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Strange Empire

TV·2014–2015·1 season, 13 episodes·CBC·Drama, Western·1h·7.2·Created by Laurie Finstad-Knizhnik

Streaming on (US) Amazon Prime VideoSee all

Strange Empire is a Western whose heroes are women. With most of their men gone, and those who remain battling for control, the women struggle to survive, to find their independence, and to build a life in which to thrive and raise families. As the stories of Janestown's citizens unfold we see the clash between a power-hungry father and son and the deep prejudices among races, but also the start of something akin to community in this Wild West. Western stories take civilization as a goal; they begin in blood, and end in the morality of Main Street.

Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01Strange Empire S01E01The Hunting PartyS01E01 · 6.0Women struggle to build a life in 1869 Alberta-Montana border country. In the opener, a bloodthirsty massacre leaves a group of women in the hands of a ruthless man intent on turning them into prostitutes.
  2. 02Strange Empire S01E07The OathS01E07 · 6.0Amputation may be Thomas' only hope for survival; and the girls come upon cattle rustlers.
  3. 03Strange Empire S01E02Buckskin PrincessS01E02 · 5.5Slotter captures Kat's girls; Isabelle entices potential investors for the mine.

Cast

Aaron PooleAaron PooleJohn SlotterCara GeeCara GeeKat LovingMelissa FarmanMelissa FarmanDr. Rebecca BloomTattiawna JonesTattiawna JonesIsabelle Slotter

Episodes by season

Season01Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode13Episodes2014–15Aired 5.3Season avg
  1. S01E01Strange Empire S01E01Season's bestThe Hunting PartyOctober 6, 2014 6.0Women struggle to build a life in 1869 Alberta-Montana border country. In the opener, a bloodthirsty massacre leaves a group of women in the
  2. S01E02Strange Empire S01E02Buckskin PrincessOctober 13, 2014 5.5Slotter captures Kat's girls; Isabelle entices potential investors for the mine.
  3. S01E03Strange Empire S01E03Other PowersOctober 20, 2014 5.5Kat tells the marshal Slotter is guilty; Isabelle tries to convince Cornelius to loan her a miner's wages.
  4. S01E04Strange Empire S01E04The Whiskey TraderOctober 27, 2014 5.0Slotter scapegoats two Blackfoot for the massacre and seeks to have them hanged, while the camp turns against Kat.
  5. S01E05Strange Empire S01E05Lonely HeartsNovember 3, 2014 5.0Jeremiah is missing and bounty hunters are tracking her, so Kat turns to natural Native hallucinogens for answers.
  6. S01E06Strange Empire S01E06ElectricityNovember 17, 2014 5.0Slotter puts his most brutal man in as sheriff; Kat considers whether she's administering justice or if she's just another ruthless killer.
  7. S01E07Strange Empire S01E07The OathNovember 24, 2014 6.0Amputation may be Thomas' only hope for survival; and the girls come upon cattle rustlers.
  8. S01E08Strange Empire S01E08How Far is HeavenDecember 1, 2014 4.0A self-proclaimed prophet from Utah territory sets his eyes on Kelly. Isabelle tries to orchestrate their union to get her hands on the prop
  9. S01E09Strange Empire S01E09The ResistanceDecember 8, 2014 5.5The women take sides as Slotter's miners and Ling's railway workers fight each other for control of the mine. Violence escalates and ends in
  10. S01E10Strange Empire S01E10The CageJanuary 12, 2015—With the mine in ruins, Slotter's depravity reaches new depths as the camp struggles to save the last surviving miners trapped underground.
  11. S01E11Strange Empire S01E11ConfessionJanuary 19, 2015—Chase Sloat is hounded by ghosts. The women use his troubled mind to their advantage as the Slotter household turns on itself.
  12. S01E12Strange Empire S01E12End DaysJanuary 26, 2015—An army of militia men is hired by Slotter to secure his power in Janestown. Kat goes in search of weapons and makes a plan to take the camp
  13. S01E13Strange Empire S01E13The Dark RidersFebruary 2, 2015 5.0The women band together to take Slotter down.

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

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