Season 2, Episode 17: Buffalo Soldiers

The Gist:
A group of black soldiers rides in to town.  It soon becomes clear that they have been attacking the Cheyenne and that this particular cavalry is responsible for a recent raid on women and children (claiming that they have been housing Dog Soldiers). Although they are commanded to carry out further attacks, the Sergeant has a predictable change of heart when he realizes that <i>Indians Are Humans, Too</i> and disobeys his direct orders, which leads to an elaborate

Meanwhile, Colleen cheats on a scholarship exam.  Everyone expects her to win, and doing well on the exam will entitle her to a trip to Washington, D.C.  So she brings in a fucking crib sheet!  And wins the prize!  Anyway, Brian sees her and is profoundly disappointed.  He then Jiminy Crickets her into telling the truth.



Commentary:
1.  I love that when the troops are being all sexist and shitty about Dr. Quinn, she is the only person who is willing to offer medical assistance or room and board.  Which she then rescinds when she realizes what the troop has done.  Dr. Mike, as always, holds the moral high ground.  

2.  I love Robert E.'s evolving relationship with Sergeant Carver -- the move from admiration to disgust back to complex admiration and concern.   Hell, I just love Robert E.  He's got so much integrity and gumption.

3. Okay, the insanely awesome antics of Dr. Mike in this episode:  she breaks the law to discover official army orders (which she only knew had been made because she, as a doctor, eavesdropped); she transmits this information to Sully and the Cheyenne; she encourages Sully to act as a double agent ... and then she hatches an elaborate plot to break federal law:

a.  Purposefully warn the Cheyenne that they will be attacked, thus getting herself arrested for treason. When Sergeant Carver realizes what she's done and is outraged but gives her a chance to get out, she stays true and owns up to what she did. 
b.  Helps Sully convince Sergeant Carver to disobey a direct order, resulting in his arrest and plan to be court marshalled.
c.  Fake a surgery on a federal prison her so she can poison him so that he can fake his death (Juliet style), so he can escape a probable death penalty.

And what I love even more is that she openly discusses with Colleen the difference between her deception and Colleen's deception.  This discussion involves the phrase "Remember when we read Thoreau ..." It's a great conversation about personal responsibility and civil disobedience.  And it's when she reflects on this conversation with Colleen that she commits to telling the truth about warning the Cheyenne.  She says "I believe that what you are doing is unjust and it's my responsibility as a citizen to stop it." 

4.  After she's arrested Loren says "Ohhh ... she just does stuff like that sometimes!" Ha!

5. I love how much glee Colleen experiences (before she knows that Brian caught her). I would have expected  do-gooder like her to experience more initial guilt. Get it, girl.