will do anything for a Tom and Abby slow burn romance!!! His smile when he saw her, and her look of disgust 😍 I’m also so here for a Kai and Tom alliance, those two could effortless run the town. It was so sweet that Tom made sure that Kai got a shout out in the paper alongside him, I love that he sees him as an equal. And I would love to see Kai go from working the railroads to helping run them.

Not a lot of Abby this episode, but everyone is this cast is so good I didn’t really feel her absence. I loved her dress and hair this week, and her horse matching her so well (meaning they’re both beautiful and polished lol). I love that Abby never backs down when the men are trying to protect her. She’s really finding herself. And Kat did such a good job portraying Abby’s heartbreak over her husband not being the man she thought he was. How do you mourn someone you didn’t actually know? How do you avenge the death of a man who may have been just as corrupt as his killer? Is it even worth doing so, or should she officially leave Boston and Liam behind in favor of moving forward? Her life is very promising for a widow (law career that she thought would never be possible as a woman, handsome men, good friends), it’s almost as though she’s better off without him.

And of course the cliffhanger! Tom being stabbed! Clearly there’s a conspiracy going regarding the Independence sheriffs office, and now that Tom is a casualty the previous suspect the Davidson’s aren’t the ones behind it. Nothing is as it seems. I’m assuming Tom lives because Greg has been filming, but it still hit me hard! How am I supposed to wait for next week? How will I survive the holiday season hiatus? This show is so good, it has surpassed all of my expectations and blown me out of the water.

"I’m wondering if he killed his father in order to keep the ranch for himself," Ooh... I hadn't thought of that! (I'm rewatching right now and Hoyt called the father Francis, so Luis is the son.)

Interesting thoughts about Kate and her self-confidence. I have a feeling if there is a downfall, it will be at the expense of a friend and might shake that confidence.

Why do I get the feeling there's an incredibly tragic story behind the little girl. Also, I'm going to have to listen to the conversation about Calian and Gus' backstory (and the references to someone being shot) because I'm reading the biography of Bass Reeves, and as the story goes, he was a slave who ended up in an altercation with his owner and fled (as a runaway slave) to Indian territory where he joined up to fight against the confederacy as a Buffalo Soldier. It sounded like Gus may have a similar story.

I worried about Kai owing Tom, but it sounds like Tom might be the right kind of ally. And I loved Kai offering boxing tips! Tom is a sweetheart that needs to be protected (especially from his scheming relatives.)

I find it interesting that Abby is technically the main protagonist, but I'm so much more enamored of all the other characters. I know Abby's story drives the plot, but I'm afraid I'm losing interest in her... (don't kill me!)

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Conozcan a…

Hugo González de Monterrey

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I knew Luis killed Francis! He had the motive. I wasn’t expecting him to be in cahoots with the cattle thieves, though I don’t know if he is actually innocent of that crime like he claimed.

I’m so happy that Gus and Calian’s friendship is back, and perhaps even stronger than before after making it through all this. That ending scene when Gus opened up about how he wanted to go with Calian, but Calian knows him well enough to know that his heart is with the town even if the townspeople aren’t always with them. It will be interesting to see how long Calian stays away from Independence. Whether he realizes it or not, he’s in the same boat as Gus now. His ties with the town now are with his heart, and not avenging his sister’s memory. I swear, I was tearing up at every Calian scene this episode. His daughter is such a wonderful actress.

Hoyt had me so worried this episode! I really thought he was going to stick by the Reyes’ side no matter what evidence was presented. I was so hopeful when he caught Luis’ tick, worried again when he walked out with the family, then when he confronted Luis I was cheering! Don’t underestimate Hoyt! I’m looking forward to see Hoyt balancing becoming the man of the ranch, and his alliance with Abby. Will Hoyt be able to become the honest man he wants to be in honor of his father and Francis? Can he stay in one place for Lucia and Anna Marie after running for so long?

And poor Abby. I’m in the opposite boat as you, because I like her much more now than I did in the beginning. She’s really starting to flesh out as a character and stand up alongside such colorful characters. I love that she’s finding herself out west, even if that path isn’t as linear as she would like or what she was expecting. I know she was disheartened at losing Calian’s trial, but failure sometimes teaches us more than success. And we can’t forget that Gus hasn’t forgotten about her and is looking for answers! How long will she be able to hold him off, and will she tell the truth in the end or end up tangled in a web of lies?

While we didn’t get to see much of Kate this episode, what we did get to see was heavy hitting. Leaving Pinkerton to become a free agent, fleeing corruption (just like Abby!). Finally free of her past with her feet planted firmly in Independence alongside her heart. I’m excited for Abby and Kate to take Independence by storm when the show returns.

And time for my favorite man Tom! Looking so ruggedly handsome as he slowly bleeds to death 😍 I’m loving his character arc, criminal trying to turn a new leaf as a (semi) honest sheriff. Not innocent of all the crimes Abby and the gang are unraveling, but I think he’s innocent when it comes to Liam’s murder. I think through Abby he’ll eventually find an appreciation for the law, despite what Kate and Abby think he’s pretty willing to go with Abby’s justice seeking whims. I couldn’t believe when he cut the noose! Calian’s final words clearly moved him. I think Abby is beginning to be torn when he comes to Tom, I could see it in her face throughout the episode. She doesn’t want to like him because she’s dead set on the idea that Liam’s blood is on his hands, but he’s always defying her expectations of his character. And you can see it all over her face when she finds him on deaths door. Old Abby would have let him die and claimed justice, but western Abby doesn’t know where either of them stands.

The sneak peak we got as to what will be coming our way in 2023 was great. Abby’s past catching up to her, more of the Native side of the west! I love how this story has unraveled, it’s all been so unexpected in the best possible way. I hope everyone uses the hiatus to start watch and catch up for January, because this show is worthy of an audience!

It was such a fantastic episode! I was legit tearing up for Calian! I'm starting to warm up more to Abby, but I'm hoping the arrival of her sister will really help to flesh her out for me.

I cannot praise the writing enough for this show. Every character has a purpose (though I really missed Kai this week), and the storyline keeps moving without any signs of slowing down.

"I hope everyone uses the hiatus to start watch and catch up for January, because this show is worthy of an audience!" YES!!! One of the articles mentioned that WIndy is coming out from under the 1883 comparisons and making it's own way (though I think they did that from the beginning), but I really hope people give it a chance and the hiatus is a perfect time to do so!