What is the plot?

The episode opens in the aftermath of a major courtroom defeat for the Cowboys, who respond by hatching a new plan to strike back at Tombstone and reclaim power. The setback does not end the conflict; instead, it pushes the faction toward retaliation, with the episode framing their next move as an ambush rather than a legal or political response.

As the Cowboys begin organizing their counterattack, the episode builds toward a violent escalation that shifts the feud out of the courtroom and back into the streets. The title event is the Cowboys' attempt to reassert control through force, and the story's central tension is driven by their decision to turn defeat into a coordinated act of revenge.

That plan leads directly into a shocking murder, which becomes the episode's major turning point. The killing is not presented as an isolated act but as the consequence of the Cowboys' broader effort to ambush Tombstone and regain their standing, and it pushes Wyatt into a more aggressive and emotionally charged response. Wyatt's reaction is described as going "over the edge," making the murder the event that decisively escalates the conflict and closes the episode on a much darker, more dangerous stage of the feud.

What is the ending?

In the ending of episode 4, the Cowboys are shown regrouping after their courtroom loss and preparing to strike back at Tombstone, while the violence in the town keeps building around Wyatt Earp. The episode closes with the conflict moving toward a bigger confrontation, and Wyatt is pushed closer to taking matters into his own hands.

Scene by scene, the ending unfolds like this: the Cowboys, stung by the legal defeat, gather themselves and look for a way to regain control in Tombstone. Their anger is not quiet or distant; it is active, and it becomes a plan to ambush the town and force the balance of power back in their favor. The episode presents this as a direct response to the courtroom setback, showing that the conflict has now moved from legal arguments into open retaliation.

At the same time, a murder shocks the town and drives Wyatt further toward breaking with the law as it exists around him. The episode's description makes clear that this death is the turning point that pushes Wyatt over the edge. His response is not shown as calm or procedural; it is the beginning of a harder, more personal course of action, as he loses faith in the Arizona legal system and starts moving toward vigilante justice.

By the end of the episode, the main participants are positioned for the next stage of the conflict rather than brought to a final resolution. Wyatt ends the episode more determined and more distrustful of the courts than before, while Ike Clanton and the Cowboys end it regrouped, embittered, and preparing for violence. Tombstone itself is left exposed, caught between these forces and heading toward an even larger clash.

Is there a post-credit scene?

No post-credit scene is listed for episode 4, "The Cowboys Strike Back," in the available episode information.

The episode description instead focuses on the Cowboys' plan to ambush Tombstone after a courtroom defeat and a shocking murder that pushes Wyatt over the edge. Because the sources available here do not mention any end-credit or post-credit footage, there is no evidence of a post-credit scene in this episode.

What major courtroom defeat sets the Cowboys up to strike back in episode 4?

Episode 4 centers on the Cowboys reacting after a major courtroom defeat leaves them looking for another way to reclaim power in Tombstone.

How do the Cowboys plan to ambush Tombstone in "The Cowboys Strike Back"?

According to the episode description, the Cowboys respond to their loss by hatching a plan to ambush Tombstone and regain control.

What shocking murder happens in episode 4, and who is affected by it?

The episode description says a shocking murder occurs, and that event pushes Wyatt Earp over the edge, making his reaction a central character beat in the episode.

Why does Wyatt Earp become more aggressive in "The Cowboys Strike Back"?

Wyatt's escalation is tied directly to the shocking murder mentioned in the episode synopsis, which pushes him into a more intense response.

Which characters are most central to the conflict in episode 4: "The Cowboys Strike Back"?

The episode description makes the Cowboys, Wyatt Earp, and the power struggle in Tombstone the key focus, with Ike Clanton's broader feud with Wyatt anchoring the series context.

Is this family friendly?

Yes -- it is not really family-friendly for young children. It carries a TV-14 rating, and the show is described as a gritty docudrama centered on feuds, shootouts, and reenactments of violence.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting elements for children or sensitive viewers include:

  • Violence and blood: IMDb lists moderate violence & gore and notes some non-graphic bloody violence.
  • Strong language: IMDb lists moderate profanity, including words such as "bastard," "son of a bitch," and similar insults.
  • Alcohol, tobacco, and smoking: IMDb lists moderate alcohol, drugs & smoking, with characters drinking and smoking cigars or tobacco.
  • Intense historical conflict: The series is built around a violent feud and gunfights, which may be tense or upsetting even when not graphically shown.
  • Mild frightening scenes: IMDb rates frightening/intense content as mild, but the reenactment style and armed confrontations may still feel unsettling to some viewers.

There is no sex or nudity listed in the parental guidance data.