Frontier Season 1, Episode 5 Recap: “The Disciple”
In the penultimate episode of Frontier’s first season, “The Disciple”, Lord Benton gets to have his very own evil monologue.
Honestly, half the fun of Frontier is trying to guess where the opening quotation comes from. For episode five, “The Disciple,” they went with Alan Greenspan. So, quotation, what’s our theme for this episode?
"“Fear is a far more dominant force in human behavior than euphoria.”"
Thank you, quotation! Our pre-credits scene shows a finally shirtless Jason Momoa. Granted, it’s because Benton has finally gotten his hands on Declan. Benton sends soldiers after Michael, but Grace hides him and Sokanon. Meanwhile, Benton starts monologuing as he pulls out a knife kit. Welcome back to Frontier.
As morning breaks, Spy Imogen and Mary go out to try and find where Declan’s being kept, and then Chesterfield walks in. Grace sasses him a little bit, as is her wont, and then lies through her teeth.
"Grace: “Why would I take such a ridiculous risk? Harp is nothing to me.”"
Meanwhile, in Benton’s House of Torment, he starts tallying all the soldiers’ deaths in cuts on Declan’s body.
Sokanon isn’t the happiest with Michael right now. However, when she strips off her shirt to clean her cuts, he at least offers to help. The music goes all soft, as it is wont to do in these sorts of scenes, but nothing actually happens.
Captain Benedict Johnson pays yet another visit to Benton’s house. He walks in on Chesterfield manhandling Clenna, but he really just wants to talk to Declan. Chesterfield does not answer any of his questions.
Meanwhile, Henchman Pond walks in and says it’s to debtors’ prison for Malcolm and Douglas Brown. Elizabeth Carruthers walks in to her own meeting with Grant. He gets absolutely nowhere.
From Frontier episode 5. Image is a screengrab via Netflix.
Chesterfield manhandles Clenna into the ale house and threatens her in order to try and get information on Michael. Grace has none of this and gets Chesterfield to leave without Clenna.
Back at the House of Torment, Benton’s monologue has turned to Declan’s papa and how he, Benton, taught Declan everything. He starts stabbing Declan as he continues monologuing, literally twisting the knife deeper as he goes. So Declan finally speaks:
"“I always hated you. As soon as I could get away from you, I did.”"
Elizabeth Carruthers visits the Brown brothers in jail. She wants two things: a husband and the Low River Company. In return, she will pay their debt.
In the hidey hole, Michael asks Sokanon about Nuna, Declan’s wife and her sister. The music doesn’t go soft this time.
Benton’s House of Torment Monologue and Torture continues. Declan’s this close to tears. Fortunately, Grace thinks they’ve found where he’s being kept, and Clenna heads down into the hidey hole with Sokanon and Michael.
"Clenna: “Does she speak English?”"
Malcolm Brown gets out of the clink, but Henchman Pond intends to frame Douglas for Peter Carruthers’ murder. Fortunately, Malcolm goes straight to Elizabeth. He clearly knows competence when he sees it, as he agrees to her offer.
"Malcolm: “What about my brother?”Elizabeth: “I’ll see what I can do.”"
In the House of Torment, Benton continues talking and stabbing.
Meanwhile, Johnson comes back to Benton’s house, this time with soldiers, and he demands to see the lord. Chesterfield once again arrives at the ale house, and asks if she’s in love with Declan. She responds by saying that Johnson’s the threat and assures him he can trust her.
From Frontier episode 5. Image is a screengrab via Netflix.
Elizabeth returns to Samuel Grant’s house with Malcolm in tow.
"Elizabeth: “You said it yourself, Mr. Grant. I need a man. I found one.”"
Sokanon, Michael, and Clenna head out on a rescue mission, even though Clenna clearly does not want to join in. Michael gets captured, but the ladies escape.
Benton continues monologuing in the House of Torment, turning to how Declan’s family died. Declan breaks down when Benton says his wife was pregnant with a girl (Jason Momoa here pulls off some great anguish and pain). Just then, Chesterfield comes in with Michael. He at least offers Declan some water before scurrying off behind Benton. Upon his return to the house, Johnson lets them in, and it all ends with his holding a pistol to Chesterfield’s head.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Grant continue squaring off while Malcolm just keeps drinking.
Sokanon plots to go off on her own to free Declan and Michael. Grace warns her about how this is a bad idea. Finally, Clenna decides to actually do something. It’s so nice to see women going to the rescue of men. Clenna provides the distraction, and Sokanon goes in for the kill, literally. Before they can escape, though, Johnson walks in with another soldier. Michael stabs Johnson in the face.
In the darkened offices of the Low River Company, Grant pays Malcolm a visit. Turns out that Grant’s going to Fort James, and he’ll take care of Elizabeth if Malcolm will just join him. It’s a shame that we can’t reprint Malcolm’s response to this, because it’s actually pretty funny.
Benton gets rescued, and he tells Chesterfield that they have to recapture Declan. Speaking of Declan, Sokanon and Michael carry him on a travois, as one woman sings.
Tune in tomorrow for the season finale recap of Frontier, “The Gallows”.