‘Billy the Kid’ Episode 2: Analysis, Review & Ending Explained

The second episode of ‘Billy the Kid’ tells the story of a young boy’s journey to becoming a formidable opponent.

This season’s premiere episode of EPIX’s latest western drama, ‘Billy the Kid,’ was an astonishing episode filled with incredible moments and wonderful writing. It also delves deeper into the world of the famed American outlaw, who endured a traumatic childhood for the majority of his life. The second episode, on the other hand, was all about the journey of how a child became an outlaw, and while many people would simply describe him as insane, given what he had to go through in his life, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he ended up like that.

That didn’t make him any less lethal, mind you. It undoubtedly helped to make him a more sympathetic character around whom a series might be developed. Billy and his family come to the realisation that Kansas will not provide them happiness. Billy’s father had died, and the family had nothing left to live for in Kansas. As a result, they decide to relocate to New Mexico in search of new opportunities. Billy came to know how harsh the world can be when a man attempts to impose himself on his mother during the course of the situation. In fact, it’s the first time we see him threaten someone with a gun and not even blinking his eyes during the entire episode.

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Things begin to alter in New Mexico, and it is there that we witness an innocent youngster begin to tread the path toward becoming a force to be feared. The marriage of his mother to a guy named Henry Antrim follows the advice of a woman named Hattie, who informed her that she would either have to become a prostitute or marry someone in order to have an emotionally fulfilled wife. Because he witnessed Henry hang three Mexicans who were convicted of theft, Billy is adamant that Henry be punished. Even Kathleen’s marriage to Henry does not bring her happiness, as she quickly discovers that her spouse is frequenting a brothel and spending time with other women.

Kathleen McCarty is played by Eileen O’Higgins in the film Billy the Kid (EPIX)

When Billy hears his mother sob, he becomes extremely agitated and beats the living daylights out of Henry. However, it was the death of his friend Carlos, who was shot to death by one of the men while they were playing cards, that caused him to change his ways. After realising that laws primarily benefit the wealthy, he embarked on his path to become an outlaw. In order to obtain justice, he realised he would have to take matters into his own hands, which he did.

The episode is primarily concerned with betrayal and the fact that the rule of law does not apply to everyone. The action sequences in this episode are different from those in the first episode. We finally get to see Billy as an adult demonstrating his abilities with a rifle. Billy is no longer the same Billy who would become afraid if someone threatened him.

Billy the Kid star Jonah Collier as a young Billy in the film Billy the Kid (EPIX)

The writing maintains your interest, while the director, once again, grabs the spotlight. While Tom Blyth’s performance is unquestionably outstanding, Higgins’ portrayal of Kathleen elevates the series to an entirely new level. She is vulnerable, and she puts her children’s needs before her own. She does not consider herself in any way.

‘Billy the Kid’ has all of the components to become a fantastic programme, and we hope that it continues to improve with each new episode in the series.

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