Editorial

Is Josh Brolin’s Character Royal From The Past In ‘Outer Range’?

OPINION
Outer Range (Credit: Amazon Studios)

Outer Range (Credit: Amazon Studios)

David Hookstead Sports And Entertainment Editor
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A major “Outer Range” theory is already floating around.

For those of you who don’t know, the first two episodes of Amazon’s new sci-fi/western show dropped this past Friday morning, and I immediately fired up both. (REVIEW: ‘Outer Range’ Is Off To A Very Strong Start)

I was immediately hooked. Josh Brolin stars as Royal Abbott, who is the patriarch of a ranching family in Wyoming, and he’s fighting to keep his land.

When he stumbles across a gaping hole in the land, it’s quickly off to the races with chaos and a sinister mystery.

Now, I want you all to stop reading right now if you’re not already caught up because there is going to be a major spoiler from episode two coming up. Does everyone understand? Perfect. Now, let’s proceed.

At the end of the second episode, Royal comes out of the hole to find the military and the Tillersons waiting for him. His wife informs him he’s been dead for two years and that’s when all hell broke loose.

Now, let’s go over what we know for sure. It’s clear the hole in the land is some kind of portal, and the audience is being led to believe it jumps to the future.

However, a lot of people think it also could have gone to the past at some point, and that Royal might be from the past. Why is this a popular reason?

Well, in my mind, there are two main points. First, we know Royal hid a photo in some cabinets in one of his barns. The photo appears to show two people from the 1800s and he looked at it emotionally. That seems to indicate a close connection to the individuals shown. The audience is being led to believe they’re his ancestors. Do you know anyone who looks at people they’ve never met before like that? I think they could be his parents, which leads me into point two.

While he’s in the barn with Autumn, who I don’t trust as far as I can throw her, she asks if he remembers anything before the age of nine, and he clearly doesn’t. How can that be? We all remember stuff long before we were nine. Why doesn’t Royal? Is it possible that when he came through the portal as a kid his mind was wiped?

I certainly don’t think we can rule it out at all. There is clearly something off, and this theory has taken the internet by storm. Trust me, I didn’t come up with this all by myself. The photo and the remark about his lack of a memory has been noticed by a lot of online sleuths.

What I will say is that I’m officially hooked on “Outer Range.” If you haven’t already seen it, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s outstanding! You can watch it all on Amazon!