Ep 1. A Kingdom Unto Itself

In the first episode of the historical drama series Frontier, titled "A Kingdom Unto Itself," viewers are transported to the late 1700s during the fur trade boom in North America. The show focuses on the conflict between competing bounty hunters and fur traders who struggle to control the land and resources in the frontier zones of Hudson Bay and the St. Lawrence River Valley.

The episode opens with Declan Harp (Jason Momoa) and his group of fur trappers being ambushed by English soldiers in the wilderness of the Canadian frontier. Harp and his band of hunters are of mixed race and have been pushed out to the fringes of society by the British who seek to control the fur trade. Harp is seen as a dangerous outlaw and is sought by the English authorities for his actions against them.

Meanwhile, in London, Lord Benton (Alun Armstrong) is sent by the British Crown to take control of the fur trade in the vast and uncharted territories of the North American continent. He is a ruthless and cunning bureaucrat who sees himself as a master of the frontier, and will stop at nothing to assert his authority over the land and the people.

Back in North America, the fur traders of the Hudson Bay Company are feeling the pressure from their English rivals, who are steadily encroaching on their territory. One of the company's officers, Michael Smyth (Landon Liboiron), is dispatched to recover stolen furs from Harp and his group, in hopes of restoring his reputation and gaining favor with his superiors. However, Smyth quickly realizes he has bitten off more than he can chew when he meets Harp, who proves to be a formidable opponent.

The episode also introduces other important characters, such as Sokanon (Jessica Matten), a First Nations woman who joins Harp's group and is fiercely loyal to him, and Grace Emberly (Zoe Boyle), a wealthy and ambitious woman who runs a trading post and has her own agenda in the cutthroat world of the fur trade.

Throughout the episode, tensions rise as the various factions vie for control over the fur trade and the land itself. The rugged and brutal conditions of the frontier make it a harsh and unforgiving place, where violence and betrayal are commonplace. As the episode comes to a close, the stage is set for a showdown between Harp and his crew, the British authorities, and the other fur traders who want to control the lucrative fur trade business.

Overall, "A Kingdom Unto Itself" sets up the overarching conflicts and themes of the series, including the complex power dynamics between the English settlers, the First Nations people, and the mixed-race trappers who exist in the liminal spaces between them. The show explores the impact of colonization on indigenous peoples and the consequences of unchecked greed and ambition on the natural world. It's a gripping and gritty tale of survival, betrayal, and adventure that will keep viewers on the edge of their seat.