Nez Perce 1.10 - Decisions

Nez Perce : Decisions
Genre : Historical
Showrunner: Scott Cooper
Writer : Dwight Gallo

Cast: Adam Beach, Matthew Rhys, Martin Sensmeier, Gil Birmingham, Ray McKinnon, Tatanka Means, Zahn McClarnon, William Belleau and Ben Schnetzer 

Plot:1877. The Nez Perce continues its long exodus. Curving over a hill, stretching for miles, they walk towards the horizon. Chief Joseph (Adam Beach), Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier), and Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) sit on their horses and stare solemnly at the Wallowa Mountains. Distant shouting gets their attention. They turn to see Looking Glass (Zahn McClarnon) approaching from the south, leading the battle weary survivors of his village. Looking Glass waits for his people to absorb into the tribe, then rides over to join Joseph, Ollokot, and Toohoolhoolzote. The four men look at one another, then stare, once again, at the mountains off in the distance. Already more than two hundred miles away, the four Nez Perce leaders take a final, lingering look back towards their home lands, realizing perhaps, that they will never see it again. They then turn and join their people eastward bound.

General William T. Sherman (Ray McKinnon) leans against his desk in his office in Washington D.C., facing a team of advisors. Sherman asks what he's supposed to tell the President. How is he supposed to explain things to those who were promised there would be no more Little Big Horns? He shouts that the events of White Bird Canyon are unacceptable. One of the advisors tells Sherman that they currently have five divisions closing in on the Nez Perce as they speak: Col. Wallace is marching with his troops from Ft. Camus, Captain Whipple is coming from the south, General Stephenson from the East, Col. Monroe from the Southeast, and of course, General Howard is continuing his pursuit from the West. While the advisor speaks, Sherman has been reading a message. He tells the advisors that the Nez Perce have crossed the Snake River. The advisors are shocked. Sherman adds that they crossed it two days ago, which means they've outmaneuvered the entire army. Sherman tells the advisors that the problem with their calculations are that they were assuming that they were walking toward their destination. He tells them that white men walk. Indians run. One of the advisors suggests they relieve General Howard of his command for the defeat at White Bird Canyon, but Sherman says that was Perry's debacle. Sherman's eyes go towards a map on the wall. He says that Howard stays, and tells the advisors to inform the commanders of the other four divisions that once they converge, they are to turn over their command to Howard.

The Nez Perce make their way through Weippe Prairie in Idaho Territory. They travel through a beautiful ocean of flowers in full bloom. Beyond the prairie lies the Lolo Trail and the Bitterroot Mountains. Joseph signals the tribe to stop. He turns to face them. He tells them that this is the very spot that their fathers met the white chiefs Lewis and Clark and made the fateful choice to help them. He asks his people to help him make a decision. He says they cannot go North as Flatheads hold that land and would not be welcoming. To the South, there is nothing but desert and white men. Looking Glass says they could go East. Ollokot doesn't like the sound of that as it would make them risk dealing with the Crow. Looking Glass mentions that the Crow hate the white man. Joseph corrects him, saying that the Crow don't hate the white man, they fear him and would betray them to win the white man's favor. Toohoolhoolzote says they should stand and fight since they have beaten the white soldiers once, so they can do it again. Joseph says there are too many, and they will keep coming, and then winter will arrive and they will all starve. He says the tribe is mostly women and children, that they cannot fight a war. Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) says they could fight a war if they were greater in number. If they can unite the tribes, the white man would fear them. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) rides forward. He tells them that not only is the white man weak and lazy, but he is also tired of fighting. He tells them a tale of the a great war in the east a few winters ago where more soldiers were killed than there are stars in the sky. Ollokot rejects what Red Grizzly has to say, that if the tribe was not desperate for warriors he would shoot Red Grizzly himself for what he has brought upon their people. Joseph glances at his brother, concerned. Looking Glass says they should head East and join with the Crow. Ollokot asks what they should do if that fails. Looking Glass says they should then go North to Canada. Everyone looks up. Joseph says that Sitting Bull is in Canada. Looking Glass says that so are Sitting Bull's five thousand warriors. Ollokot says it would take over a hundred moons to travel there, that it would be winter by the time they arrived, that they would freeze to death if the soldiers don't kill them first. Looking Glass insists they can make it, and that with the strength of Sitting Bull's numbers, they could come back and reclaim Wallowa. Joseph turns and looks out at his people, their faces seem focused and alert, clearly captivated by the idea.

General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) sits at his desk in his tent writing some correspondence. Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) enters the tent and tells Howard that the other forces have arrived. Howard goes outside to find that his numbers have now tripled in size. Howard addresses a group of soldiers, telling them to find some Indians in the region that can act as scouts. After that group leaves, Howard addresses the rest of his command. He tells them to rest up today, because they will be heading out in full force the next day.

I genuinely believe Nez Perce is as close to perfection as you can get. That's saying something coming from me and I really mean it

A top production from top to bottom. From Gallo to Beach and from Rhys or Birmingham, everyone brings their A game to the premium series that was thankfully picked up for a second season.

Nez Perce is the kind of show that grows on you, for the best. With a few really high quality episodes along the way from Dwight Gallo and producer Scott Cooper, Nez Perce delivers on every aspect; technically and artistically speaking.