Ep 1. Amazing Machine

Harley and the Davidsons is an American drama TV series based on the story of the Harley Davidson motorcycle company and its founders. The show's first season premiered in 2016 and consists of three episodes.

In the first episode titled "Amazing Machine," we are introduced to the three major characters of the show, Arthur Davidson, William S. Harley, and Walter Davidson. The episode opens with young Arthur and Bill working in a bicycle shop. They are both fascinated by the idea of building a motorized bicycle and dream of one day starting their own motorcycle company.

As they experiment with different designs, a young Walter Davidson, the son of a wealthy businessman, shows up. He is interested in motorcycles and offers to back their venture financially. With his support, they start building their first experimental motorcycle and begin to plan their business venture.

However, they soon run into problems as their business model runs on the edge of capitalism and starts to falter. Furthermore, they face resistance from established motorcycle manufacturers and the wealthy elite that they're not taken seriously enough.

Despite all these challenges, Arthur, Bill, and Walter remain determined to build their dream motorcycle. Using their combined experience and skills, they build a machine that's both powerful and dynamic, and, most importantly, American. This episode is all about their initial struggles and how they overcame those challenges to build Harley-Davidson, one of the most iconic motorcycle brands in the world.

Throughout the course of the episode, we see glimpses of the dedication and passion that embody the company's resilient spirit, even in its earliest days. We also see how the founders' beliefs and values drive the company, evidenced by their motto - "We never rip a customer off."

The episode is set in Milwaukee in the early 1900s, and it immerses us in the era with its period-specific outfits, sets, and interiors. Apart from the well-drawn characters, another aspect that makes the episode engaging is the attention to detail given to the motorcycles, which are depicted as groundbreaking machines at the time.

Overall, the "Amazing Machine" episode is a great start to the show as it sets a firm foundation for the rest of the series. It's a great introduction to the spirits that drive the company and the passion that lives within its founders, something that kept the firm in business for over a hundred years.