For Western fans, Billy The Kid, the excellent Paramount Plus series starring Tom Blyth as the American gunslinger, was one of the good surprises of recent years. Revised by showrunner Michael Hirst, who went from the Nordic cold of the Vikings to the American West, the story of William H. Bonney, from his humble Irish roots and his early days as a cowboy and gunslinger to his fame as an outlaw, takes on another dramatic proportion.

In Brazil, the series was practically hidden on Paramount Plus, with its second season released without any fanfare on the platform, but the announcement 15 days ago that the third season will be the final season, has my attention.

The epic romantic adventure of one of the most legendary criminals in the United States is also one of the most beloved characters in film and TV. There are countless biographies, adventures, and documentaries, making Billy one of the most powerful pop legends of all time.

Under the great direction of Michael Hirst, who made us enjoy History as entertainment with both Tudors and Vikings, Billy is an almost tragic figure in an oppressive world. The son of poor Irish immigrants, in the first season we see his childhood marked by pain and loss, both material, personal and sentimental, of his father, his mother, and everything he owned. His inexplicable talent for aiming and shooting makes him a prominent young man on the dangerous western frontier of the United States and we see how a man with an honest goal has a fatal destiny as a criminal.

In the first season, we see how the McCartys (Billy’s real name was Billy McCarty) initially lived in New York with his parents and uncles until they decided to move to Coffeyville, Kansas, in search of better job prospects. After a hard journey full of losses, the plan does not work out, and his father, mentally destroyed, eventually dies of depression.

His mother, Kathleen, is the only source of emotional and material comfort, but she goes through violent trials. Billy and his brother Joe move house constantly and Kathleen does what she can to escape male greed and aggression. For “safety”, she marries Henry Antrim, a wealthy but abusive and dangerous local man in Santa Fe, New Mexico. During this period, Billy adopts his stepfather’s surname, learns to shoot, and does everything he can to help.

Unfortunately, Joe and Kathleen die of tuberculosis and, once orphaned, Billy begins working as a gunman with Jesse Evans, who was the leader of the Seven Rivers Gang. Thus he enters the life of crime, kills, is arrested, escapes, and kills again, becoming the hunted. His reputation as an outlaw – now under the pseudonym William H. Bonney – is inevitable and he becomes an idol for the oppressed, but he also arouses envy and jealousy in the unstable Jesse. The two become embroiled in the Lincoln County Wars, led by English businessman John Tunstall and corrupt Lawrence Murphy, initially fighting for Murphy but later switching sides.

We left off the first season with a drunken Murphy instructing his associates to pin a hit on John Tunstall and Billy breaking off with Jesse and the gang.

The second season delves into the historical conflict in Lincoln, as well as the rivalry between former friends Jesse and Billy, and of course, Pat Garrett’s turnaround and obsession with Billy the Kid. There’s also room for a romance with the wealthy Dulcinea, but the violence of the gunfighter’s life puts their engagement to the test.

At the end of season 2, Dulcinea helps Billy escape from prison, which increases Garrett’s obsession with him. So when Billy the Kid returns for its third and final season in 2025, we’ll see the aftermath of the end of the Lincoln County War, with deadly stakes on all sides. Billy will fight like hell to finally find the justice that has long eluded him, even if it means he dies trying.

Tom Blyth, who was great in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Birds and Snakes, shines in the lead role. If you can, I highly recommend checking out Billy the Kid, a series that is under the radar but is still high on quality and entertainment.

Pesquisar

Pesquisar