Ep 5. Lonely Hearts

The description for the show Strange Empire season 1 episode 5, named "Lonely Hearts", is as follows:

The episode begins with a stranger named Mordechai arriving in town and being met by Kat Loving, who seems to recognize him. Meanwhile, the women of the town are trying to help Maddie, who is struggling with her grief over the loss of her husband and child. Isabelle tries to comfort her, but Maddie is convinced that her family is still alive and that she can find them if she just keeps looking.

Elsewhere, a group of men arrive in Janestown looking for work, and are immediately met with suspicion and hostility from some of the locals. One of them, a man named Whitey, is particularly aggressive and gets into a fight with Caleb. Isabelle intervenes and tries to calm things down, but Whitey continues to cause trouble.

Mordechai, meanwhile, is revealed to be a con artist who has come to town to pull off a scheme with Kat's help. They plan to sell fake "miracle water" to the desperate women of Janestown, claiming that it can cure all manner of illnesses and afflictions. Kat is hesitant at first, but Mordechai convinces her that they can make a lot of money and get out of town before anyone catches on.

As the episode progresses, the various plotlines begin to converge. Mordechai and Kat's scheme starts to unravel when one of their customers dies after drinking the miracle water. Maddie becomes convinced that Mordechai is in league with the men who took her family, and starts to stalk him. Whitey and his friends become increasingly violent, culminating in a brutal attack on Isabelle.

Through it all, the women of Janestown continue to look out for each other. Rebecca tries to reason with Maddie and help her face the truth about her family, while Kat starts to feel guilty about what she's done and tries to warn the other women about Mordechai's true nature. And in the end, it is the strength and solidarity of these women that helps them overcome the various challenges and dangers they face.

Overall, "Lonely Hearts" is a tense and captivating episode that continues to explore the complex relationships and dynamics of the characters in Strange Empire. With its mix of Western adventure, supernatural elements, and feminist themes, it remains a unique and engrossing series that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.