Amazon has recently released a Western mini-series, The English, starring Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer. The series unravels an intertwining tale of several lives, spanning from England to Wyoming. The pacing is slow and hypothetic, and the visuals are transfixing. While the series may not be remembered as one of the great Western series, it does an admirable job of keeping the genre fresh and relevant.
The story centers around Blunt’s character Lady Cornelia Locke. She is in pursuit of her child’s killer. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that the killer of her child is the child’s father. Back in England, David Melmont visits Locke in attempt to deceive her in giving him money. Melmont tells a contrived story about her finance, Thomas Trafford, and how he went on a deranged killing spree, later known as the Chalk River Massacre. Melmont tells Locke that Trafford is now in prison and needs funds to be released.
At their second meeting, where they arranged for Locke to give Melmont the needed funds, Locke confronts Melmont. Locke received word from Trafford, confirming her doubts. Trafford had nothing to with the killing of the Cheyanne settlement, and in fact, it was Melmont who committed these atrocities. Unperturbed, Melmont rapes Locke and leaves with the money.