The reality they're bending and plot holes they're driving wagons through are starting to strain credibility.
It's the tail end of western expansion, but they're making the story about pioneers blazing a trail. Literally. There were well established routes by 1883, but for the sake of the story they pretend they're crossing the great unknown as if for the first time in history.
By then I bet nearly every river had some sort of ferry or service for crossing. Ruts and forts and trading outposts evidenced to this day. Nah, they're going some back roads, with guides who don't know where the next city or trading post even is.
The first automobile to make a transcontinental drive was in 1903. It's not like everything in between the coasts was abandon the second the railroad was completed. Only 20 years from wagons over the virgin plains of 1883 to some dude driving the first automobile across country on a bet.
Refresher on the timeline. 1820's the first wagon trains start heading west. 60 years of infrastructure and experience are built up. 1882 they dismantle all the bridges, ferrys and trading outposts so the Dutons can have virtually untouched lands for a true pioneering experience in 1883.
20 years later, all the trading posts and towns are rapidly rebuilt along many of the same routes so a guy can drive a car across country taking many of the same routes, but now with fueling stations and the ability to telegraph for parts deliveries.
Can't explain that!
But they could have just explained why they're going a different route, or made the story that these were the last of the wagon train pioneers with dangers unique to that situation. But instead just warp reality in a show that is praised for it's gritty realism.
They probably just wanted the civil war aspect, as mentioned, and wanted to cast Sam Elliott and there was no logical way to match those timelines without just making shit up that is very contrived.
Would be more forgivable, but Elsa is turning into a Mary Sue who just so perfectly represents our modern feminist sensibilities, and meanwhile makes every mistake possible, but is always rewarded for her folly and saved by dumb luck. Or saved by men who get no credit for this stunning and brave pioneer woman breaking down glass ceilings in everything she (mistakenly) does.
Oh no, more white bandits! Thankfully the English speaking noble savage will save the girl at the last minute! ...because her horse being fast was a plot point earlier in the episode, but is suddenly not as fast as three random horses now due the need of another plot point.
Thankfully it's all very credible because Interracial Indian romances were as common on the trail as your 18 year old daughter whoring around with cowboys, which was all totally acceptable to your parents back then if you were like totes in love.
When they kill her and it's supposed to be the most dramatic, gut wrenching scene in television history, I'm going to be glad. Because she's a big reason this show strays from amazing drama into silly melodrama so often.
