The synopsis paints this episode as a "morality play". I would disagree; it seems to be more of an allegory. After an injury that knocks Stoney out of competition for the remainder of the season, a sinister man in black (Mark Richman) named Redmond offers Stoney, now in need of income to help his folks back in South Dakota, a job taking horses to slaughter, one of which is Megaton, the horse that injured him. Redmond's offer, coming at Stoney's lowest point emotionally, is something Burke finds hard to resist.
To a man who loves the horses that often injure him, this job offer is a Faustian deal. You can see Stoney struggling with his own conscience through the whole episode. It's almost like one of those cartoons where the main character has an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. In this case, Ves and the boys serve as the "angel", the "devil" is represented by Redmond and his boss Longworth. A toll bridge serves to separate Stoney from his moral support, leaving him to face the demons alone. In an odd twist, Stoney sees in Megaton something of the independent spirit that kept him persevering through everything he has endured the rest of the season. That epiphany gives Stoney the courage to reject Redmond and fight to get back into competition next year.
Putting this episode back to back with the previous episode "The Test", seems more like a double-header. Our hero has had to face down two major risks to his goals: one physical "The Test", and one a bit more existential, as represented in this episode. It would be interesting to see how this would have played out if the show had been renewed for another season. But as is, these final two episodes stand as a tremendous finale to an underrated piece of work for Jack Lord.
To a man who loves the horses that often injure him, this job offer is a Faustian deal. You can see Stoney struggling with his own conscience through the whole episode. It's almost like one of those cartoons where the main character has an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. In this case, Ves and the boys serve as the "angel", the "devil" is represented by Redmond and his boss Longworth. A toll bridge serves to separate Stoney from his moral support, leaving him to face the demons alone. In an odd twist, Stoney sees in Megaton something of the independent spirit that kept him persevering through everything he has endured the rest of the season. That epiphany gives Stoney the courage to reject Redmond and fight to get back into competition next year.
Putting this episode back to back with the previous episode "The Test", seems more like a double-header. Our hero has had to face down two major risks to his goals: one physical "The Test", and one a bit more existential, as represented in this episode. It would be interesting to see how this would have played out if the show had been renewed for another season. But as is, these final two episodes stand as a tremendous finale to an underrated piece of work for Jack Lord.