Joel (Rob Morrow) is still trying to adapt to Cicely. One of the locals has paid his fee with a goat, and when he tries to return it, she offers to adopt him into the tribe. At Marilyn’s (Elaine Miles) urging he agrees, and things go badly from there.

Our Tribe was written by David Assael, this epiosde was first broadcast on 13 January, 1992.

With Shelley (Cynthia Geary) away Holling (John Cullum) cites he’s closing the bar to wax the floors, but Maggie (Janine Turner) is intent on finding out what is going on. It’s a nice story, unexpected, and introduces Holling’s interest in astronomy, and why he has it. And that delivers a fun little b-story, but Joel’s eventual breakdown over his adoption into the tribe definitely takes up most of the narrative.

Joel is told he has to give his things away, believing they will be returned to him, but things just get crazier and crazier, especially when Chris (John Corbett) mentions the upcoming flesh sacrifice, and Ed (Darren E. Burrows) preps him for his vision quest.

And speaking of Chris, he’s suffering a malaise with The Brick being closed. So he and Maurice (Barry Corbin) head to the next nearest bar, which is over a hundred miles away.

It’s an episode that pontificates on our place in ‘tribes,’ as well as our need for a sense of belonging. We all want it, and we all seek it, and when we’re lucky, we find it. And we also learn Joel’s Indigenous name… Heals with Tools.

Things Become Extinct sees Holling being dealt a personal blow sending him into a mid-life crisis when his uncle dies. Joel is feeling isolated, despite just being adopted by the tribe, and goes in search of Jewish people in Alaska, And I really enjoy Ed’s narrative he finds the subject for a documentary, Ira Wingfeather (Bryson G. Liberty).

He is searching for dying breeds, and comes across Ira who hand carves flutes.

Written by Robin Green from a story by Mitchell Burgess and it first debuted on 20 January, 1992.

Holling takes all the potatoes from The Brick, and heads to a remote location, trailed by Chris, to make some homemade brew and pontificate on his life, and his uncle’s death. As he works the still, his relationship with Shelley gets rocky, and his depression seems to infect others as well.

Ed’s story is wonderful as he and Ira discuss change, and how things become extinct. Something that Holling will have to learn as well. With a little help from Shelley who brings the toys of his youth to tell his life, and let him realize what he has to live for.

I really like the way this one closed out. A very enjoyable episode.