Revamped Western Series Breathes New Life into Iconic Gunslinger's Untold Story

WARNING: Spoilers ahead for Billy the Kid.

Summary

The season 2 premiere of Billy the Kid shocks viewers by depicting the demise of a prominent historical figure from the Lincoln County War, prompting doubts regarding the show's authenticity. Jim Dolan, a crucial character in the actual conflict, held a pivotal role in Murphy's House and was widely regarded as the catalyst for the war.

The lack of commitment to historical accuracy in Billy the Kid is evident through its decision to prematurely kill off Dolan and other inaccuracies. In the season 2 premiere, the show takes liberties with history by depicting the death of a significant figure from the Lincoln County War. This violent feud, which took place in the Lincoln County territory of New Mexico from 1878 to 1881, involved William H. Bonney, famously known as Billy the Kid. Bonney fought alongside allies John Tunstall and Alexander McSween against their rival Lawrence G. Murphy in a heated battle for control over the lawless region.

Many Billy the Kid characters featured in season 2 of the MGM+ series participate on both sides of the Lincoln County War, resulting in a total of 23 deaths and 23 injuries. The death of a significant historical figure aligned with the Murphy faction of the conflict prompts doubts regarding the accuracy of the Billy the Kid series. Particularly noteworthy is the decision to eliminate this character in the season 2 premiere, despite their substantial impact and role in the overall events of the Lincoln County War.

Old West Gunman Jim Dolan Wasn't Killed By John Riley In Real Life

Contrary to the portrayal in Billy the Kid, Jim or James Dolan, played by Chad Rook, was not killed by his ally John Riley in real life. Historical records reveal that Dolan was a key figure in Murphy's House throughout the entirety of the Lincoln County War. In fact, he played a major role in antagonizing Englishman John Tunstall. Dolan and Murphy were actually close business partners, and Riley served primarily as one of Murphy's clerks. Prior to Tunstall opening a competing general store and bank in Lincoln in 1876, Dolan and Murphy held a virtual monopoly on the sale of most goods in Lincoln, New Mexico.

Why Billy The Kid Changes Jim Dolan's Death & What It Means For Season 2

Dolan's anger was ignited when Tunstall decided to establish his own general store and bank, disrupting Dolan's monopoly alongside Murphy. In response, Dolan impulsively challenged Tunstall to a gunfight, but, realizing his limitations, he enlisted the help of several hired gunslingers, including the notorious Jesse Evans gang, to ensure their interests were protected. However, suspicions arose when Tunstall was tragically shot and killed in February 1878, leading many to believe that Dolan had orchestrated the attack. Adding to his malevolent actions, Dolan even put a bounty of $1000 on the head of Alex McSween, Tunstall's lawyer. It is widely acknowledged that Dolan played a pivotal role in instigating the Lincoln County War, which makes his premature and inaccurate demise in the MGM+ series an intriguing choice.

It is unclear why Dolan was killed off early in the MGM+ series, even though he played a significant role in starting the Lincoln County War. One possible reason for Dolan's early demise could be the disregard for historical accuracy in the series, considering that other notable events in season 1, such as the death of Billy's younger brother Joesph, were also historically inaccurate. In reality, Joe McCarty lived until 1930, contradicting the show's portrayal. With the unexpected death of James Dolan in the season 2 premiere of Billy the Kid, it will be intriguing to see how other aspects of the story will diverge from historical records.