Frontier Season 1 Finale Recap: “The Gallows”
On the season finale of Frontier, many plans are hatched, but only a few succeed, and Declan Harp tries to cheat death while Michael Smyth steps up.
Well, this is it. One last surprising quotation from Frontier for the road, before we head off into the long, cold darkness of having to wait for the already-announced Season 2. Rather than pick a relatively contemporary historical figure, this time, the show’s opted for none other than Elizabeth I:
"“My mortal foe can no ways wish me a greater harm than England’s hate; neither should death be less welcome unto me than such a mishap betide me.”"
Hmm, I wonder who this could be referring to? Declan Harp…or Lord Benton? Welcome back to Frontier. Let’s recap.
Our pre-credits scene serves to reassure us that our hero has not yet shuffled off this mortal coil, though he’s still not in great shape.
Lord Benton continues his villainy by cutting the rations of Captain Johnson’s remaining soldiers and orders Commander Everton punished, all while shaving.
Grace smartly tells Chesterfield to help his fellow soldiers, then shoos him out just as Declan arrives in the back. She smartly tells him to wait.
Out in the woods, Sokanon and Clenna’s tension turns into a fight, but Sokanon leaves both her and Michael flat and keeps moving.
From Frontier episode 6. Image is a screengrab via Netflix.
In the hidey hole, Grace offers what comfort she can and asks him to change his plans.
"Grace: “I’ve waited so long for you. You cannot leave me now. Not like this.”"
He doesn’t listen.
While Everton gets his lashes, Chesterfield actually defies Benton and says it wouldn’t be a good idea to have Team Declan shot on sight like Benton wants. Benton doesn’t listen even as Everton keeps screaming and crying.
Out in the woods, Clenna breaks her leg.
In the ale house, Samuel Grant of the Many Coats has finally arrived for his meeting with Grace. Henchman Pond is totally into Grace, but she’s very much not into him. She’s very much into talking business, though she doesn’t get far. Grant doesn’t get far asking about Declan, though.
Benton and Grant basically exchange a series of veiled threats and jibes, and Grant leaves on his own terms.
In the ale house, Malcolm Brown sits down for a chat with Chesterfield about the death of his brother. Grace not only uses Chesterfield’s first name — Jonathan — she pulls him out of the situation. She needs him to spy on Grant and Benton’s meeting, but Chesterfield has plans of his own.
"Chesterfield: “You are to become the new Governor’s wife.”"
When she says no, he slaps her and shoves her up against the wall. Remember, kids: Chesterfield is not a good guy.
Michael and Sokanon bring Clenna to Grace’s to set her leg. It does not go well.
Grant and Pond walk and plot about how to solve a problem like Lord Benton. Declan walks out of the woods to meet them. Negotiations begin. Declan makes sure to achieve an exclusivity agreement, safety for Grace, and also Grant’s assistance in getting Benton out in the woods for some good old-fashioned murder. Sokanon has followed him out there, and she points out she can just shoot Benton.
But, well, this is just something that Declan, because he’s the hero, has to do for his family.
"Sokanon: “She wouldn’t want this.”"
He tells her to carry on his legacy if he doesn’t come back.
Morning breaks, and Grace meets with Malcolm, showing him how and when he can kill Chesterfield. Her next visit is to Clenna, and the two share a Meaningful Conversation about women having a high tolerance for pain.
From Frontier episode 6. Image is a screengrab via Netflix.
Michael leaves Sokanon to go help Declan.
As snow falls, Malcolm attacks Chesterfield. There are clearly people in the background, but no one actually intervenes. Father Coffin manages to stop it all before someone dies, though. In the woods, Michael joins Declan. Grant has Benton out, but he says that Declan’s right there. Declan saves Michael and gets captured again.
In the ale house, Grace has yet another patient: Malcolm.
Benton continues to be evil by threatening to hang Grant and Pond, and Grant uses some Company Charter knowledge to his benefit. Grant gets to at least leave.
Night falls. Michael plans to rescue Declan, and tries to get Clenna to get ready to go.
"Michael: “I won’t go back to England! This is where I belong now.”Clenna: “Then goodbye, Michael.”"
The two share one last kiss, and he returns her hairpin. Then the plan begins. Everyone grabs a gun out of the magazine before setting the place up to blow.
From Frontier episode 6. Image is a screengrab via Netflix.
Soldiers put the noose around Declan’s neck. In the woods, everyone continues carrying the plan out. Coffin, while performing last rites, slips Declan a small knife. The magazine explodes, and Benton has Declan dropped.
But then Benton murders Father Coffin as the good priest tries to stop what’s happening. Just as he readies a musket to shoot Declan, who’s trying to free himself, Michael makes the shot. It isn’t enough to kill, probably.
Chesterfield fires a shot, but as the smoke clears, Declan’s gone. He escapes out to the woods, still in terrible shape, and collapses.
All goes silent.
And that, everyone, is how we end the first season of Frontier. There are plenty of threads left hanging to go into next season, fortunately, so it’s now just a matter of waiting.