S03.E10: Ashes to Ashes

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Season finale!

Walt seeks to put his wife's murder investigation and Henry's case to rest; Branch is suspended.

[SimoneS]

Good season finale. If the show does not get a season four, it ended on solid ground and with a tense cliffhanger.

 

So it was Barlow all along although Nighthorse was involved. Barlow really was the only one left. He was willing to murder Branch. Damn that is cold. Lucien had him pegged right. I am sure that Branch shot first and is just fine..

 

Good that Walt finally let his wife go so he can get his revenge and then move on.

 

The whole dropping of the charges against Henry rang false, but I am just happy it is over. Charles Dutton who plays Fales looks ill. I hope that he is okay.

 

Walt and Henry in the cemetery and with the corpse was comedy gold even if it was unbelievable. It was funny when they complained about someone stealing Ridges’ corpse when they came in with Beck’s.

 

Walt accidentally punching Vic in the nose was hilarious. She sure took it better than most people would, man or woman.

 

I wish that we had gotten to see more of Omar. He cracks me up.

Edited August 5, 2014 by SimoneS

[AimingforYoko]

So Barlow kills Martha just so Branch can become sheriff? That's some Hearst level shit, right there. I'm guessing Branch won the draw.

[alias1]

I thought the reason Branch's dad gave for having Martha killed was weak.  So we got an extra 10 minutes of commercials that would have been better served to tell more of the story.  Count me disappointed in the finale.

 

Walt punching Vic was pretty funny.  At least we got the old Walt and Henry team-up that's been missing all season.

[anstar]

I admit it...Walt crying while scattering Martha's ashes got me.  <sniff> 

 

"I do have time to make another son".  Jeepers.  That's cold hearted.  I firmly believe Branch shot first and if we don't get a season 4 they will all live happily ever after...Ferg will get to be a real deputy...Branch will somehow be redeemed...Henry will be tending bar and answering the phone with his soliloquy...Walt and Vic will not be together, and the murder rate will go down drastically.  Warts and all, though, I'd like to see a season 4.

[Dowel Jones]

I am somewhat lost here.  How does Martha's death get Branch elected sheriff?  Was Connally Sr. betting the house that Longmire would be arrested and convicted?

[anstar]

Or maybe just go off the rails with grief (which he pretty much did, right?) leaving the field wide open for Branch.  Takes a seriously twisted mind to come up with a plan like that.  Not unheard of though.  Somewhat famous case here in Texas a few years ago where a mom put out a hit on another mother so her daughter's toughest competition for a spot as cheerleader would be too upset to try out (or wouldn't make the team, or something).

[AimingforYoko]

No, he thought Walt would resign. He did pretty much check out for a year.

[MaryHedwig]

I firmly believe Branch shot first and if we don't get a season 4 they will all live happily ever after...Ferg will get to be a real deputy...Branch will somehow be redeemed...Henry will be tending bar and answering the phone with his soliloquy...Walt and Vic will not be together, and the murder rate will go down drastically.  Warts and all, though, I'd like to see a season 4.

Ferg will lose some weight and become a hunk.  Cady will fall for him and they will produce a bunch a little Longmire-Fergs who a more emotive and sociable than Walt thanks to Ferg's genetic contribution.  Ruby will marry Henry's noble father Lord Standing Bear (we haven't met him yet) and moved into a gloriously-rich bi-cultural existence (hey, it happened to Dorothy and Cloud Dancing in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.)

 

Vic will decide that being slugged in the face is not the best thing that can happen to you all week and move on to date men who are less quick with their right hook.  (Vic might have misunderstood that slug as foreplay so she might be a candidate for a good therapist.)

 

There will be an entire episode devoted to the reason why Henry does not use contractions as that is the loose end that bothers me most.

Edited August 5, 2014 by MaryHedwig

[bentley]

 

"I do have time to make another son".  Jeepers.  That's cold hearted.

 

 

And also somewhat confusing. He doesn't have time to make a fortune but can make another son?? He could make money a lot faster than birthing a baby and trying to raise him.  If he impregnated a woman tomorrow it would be 20 years before the son could possibly be ready to take over the business, assuming he was even interested, had a knack for it, etc. Assuming the child would be a boy. Branch's father was worried about living another 5 years, so it made no sense to me that he would kill Branch, unless he thought Branch was going to turn him in. 

 

Loved Henry and Walt at the grave site and arguing over who had to stick his fingers down the corpse's throat. Henry is worried about the chain of custody, all of a sudden. Sure he is.

 

Where did Graham Greene go? Is his story over? I also missed seeing Mathias this season.

 

I thought this show was a hit for A&E. Why does everyone seem worried about another season?

Edited August 5, 2014 by bentley

[JackONeill]

This was a very good episode!  Maybe the best ever.  It had everything -- drama, angst, tears, comedy, etc.

 

I just wish they had taken this episode and last week's and made THREE shows out of the two.  Last week's show was too rushed, and this one was a bit.  Stretching it out would have allowed things to flow more naturally, and maybe with a little more exposition, things would have made better sense.

 

It's interesting I started watching the re-airing of the show when it came on right afterwards.  It seems like all (or some of) the "added time" in the "long" episode was near the beginning when Walt goes back into his office, and everyone looks at him as he's bleeding everywhere.  And that's when he told Ferg to clean out Branch's desk.  Yeah, there was nothing vital to the main story, but it was little pieces of characterization that was shown.  So, it's good that the bosses realized that and allowed to the show to go long on the first viewing.

 

I think whether the show gets picked up will depend largely on the ratings for last night's show.  Overall, it's down in viewership this season, but it's been ticking back up the last few shows.  Plus, I've noticed Craig Johnson's been doing his bit to talk up the show.

 

I think the Barlow/Nighthorse killing Martha seemed to be kind of out of (almost) nowhere.  I could see maybe Nighthorse.  But Barlow?  Yeah, I know he hates Walt, but doesn't he hate Nighthorse more?!?  (I think the writers decided not to go completely with Nighthorse being the total heavy because he makes a good enemy.  Kind of like a J R Ewing, someone you love to hate.)  Frankly, I'm still a little puzzled about the whole Martha, Denver, Miller Beck, David Ridges storyline.

[JackONeill]

One more small thing:  The first show of Season 1 opened with an owl.  And, last night, an owl closed the show.  I know what Walt said about owls.  But from a practical standpoint, I hope it doesn't bode badly for the chances of the show being renewed.

[fauntleroy]

Yeah what happened to Malachi? It was implied he had all this juice but he had nothing to do with anything?

 

Considering the amount of time the murder consumed, the resolution was implausible and unsatisfactory. Not so much the investigation, as the whodunit. A few people here called it but only because he was the only one among the small pool of characters left, not because his motivation made much sense. But at least they got it over with.

 

Spirit animal/death/Martha/whatever, the owl was cool on its own terms.

 

ETA: Someone mentioned Charles S. Dutton looking ill. I thought so too.

Edited August 5, 2014 by fauntleroy

[Ohwell]

Whew!  I'm glad this season is over because it's been very trying for me.  Walt saying goodbye to his wife got to me but, other than that, I was underwhelmed. 

 

I did notice Cady giving a slightly WTF look at Vic when she was wiping the blood off Walt's face.  I wonder how Cady will feel if/when these two do hook up.  Not that it's any of Cady's business, but still...

[JackONeill]

Finally burying Martha will help open things up for Walt and Vic.  (Rightly or wrongly.)

 

(By the way, how the hell did he find the buried bottle in all the acres of grass???)

 

I'm glad they had him on horseback.  The show needs more "cowboy" stuff.

 

I can't belief the humor displayed last night (given the heaviness of the overall subject).  As others have said: Henry and Walt in the graveyard.  Nearly everybody in the bar (at the beginning).  When Henry asked Vic questions only to get monosyllabic answers, to which Henry goes: "You are spending too much time with him.  You are picking up his speech patterns."

 

When someone asked what happened to her, Vic saying, matter-of-factly, "Walt hit me."

 

Then when Walt goes in the sheriff's office at the beginning and everyone gasps.  He says, "It's okay.  It's not my blood."  Pause.  "Well, actually it is mostly my blood, and it kind of hurts."  I actually thought that was fall down funny.  So, unlike Walt, but really like Walt.

 

All this is what the show needs.  That and more episodes per season.

[MizArk]

We really enjoy the show for the most part, but the whole Walt'sDeadWife arc went off the rails for me. It seems like there are so many stories they could tell within the county -- crimes of the week (that don't all have to be murders - sheriffs' offices stay busy without solving a murder a week), relations between the res and the community, especially with the casino coming in, territorial conflicts between Walt and Mathias (who I've missed!), even the nefarious business dealings between JREwingNighthorse and JREwingConnelly. More Henry straddling cultures, more Ferg learning the job, etc. What drew me in was the secret affair between Cady and her dad's rival, which was interesting but just got lost in the batcrap crazy Branch storyline. It was as if they just tried to take a good little show and go all big-time high-concept and it didn't really work. I hope it's back with the original feel next season.

[dubbel zout]

Frankly, I'm still a little puzzled about the whole Martha, Denver, Miller Beck, David Ridges storyline.

Same here. Killing Martha to get Walt out of the sheriff's race is extreme, to say the least. Why not embroil Walt in some sort of scandal so he has to step down?

 

Yeah what happened to Malachi? It was implied he had all this juice but he had nothing to do with anything?

I think he turned a blind eye to everything that was happening and goosed things along when necessary. But this whole thing was a giant anticlimax, as I suspected it would be. You can't drag something out for three seasons without there being a letdown.

 

News flash, Barlow: There are no guarantees the next baby you make will be a boy. That was just stupid.

 

I did notice Cady giving a slightly WTF look at Vic when she was wiping the blood off Walt's face.  I wonder how Cady will feel if/when these two do hook up.

I hope she's as disappointed as I'll be. Vic and Walt are terrible for each other.

 

I liked the humor in the episode, too. It was very appropriate.

[taragel]

I, too, appreciated the return of humor. 
 
I'm very confused about Martha's death at this point. Barlow paid Nighthorse money to send Ridges to Denver to kill her (why Denver? So no one in Durant would be suspected?). Miller Beck was just an accidental casualty? They were framing Beck? 
 
And why was BRANCH targeted by Ridges anyway? Barlow wouldn't have wanted that. 
And why did Fales have any motive to cover up finding the feather?
 
It's too bad actually because if they'd stuck to the simple but clear (if totally villainous) motivation that Barlow wanted Walt out of the way so Branch could become sheriff, they didn't need to mess around with all this other silliness--Denver, Fales, feathers, supposedly dead warriors, etc. It all could've been so much simpler. We could've seen Gerald a few more times throughout the season--built up his connection to Nighthorse, etc. Now it just feels like 90% of the mystery plot was a red herring. (10% would be okay, but 90's way too much.)
 
If this show returns (given A&E's lackluster support of it--I'm not sure it's a given), I'd really like to see some healing and lightness (man this season was grim) for these people and, most especially, some bonding between this group of folks. My biggest pet peeve about the show is that they don't feel like a "found family" and there's just not enough *heart* to most of the episodes. They each have relationships with Walt, but not with each other really. Let's see some Vic and Ferg sleuthing, Ruby mothering Branch, Cady's legal stuff aligning with Omar's interests. I don't even know. It was tough to like a lot of the characters this season.
 

 

Vic will decide that being slugged in the face is not the best thing that can happen to you all week and move on to date men who are less quick with their right hook.  (Vic might have misunderstood that slug as foreplay so she might be a candidate for a good therapist.)

 

Word. I know that line about the best thing that happened all week was supposed to be funny, but...no. Gross. Offensive. Marginally better than them suddenly making out, but still NO. I so wish the writing for Vic was as good as it is for Branch. Sigh. She's a lot of fun in the books, and it hasn't translated to the scripts at all. (And anyone who's seen Katee in BSG knows she can be fantastic with good material. She's so wasted in this role. I almost hope they cancel it so that she's freed up.)

Edited August 5, 2014 by taragel

[Ohwell]

I know I can be a little dense sometimes when it comes to figuring out stuff on these crime/detective shows but, I swear, I've basically been lost these past two seasons.  I don't get why Fales has a bug up his ass over Walt, and why he wanted to screw with the case.  Why does he dislike a man whose wife was murdered?  I don't get why Nighthorse wanted Ridges to kill Branch or Cady, or did Ridges do this on his own?  I agree that it's a stretch for Barlow to have Walt's wife killed to throw Walt off his game and blow the election.  To say that it seemed like overkill is an understatement.  It would have been much simpler to just frame Walt--drug him, have someone take a photo of him in bed with a prostitute--you know, the usual stuff.

 

I just hope the writers have their heads screwed on right for the next season--that is, if there is one.

[JackONeill]

In my opinion, Vic was much better in Season 1 (with the exception of hiding Lizzie's gift).  Then it went to hell in a hand basket.  But, truthfully, even with Walt, they haven't really fleshed out any of the characters.  The problem is they spend so much time on the murder-of-the week (which are usually pretty lame), but don't give us much of the people.  I probably know more about Branch (background-wise) than any of the characters.  And depending upon where you put Vic (careful there), he's number 3 or 4 in order of billing.  (Walt, Henry, Vic or Branch.)  I mean, poor Henry has been relegated to the back lot this season.

 

Then, they have all these (what could be ) fascinating other characters:  Omar, Mathias, Bob (who sort of went away, but came back), the pizza guy, and of course Ruby and Ferg.  And Lucien.  Hell, even Malachi has a somewhat interesting backstory that could be used (another JR Ewing, someone we love to hate).

 

Is it because they don't have enough episodes per season, so they can't really spend a lot of time exploring the characters?  Do the writers (and powers-that-be) feel like they need to write some great stories and forget about the characters? (Well, they aren't writing great stories AND we aren't getting to know the charcaters.)

 

Now, having said all that, I still like this show.  Or, I should say, I want to like this show.  It has all the elements, the right pieces.  They just need to rearrange them better.  ( I've always said, though, that I thought they had too many characters.)

[JeeperDon]

I'm very confused about Martha's death at this point. Barlow paid Nighthorse money to send Ridges to Denver to kill her (why Denver? So no one in Durant would be suspected?). Miller Beck was just an accidental casualty? They were framing Beck? 

 

And why did Fales have any motive to cover up finding the feather?

I rewatched the end of the epi and, yeah, I was wrong.  The Barlow payment happened  the week of Marth's murder, not a month later.  My below was wrong. I think Ridges used Beck to do the killing, then Ridges killed Beck to tie up loose ends.

[beck is the guy that actually did the killing of Martha (while she was in Denver for cancer treatments), which I think had nothing to do with Barlow or Nighthorse, she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time with Beck.  I think Walt figured out it was Beck (in that first month adter her death), which is why he had Henry look into getting Beck killed.  When that didn't happen (only beat him up the teeth taken), Barlow and Nighthorse saw a way to frame Walt into killing Beck.  The framing backfired though when 'weak detective skills' Falls decided Henry did it.  Barlow and Nighthorse didn't want Walt to 'grief himself out of office', they wanted him to be arrested.]

 

On the Branch/Barlow shooting... It's possible neither died.  Barlow only had one shot, so if Branch just wacked his barrel enough to not get killed, both guys are still alive.

Edited August 5, 2014 by JeeperDon

[Babalooie]

I enjoy reading all of your posts.  Sadly, to me, this episode seemed like a Series Finale.

[JeeperDon]

I enjoy reading all of your posts.  Sadly, to me, this episode seemed like a Series Finale.

Series finales don't have loose ends, like which Connaly is alive, and will Walt do something rash to Nighthorse before learning Barlow was the bad guy.

Edited August 5, 2014 by JeeperDon

[Ohwell]

Beck is the guy that actually did the killing of Martha (while she was in Denver for cancer treatments), which I think had nothing to do with Barlow or Nighthorse, she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time with Beck.

Wait.  So you're saying that Barlow didn't want Martha killed?  I thought last night that he admitted to Branch that he had Martha killed by paying Nighthorse to get someone to do it.  Now I'm really confused.

[JeeperDon]

Wait.  So you're saying that Barlow didn't want Martha killed?  I thought last night that he admitted to Branch that he had Martha killed by paying Nighthorse to get someone to do it.  Now I'm really confused.

I was wrong. I modified my post above.

[thewhiteowl]

@Ohwell,  Barlow admitted that he paid  Nighthorse  around the time Martha was killed. I believe Beck was killed only a month later ( could be wrong ) but that still works.

Barlow was taking advantage of Martha's murder by framing Walt for Beck's murder making his son Sheriff. He got Henry instead.  The problem was that Barlow and Nighthorse were relying on Ridges who was plain BSC and screwed things up with his feather stuff. Fales was ambitious and just wanted to get a conviction for his career goals. Mathias was just taking advantage of the opportunity to screw Walt and Henry.  Ridges shot Branch, I think, because he wouldn't stop investigating, and Barlow apparently considers his son as expendable. Nighthorse is greedy and Walt sees through his "Man of The People" schtick, so he hates him.  That's what I got out of it and I could be wrong on many points. : )

[dubbel zout]

Is it because they don't have enough episodes per season, so they can't really spend a lot of time exploring the characters?  Do the writers (and powers-that-be) feel like they need to write some great stories and forget about the characters? (Well, they aren't writing great stories AND we aren't getting to know the characters.)

 

They had ten eps the first season, thirteen for the second, and ten for this third. That's more than thirty-three hours. It should be plenty of time for us to know who these people are beyond grieving widower, resentful deputy, transplanted deputy, bumbling deputy, Native American best friend, etc. I think the writers had the space to make an episode that didn't involve a crime—maybe everyone goes for an awkward barbecue at Branch's or whatever—and we get some exploration into who these people are. Vic's story was way too drawn out, although I kind of like the resolution with Gorski finally peacing out because Vic is loony enough without him adding to things. And of course Martha's murder ended up being a mess.

 

If there's a fourth season, I hope the show does focus more on the group as a whole and Absaroka County.

[Curious5]

I thought Charles Dutton only looked sick when his shoddy prejudicial  work as a detective was exposed.  He certainly proves that you can turn your life around after reading his background.

 

Last week I noticed that the show Central time) lasted 70 minutes, ending 10 minutes after the hour.  I watched it again (would have been Mountain or Pacific time) to catch things I missed and was surprised they cut 20 minutes out of it, since  it ended on the hour and had started 10 minutes after the hour.  Figured it was just commercials.

 

Well, this week I did the same thing and caught the fact they cut out the whole scene with the police in the grave yard which I had loved - two shovels cause one might break...  They must have cut other scenes too.  Does that mean Pacific time zones don't see the whole show?

[iluvobx]

I rewatched the end of the epi and, yeah, I was wrong.  The Barlow payment happened  the week of Marth's murder, not a month later.  My below was wrong. I think Ridges used Beck to do the killing, then Ridges killed Beck to tie up loose ends.

[beck is the guy that actually did the killing of Martha (while she was in Denver for cancer treatments), which I think had nothing to do with Barlow or Nighthorse, she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time with Beck.  I think Walt figured out it was Beck (in that first month adter her death), which is why he had Henry look into getting Beck killed.  When that didn't happen (only beat him up the teeth taken), Barlow and Nighthorse saw a way to frame Walt into killing Beck.  The framing backfired though when 'weak detective skills' Falls decided Henry did it.  Barlow and Nighthorse didn't want Walt to 'grief himself out of office', they wanted him to be arrested.]

 

On the Branch/Barlow shooting... It's possible neither died.  Barlow only had one shot, so if Branch just wacked his barrel enough to not get killed, both guys are still alive.

Branch also had one shell in the barrel.  He only fired the one shot.  You could still see the second shell in the left barrel.  Failes "took" the case away from the other detective.  Plus, Fiales had also stated in a previous episode that he had problems with "small town sheriffs" in the past and he didn't like them.  Failes was never after the truth, he didn't care what the truth was.  Only what he wanted the truth to be.

I loved the graveyard scene.  Glad to see some humor return back to the show.

Walt and his wife's ashes.  Made me want to cry.

Vic getting hit--I loved it!

[Ohwell]

Barlow admitted that he paid  Nighthorse  around the time Martha was killed.

 

OK, but why did Barlow pay Nighthorse in the first place?  Branch found out that Barlow was in bed with Nighthorse, so his admission was that he was paying Nighthorse "in general" and not specifically to have Martha killed?

[Babalooie]

I hope that JeeperDon is right, also, but the sudden cancellation of The Glades is the exact reason why I made that statement.  Good shows can disappear for no sensible reason.

[fauntleroy]

OK, but why did Barlow pay Nighthorse in the first place? Branch found out that Barlow was in bed with Nighthorse, so his admission was that he was paying Nighthorse "in general" and not specifically to have Martha killed?

 

My understanding was that Barlow was in cahoots with Nighthorse generally, doing shady business together. But in this case he hired the services of Ridges, well "a soldier" anyway, from Nighthorse, for a specific job, and didn't tell Nighthorse what for. And I don't think Nighthorse made the connection because as far as he knew, Ridges didn't kill Martha. (He didn't know Ridges hired Beck to actually do the deed.)

 

Anyway the more I read, the same amount of sense it makes. Namely, not much. The execution is convoluted which is common with these shows, but motive is just too far-fetched. Everything we knew about Barlow was that he was a tough, self-made man and successful businessman. From that to murdering  because "I just wanted you to win that election" is bushwa.

Edited August 5, 2014 by fauntleroy

[angelwoody]

I'm still confused about the timeline and motivation for the murder.  And Barlow came across as a hardass from the word go, but a murderer?  For such a convoluted, stupid reason?  And he was fine with killing his son - the person he ostensibly did everything for?  It doesn't ring true to me.  Also, I thought Ridges considered himself a spiritual force, balancing the scales of justice or something.  Was he really in the end just a gun for hire?

[Curious5]

Well, my guess about Nighthorse and Barlow was right but so far the Casino and money laundry hasn't shown up.  I still might be in the game though because Barlow seems only to admit to what has already been disclosed.  My money is on the possibility neither died but one hit. If Branch is dead there is no possibility they will be able to prove anything about Barlow's guilt.  Branch has to live to tell the story.

 

I don't buy the tale that the Martha murder was the result of the old man wanting his son as sheriff - easier ways to do it.

 

Guess I'll put my vote in that the series is coming back.  With ratings over 4 million per week, I can't see how they could walk away.  If they start the next season as the next day, I'm dreaming that Vic will show up with her nose fat from the punch and the raccoon black and blue eyes.  Loved that scene!

[Ceindreadh]

I had to pause the ep during the graveyard scene and aftermath because I was laughing so much at it!

 

Loved the scene in Henry's office when the DA said 'tell me about the feather' and from the look on Henry's face you could just see the relief as he realised it was all over.

 

The last bit with Branch and his father was (for me) a jaw dropping moment.  I couldn't believe that Pa Connally was just so cold hearted.  Damn!

 

(and yes I may have paused the ep a few times to admire a clean shaven/suited up Branch  :-) 

[JackONeill]

I noticed on the second viewing last night that they cut out a lot of scenes (usually, it was the humorous scenes).  I suspect A&E let the show go long, but then had to cut the second viewing drastically to make it fit into their schedule.

 

You know, in the books Martha died of cancer.  Period.  Truthfully, I think the show went awry when they tried to make that more than it was (which by itself was awful for Walt).

 

There's no way anyone will be able to make the whole thing fit.  I honestly think the writers were making it up as they went along.

 

And this comes from someone who wants to see the show make it.

[Curious5]

I think you're right on the Martha murder.   Maybe we'll luck out and they'll change the script more and wipe Vic out next year.  Just the scene where she was cleaning off the blood on Walt's ear made me gag.  Can't believe the character Walt tolerated it.  Should have just grabbed the towel from her.

[Skycatcher]

 

Ridges shot Branch, I think, because he wouldn't stop investigating, and Barlow apparently considers his son as expendable.

If Branch-daddy was in cahoots with Nighthorse, why he allowed the tormenting of Branch by Ridges to continue without stepping in. He knew Ridge was Nighthorse's "soldier". He had to know what was going on. So.....he just let his "beloved" son be driven to the edge of madness????

[Curious5]

I don't think Barlow loved Branch but at the same time  might not have known about the feather.  That's why I think there is much more at stake than the Martha theme.

 

I hope they drop the Malachi Strand character.  Just keep being reminded of all the roles I  have seen him in  when he was the good guy.

[thewhiteowl]

OK, but why did Barlow pay Nighthorse in the first place?  Branch found out that Barlow was in bed with Nighthorse, so his admission was that he was paying Nighthorse "in general" and not specifically to have Martha killed?

 

Yeah, the only way it makes any sense to me is that Barlow pays Nighthorse to use Ridges to kill the drug dealer and frame Walt. Barlow having Martha killed makes no sense to me because she was dying anyway.  I think it was taking advantage of Martha's murder and Walt beating the crap out the drug dealer because that's a smarter way to get rid of Walt then killing Martha. Killing Walt also would have worked but then, no show. And Walt is pretty un-kill-able.

[SuzWhat]

Dumb question, but didn't Walt lose his truck last week while fighting Bridges (?) on the horse? I think I remember someone stealing his truck? I don't know, something happened to me the last few episodes. I keep zoning out.

Also, I hate Vic.

[JackONeill]

As odd as this may sound, I think Ridges took Walt's truck and drove it over the hill where he had a horse waiting. Sounds complicated, I know. But this shows doesn't do anything easy.

[anstar]

Dumb question, but didn't Walt lose his truck last week

That bothered me too.  First thing I said in the opening scene..."How did he get his truck back"?  The things they leave unanswered sometimes bug me. 

Seeing how much got chopped in subsequent airings, I'm glad I didn't delete my recording last night.  I need to watch this one again and see if makes more sense.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

That bothered me too. First thing I said in the opening scene..."How did he get his truck back"? The things they leave unanswered sometimes bug me.

That was the first thing I said too. Someone drove off in his truck. So did whoever it was just come back and park it outside the trailer after a five minute joy ride?

[alias1]

Yeah, the only way it makes any sense to me is that Barlow pays Nighthorse to use Ridges to kill the drug dealer and frame Walt. Barlow having Martha killed makes no sense to me because she was dying anyway.  I think it was taking advantage of Martha's murder and Walt beating the crap out the drug dealer because that's a smarter way to get rid of Walt then killing Martha. Killing Walt also would have worked but then, no show. And Walt is pretty un-kill-able.

 

This does make more sense but it isn't what Barlow admitted to (is it?).

[thewhiteowl]

TBH @SierraMist, I'm not sure what he actually admitted to. But this makes sense to me, so I'm going with it. At least until next season, if we get one.

[MrWhyt]

 

I thought this show was a hit for A&E. Why does everyone seem worried about another season?

A&E waited a long time to renew it for this season, and even then it wasn't a big announcement just a quick "oh yeah longmire will be back" sort of thing (if my memory is correct)

[anstar]

I just read today that this season finale had better ratings than the rest of the season, but not as good as last season's finale, and they didn't announce the renewal until November.  We could be in for a long wait.

[Magic]

Yeah, the only way it makes any sense to me is that Barlow pays Nighthorse to use Ridges to kill the drug dealer and frame Walt. Barlow having Martha killed makes no sense to me because she was dying anyway.

 

My problems with the writing is that a LOT of things don't make any sense and I think they are making things up as they go too.

 

The acting is good in spite of the senselessness of a lot of the episodes.

 

I *guess* Martha got killed by Beck, and then Barlow is supposed to have hired David Ridges to kill Beck with the hope they could frame Walt for it.  Which the writers seemed to be going for when Fales visited but got sidetracked by Henry and the teeth.

 

But here are some things that really bug me.

 

If Denver is so far from Absaroka County, how could Barlow, Nighthorse, or anyone have known about that bar?

 

How could it have happened to be the same bartender when Cady and Branch went to that bar, and how could that bartender have remembered David Ridges who supposed was only in town briefly on a hit job etc.

 

And why did that woman who took Branch's photo happen to be at the bar that night and seem to know Ridges?

 

And how would Barlow, Nighthorse or anyone have know (in enough time) that Walt almost killed Beck, or that Beck had killed Martha.  Henry and Walt were trying to keep that covered up.  Why would any of the "bad Absaroka County guys" know about Denver stuff?

 

And if Nighthorse et al. did know about Denver stuff for some reason, then it wouldn't take Nighthorse long to figure out what Barlow used his hit man for, so now Nighthorse would be able to blackmail Barlow in a big way.

 

Witih the way they are portraying Vic, only these writers could consider Vic and Walt hooking up, another event that seens totally senseless for all the reasons everyone has mentioned who doesn't like the idea.  So I guess I am not surprised it makes sense for the writers.

 

And there goes Walt, leaving his job again to go to Denver to dig up the body.  But Branch was a bad boy for fixating on who shot him and leaving his job to go search for that person.

 

And the entire digging up Ridges, while funny, but they didn't have a search warrant, they were tampering with evidence by pulling out the feather in those circumstances especially with Henry being around since Walt had the headdress so could have pulled a feather from that and put it in Ridges mouth etc. to build an alibi for Henry etc.  There is no way they would be allowed to use that as evidence the way that they went about getting the body.

 

And yeah, now Walt is going to head out and shoot Nighthorse, which I guess is kind of funny in a way.  Because if Walt does kill Nighthorse, then maybe that will open up the Sheriff position for Branch again with Walt going to jail.  Which will end up making Barlow's hair brained scheme end up working.

 

And yeah I am sure a lot of successful, rich business people think of these seat of the pants spontaneous murder schemes to advance their agendas.  Especially when they have to make deals with shady characters like Nighthorse to make them work and have to trust that those shady characters won't tell on them.

 

Walt going off to kill Nighthorse is another time Walt is going to act as if the law doesn't apply to himself, even though he is pretty righteous about applying it to other people.

I'm sure he won't end up kiling anybody, because somehow he will get stopped.  But the implications is that if no one got to him, he would end up killing Nighthorse.

 

Again this could be funny because Nighthorse is not the right guy.  Nighthorse seemed to know more when he was in jail and asking Walt what he wanted to know.  At that time Walt could have asked something about Martha or Beck but Walt didn't know it at that time so only asked about Ridges. But Nighthorse seemed ready to tell more than he ended up telling.

 

But I am glad that Branch is arcing back to be an ok guy.

 

The acting is interesting enough to keep me watching, unless Vic and Walt hook up.  The sloppy storytelling is almost making me stop watching.

 

So, I hope they get another season and they make it count.

[BetyBee]

I just find the show poorly written and the storyline makes no sense, so I don't care if they get another season. The actors are good, but not with this material.  The story as it's been written makes them unlikeable in my opinion.