Ep 1. Leaving

Lonesome Dove is a Western drama series that aired in 1989 and is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Larry McMurtry. This series is set in the late 19th century and follows the adventures of two former Texas Rangers, Augustus "Gus" McCrae (Robert Duvall) and Woodrow F. Call (Tommy Lee Jones), as they lead a cattle drive from Texas to Montana.

Season 1 episode 1, titled "Leaving," starts with Gus and Call running a livery stable in a small town called Lonesome Dove in Texas. One day, Jake Spoon (Robert Urich), an old friend of theirs who has been living in Nebraska for some time, stops by and informs them that the grass is greener and the land is richer up north in Montana. He also tells them about a town called San Francisco that is a good place to trade cattle. This excites Gus and Call, and they decide to take a cattle drive to Montana and sell it there.

Along with Jake, they recruit a group of cowboys to join them on the drive, including Newt Dobbs (Ricky Schroder), a young teenager who works for Gus and idolizes him. They also hire some Mexican cowboys, which angers some of the other cowboys who are racist towards them. However, Gus and Call don't care as long as they can get the job done.

They start their journey north and encounter many challenges along the way, including a river crossing where some of their cattle drown, and they have to deal with bandits who try to steal their cattle. They also stop at San Antonio to get supplies, where they have to dodge a group of outlaws who are after Jake, making Gus and Call suspicious of Jake's true intentions.

As they continue their journey, they come across Lorena Wood (Diane Lane), a prostitute who is being abused by a group of men. Gus and Call rescue her and take her along with them, which causes tension among the cowboys. Newt, however, takes an interest in Lorena and tries to woo her.

The episode ends with the group reaching the town of Austin, where they decide to stay for a while and rest before continuing their journey. Gus and Call also learn the true reason why Jake is being pursued by the outlaws, which threatens to derail their plans for the cattle drive to Montana.

In conclusion, "Leaving" is an excellent introduction to the characters and setting of Lonesome Dove. It establishes the tone of the show, which is gritty and realistic. It also sets up the main conflict of the season, which is the cattle drive to Montana and the challenges the group will face along the way. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the audience eager to see what happens next. Overall, it is a must-watch for fans of Westerns and drama.