As I’ve said before, I knew — and loved — that Michael Hirst embraced the “urban legend” claiming Billy the Kid was not killed by Pat Garrett. And some facts suggest it may be true. In the final stretch of one of the most underrated series of recent years, Billy and Jesse Evans reunite once more. Friends who once hated each other, bound by conflict, bets, and survival, they are soul brothers.

With stunning cinematography filled with long aerial shots and wide-open horseback chases, we watch Billy and Jesse embark on one last mission — one we know is revenge: finding Pat Garrett. Except Garrett is no longer a sheriff. He tried other jobs, but nothing worked — always drunk, always arrogant. What Billy didn’t know is that Garrett’s new “career” is that of a writer. Yes, he wrote a book about Billy the Kid, and the outlaw himself buys a copy and reads it.

Printed lies and buried truths

Billy laughs at the lies, unbothered: the book contains the publisher’s address in New Mexico. That’s all he needs to find Garrett. To pay for the long journey, the most practical solution is to rob a bank. Jesse is surprised — Billy was never a bank robber. But this time, there’s a detail that helps justify the exception: the agency in town belongs to Catron.

The journey forces a reflection on how much time Jesse and Billy wasted as enemies. They look back fondly on the days when they actually liked Garrett, before greed and emptiness corrupted everything. Looking back, they speak of their families, what they lived through, and what they lost. Always running from someone or something, now they want to be the hunters.

A country in decay (and a fallen villain)

In an isolated place, Garrett wakes up in the bed of a woman whose name he can’t remember. He has hit rock bottom. Meanwhile, in Santa Fe, Catron mocks him publicly: he laughs at the book, laughs at Garrett’s supposed bravery, laughs at the fact that even after shooting Billy, he didn’t kill him. He raises the bounty to 75,000 dollars because, in his view, Garrett represents everything wrong with American society. Emily watches in silence, fully aware of her father’s hypocrisy.

When Billy reveals that he plans to kill Catron — now governor — Jesse refuses. It would be suicide. Catron is not part of his priorities. Billy tries to convince him, sometimes emotionally blackmailing him by reminding him who got him out of jail.

The capture, the confession, and an unexpected alliance

Distracted and drunk, Jesse and Billy don’t realize they’ve been surrounded by MacDaniels’ men. Neither is recognized, and during an unsettling “conversation,” they end up telling the truth: they’re hunting Garrett. Surprisingly, that changes everything. They gain support — and, most importantly, Garrett’s location.

As they continue traveling, Jesse tries to convince Billy to forget about killing Catron and take care of his family. But it doesn’t work. Billy is resolute. At the same time, Garrett sinks deeper into alcohol.

Catron’s hysteria and Emily’s quiet fury

Catron is nervous: a series of robberies at his agencies can only be Billy sending a message. Emily notices her father’s panic, and during a breakdown, he calls Edgar a fool, which offends her even more. It almost seems like Emily wants Billy to arrive soon and avenge her husband’s murder. At Edgar’s grave, she makes a promise of vengeance.

Billy and Jesse laugh at a newspaper article describing Garrett’s miserable downfall. And now they know exactly where to find him: escorting prisoners to the New Mexico penitentiary.

The final duel: more myth than history

In the confrontation, Garrett is shocked to see Billy alive. He tries to justify himself: he did what he did because it was his job. Billy asks him if the fame was worth it. Garrett admits it wasn’t. And in their duel, Billy lets him draw first — but a drunk man stands no chance. Billy approaches slowly and shoots him in the heart. Fictional revenge achieved.

(In reality, Pat Garrett would die later, and under entirely different circumstances.)

The farewell before the final episode

We say goodbye before the last episode, with Jesse parting ways with Billy. There’s still one name left on the outlaw’s list — and from the looks of it, he’s going after the governor.