NOVA Season 21 Episode 2 Wanted: Butch and Sundance

In NOVA season 21 episode 2, entitled "Wanted: Butch and Sundance," viewers are taken on a journey to unravel the mysterious deaths of two infamous outlaws - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The episode explores the many theories and tales surrounding the outlaws' final days and attempts to uncover the truth behind their ultimate fate.

The episode is set in the early 1900s, a time when the American Wild West was slowly being tamed by the authorities. While many famous outlaws were either dead or in jail, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid managed to evade the law and continue their life of crime. But their luck eventually ran out, and the two men were forced to flee to South America to escape the law.

The episode starts with a brief overview of the two men's early life and crime careers. It then delves into the aftermath of the famous San Vicente shootout in Bolivia, where it was believed that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were finally killed. The episode explores the different stories and myths that have arisen around the outlaws' deaths, including the possibility that they survived the shootout and lived out their days in South America.

The episode's central question is whether Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid really died in the San Vicente shootout, or if there is any truth to the stories that they escaped and lived on in secrecy. To answer this question, the episode's producers have assembled a team of experts in various fields, including historians, forensic scientists, and ballistics experts.

The team first aims to confirm the identity of the two men who were killed in the San Vicente shootout. Using DNA analysis, they attempt to match the remains with living relatives of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. This process is not straightforward, as the remains have been buried and exhumed multiple times, and there have been many claims of imposters and mistaken identities.

Once the identity of the remains is confirmed, the team turns their attention to the ballistics evidence from the San Vicente shootout. They recreate the shootout using the same type of guns and ammunition that were used at the time, to determine if the bullets that killed the two men could have been fired by their pursuers or if there is any evidence of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The episode also explores the possibility that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid faked their own deaths and assumed new identities. The team investigates several leads, including sightings of the two men in various locations around the world and the discovery of new documents that suggest that Butch Cassidy may have survived into the 1930s.

Overall, the episode is a fascinating exploration of one of the most enduring legends of the American Wild West. Whether or not viewers believe that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid really survived the San Vicente shootout, they will likely come away with a deeper appreciation for the two men and their remarkable lives and adventures.