The Young Riders

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The Young Riders was an American Western television series created by Ed Spielman that presents a fictionalized account of a group of young Pony Express riders based at the Sweetwater Station in the Nebraska Territory during the years leading up to the American Civil War. The series premiered on ABC on September 20, 1989 and ran for three seasons until the final episode aired on July 23, 1992.

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Creators and Cast

Creators

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Cast

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Episodes

Season 1

24 episodes

S1 E1 · The Kid

This was the pilot episode. We meet Kid first, he gets into a fist fight to get his horse, Katy. Later he joins the Pony Express where we are introduced to Emma Shannon the station mistress, Teaspoon Hunter the shaggy station master, Buck, Jimmy, Ike, Cody, and Lou. Later in the episode we also meet the continuing character Sam Cain, the marshal of Sweetwater.

S1 E2 · Gunfighter

Hickok projects the demons of his childhood onto a bullying hired gun and decides only a showdown with the gunslinger will exorcise them.

S1 E3 · Home of the Brave

When the Kiowa begin to attack white settlements and civilians, Buck must decide between loyalty to his Kiowa brother and to the obligations and friendships he has found with the Pony Express. In the meantime, Lou, Hickok and Cody get into a fight with Tompkins and his men because of the shopkeeper's insults against Buck.

S1 E4 · Speak No Evil

While on an Express run, Ike witnesses a terrible stagecoach massacre and finds himself unable to take the life of the gang's leader. The man is apprehended, however, and it is up to the Riders to ensure Ike's safe passage to the courthouse where he can testify.

S1 E5 · Bad Blood

Lou returns to the orphanage to retrieve her younger brother and sister, but her estranged father, a gunrunner, gets to them first.

S1 E6 · Black Ulysses

The riders stand up for a runaway slave who is pursued by Missouri state militiamen committed to bringing down the fugitive.

S1 E7 · Ten-Cent Hero

A dime novelist creates the legendary gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok, and Hickok faces the consequences when a gunfighter arrives for a showdown with the fastest gun in the West.

S1 E8 · False Colors

Kid enjoys a reunion with his brother Jed, who seems to have found a niche in the Army, but is really leading a gang that is posing as cavalry to steal gold for the budding Confederacy.

S1 E9 · A Good Day to Die

Kid finds a young warrior at the scene of a way-station massacre, and although the warrior denies any wrongdoing, Kid hauls him back through Indian territory to face justice in Sweetwater.

S1 E10 · The End of Innocence

Hickok discovers hidden feelings for Emma on a venture to an Army outpost commanded by a captain with a passion for cruelty.

S1 E11 · Blind Love

Hickok's heart is lassoed by a mysterious woman, but he is caught in a dangerous tangle when he discovers that she is bound to another man.

S1 E12 · The Keepsake

Teaspoon is given claim to a small fortune, but he may lose it to a young woman he thinks is his lost daughter, and to a crooked gambler willing to kill for the cash.

S1 E13 · Fall from Grace

Hickok has a falling-out with Teaspoon, and he falls in with a gang of outlaws who are after a store of Army guns and ammunition.

S1 E14 · Hard Time

Kid is sentenced to hard time on a trumped-up charge by a small-town sheriff carrying out the policies of the sadistic man who keeps the town under a cloud of fear.

S1 E15 · Lady for a Night

Dressed as a lady for a night, Lou meets a vicious brute who develops an obsession for her, while he masterminds a series of heists in the territory.

S1 E16 · Unfinished Business

After surviving a massacre of wealthy settlers near Sal Lake, Emma's estranged husband arrives in Sweetwater looking for shelter from Emma, and raising the suspicions of Sam and the riders.

S1 E17 · Decoy

On a wild ride to deliver a top-secret Government message, Cody helps a mortally wounded mountain man, who asks Cody to care for his pet bear. Meanwhile, back in Sweetwater, the other riders look after an abandoned baby.

S1 E18 · Daddy's Girl

A new girl in town has Buck in her sights, but he is caught in the cross-fire between her, her tyrannical father and her cruel suitor.

S1 E19 · Bulldog

An Eastern college boy arrives with dreams of meeting his Western idol, Hickok, but he is used as an unwitting accomplice in a scheme that endangers all the riders.

S1 E20 · Matched Pair

Hickok helps a friendly rival search for their gunfighting mentor's kidnapped daughter, who actually has escaped with evidence of her dad's corruption.

S1 E21 · The Man Behind the Badge

Sam finds himself on the wrong side of the law in his own town when the man responsible for the murder of Sam's wife takes over Sweetwater.

S1 E22 · Then There Was One

Teaspoon sets out for Texas with an old comrade in arms to warn three other veterans that someone has been murdering the last men who truly remember the Alamo.

S1 E23 · Gathering Clouds (1)

The tension between the North and the South reaches crisis proportions, and Kid is recruited to infiltrate a band of Southern guerrillas led by a charismatic Robin Hood called the Hawk.

S1 E24 · Gathering Clouds (2)

Kid escapes the noose, but Hawk's raiders are still on the loose, so Hickok works his way into the gang, which hangs any pretense of civility to pursue its violent purpose.

Season 2

22 episodes

S2 E1 · Born to Hang

The riders try to recapture gold stolen from Stagecoach Sally, a woman spearheading a venture to send escaped slaves to Africa.

S2 E2 · Ghosts

The ""ghost"" of one of Teaspoon's victims returns for revenge.

S2 E3 · Dead Ringer

Hickok sets out to catch a vicious gunman impersonating him.

S2 E4 · Blood Moon

Fear of a cholera outbreak turns the citizens of Sweetwater into a mob intent on lynching a deaf-mute boy suspected of being the carrier.

S2 E5 · Pride and Prejudice

Buck finds Tompkins' long-missing wife and child assimilated into the Sioux tribe which took them.

S2 E6 · The Littlest Cowboy

Ike, bitter after being beaten by men who take advantage of his handicap, befriends Arthur, a terminally ill boy.

S2 E7 · Blood Money

The Kid catches Dyson, a would-be horse thief, who apparently hangs himself while in the custody of a corrupt marshal.

S2 E8 · Requiem for a Hero

Cody meets and learns from his doomed Old West hero Hezekiah Horn.

S2 E9 · Bad Company

Hickok leaves to become sheriff of the lawless town of Regrets, haoping to meet death quickly as retribution for accidentally killing a young woman during a gunfight.

S2 E10 · Star Light, Star Bright

At Chrismastime the riders believe they own half a gold mine as repayment for Hickok's kindness to old prospector Cyrus.

S2 E11 · The Play's the Thing

Cody considers joining a theater troupe, and unknowingly enters a ploat to assassinate a U.S. General.

S2 E12 · Judgement Day

Still affected by Hezekiah Horn's death, Cody seeks guidance from a preacher-vigilante.

S2 E13 · Kansas

Noah is taken into slavery when he tries to free his former teacher Calvin (Roundtree).

S2 E14 · The Peacemakers

Hickok falls for Alice, a woman from an ostracized religious group, and settles an old score with a gunfighter named Tyler.

S2 E15 · Daisy

No summary.

S2 E16 · Color Blind

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S2 E17 · Old Scores

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S2 E18 · The Talisman

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S2 E19 · A Noble Chase

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S2 E20 · Face of the Enemy

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S2 E21 · The Exchange (1)

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S2 E22 · The Exchange (2)

No summary.

Season 3

22 episodes

S3 E1 · A House Divided

Pony Express's rider move to Rockcreek.

S3 E2 · Jesse

The riders befriend a young man named Jesse, who seeks vengeance against a gang of outlaws that kills his guardian.

S3 E3 · The Blood of Others

Lou, Hickok, and Kid are to deliver a long-sought outlaw to his hanging, but en route discover the man's more honorable than ornery.

S3 E4 · Between Rock Creek and a Hard Place

No summary.

S3 E5 · The Presence of Mine Enemies

Ike meets and falls hard in love with Emily Metcalfe (Kelly Williams). Emily's father is murdered by a card cheat, Neville. Emily seeks to avenge her father's murder. Ike goes after Emily to save her and takes the bullet meant for her himself. As the riders bid a tearful farewell to their friend, Buck seeks ultimate vengeance against Neville.

S3 E6 · Survivors

Cody falls for a widow who's forced to be involved with outlaws; Buck struggles with grief over Ike's death. Margaret Reed. Daniel: Gregor Hesse. Faith: Laurie Allen. Kimball: Brian Burke. Rings: James Oscar Lee. Tompkins: Don Collier.

S3 E7 · Initiation

No summary.

S3 E8 · Just Like Old Times

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S3 E9 · Spirits

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S3 E10 · A Tiger's Tale

Cody and Noah bite of more than they can chew trying to deliver a tiger to St. Joseph while protecting nuns and a novitiate they meet en route. Sister Katherine: Claudette Nevins. Elizabeth: Georgia Emelin. Tuck: Jim Cody Williams. Manny: Bing Blenman.

S3 E11 · Good Night, Sweet Charlotte

A former prostitute comes to Rock Creek hoping to start a new life, but brings back bitter memories for Lou; Hickok befriends a wounded Lakota Indian out on the trail. Charlotte: Jennifer Hetrick. Wicks: John De Lancie. Red Sky: Robert Cota.

S3 E12 · Song of Isiah

Hickok becomes affected by his sister's cause, and finds himself riding with a band of abolitionists led by a man wanted for murder. James Handy. Rosemary: Sydney Walsh. Nathan: Ric San Nicholas. Celinda: Sarah G. Buxton.

S3 E13 · Spies

With war possible, Kid gets mixed up in espionage involving a charming spy; Teaspoon plans to make Rachel the new schoolteacher. Saunders: Gary Sandy. Farnsworth: Michael F. Woodson. Tompkins: Don Collier. Alan: Danny Ray.

S3 E14 · Shadowmen

A Pinkerton agent arrives in Rock Creek on the trail of a bank robber; a damsel in distress distracts Teaspoon. Anthony Zerbe, Josh Brolin. Blackcomb: Art La Fleur. Marie: Greta Lambert.

S3 E15 · Mask of Fear

Mob mentality grips Rock Creek after a Polish immigrant (Paul Rossilli) who served time for killing his wife returns to town. Ruth: Mimi Maynard. Barrett: Randy Crowder. Elroy: Barney McFadden. Teaspoon: Anthony Zerbe. Jesse: Christopher Pettiet. Furey: Mark Davenport. Gibson: Erol Landis.

S3 E16 · Dark Brother

A young woman who was once promised to Buck comes to town with her fiance for the purpose of a visit, but while she is there, she is taken over by an evil spirit. Buck turns to mysterious old Indian, who insists he can drive the spirit from her, but because her fiance refuses to allow his help, Buck must kidnap her and take her away town.

S3 E17 · The Road Not Taken

Jesse (Christopher Pettiet) tags along with Hickok (Josh Brolin) to track down a killer whom Hickok has personal reasons to see taken down. Dobbins: Joseph Bottoms. Hannah: Dey Young. Tompkins: Don Collier. Seth: Justin Rigney. Luke: Kenneth Cutler Yasmer. Hooper Deputy: J.D. Ryan. Horace Walcott: Roberto Guajardo. Cody: Stephen Baldwin. Lou: Yvonne Suhor. Teaspoon: Anthony Zerbe. Noah: Don Franklin. Kid: Ty Miller.

S3 E18 · The Sacrifice

Teaspoon and Hickok set out to restore order to an outlaw-ridden town, which happens to be where Kid wants to spend more time with Lou. Ty Miller, Yvonne Suhor, Anthony Zerbe. Hickok: Josh Brolin. Dawkins: Justin Whalin. Esmond: Mel Winkler.

S3 E19 · Lessons Learned

A killer whose conviction was overturned seeks out his accusers; and Teaspoon's ex-wife slips into town. Wings Hauser. Polly: Leigh Taylor-Young. Murphy: Mitchell Ryan. Teaspoon: Anthony Zerbe.

S3 E20 · The Debt

Hickok trails a new rider who disappeared in a town overrun by bad guys; and Lou saddles up to buy a wedding dress. Emmet: William Sanderson. Joe Garrett: Ed Adams. Matt: Michael Roddy. Bonnie: Elizabeth Hanley. Storekeeper: Larry Soller. Teaspoon: Anthony Zerbe. Noah: Don Franklin.

S3 E21 · 'Til Death Do Us Part (1)

Lou and Kid (Yvonne Suhor, Ty Miller) prepare to form a union on the eve of the Civil War. Part 1 of two. Hickok: Josh Brolin. Teaspoon: Anthony Zerbe. Cody: Stephen Baldwin. Rachel: Clare Wren. Jesse: Christopher Pettiet. Noah: Don Franklin. Buck: Gregg Rainwater.

S3 E22 · 'Til Death Do Us Part (2)

No summary.