Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail Review: Hittin’ The Trail (Season 3 Episode 1)

The third season of the Miracle Workers anthology series starts off a bit slow, but soon picks up speed.

With jokes about cholera and standing six feet apart, Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail Season 3 Episode 1, “Hittin’ The Trail” seems to hit a little too close for comfort.

However, the characters soon prove that this season isn’t going to be like anything we’ve ever seen before — current events jokes aside. As it has proven in previous seasons, the show’s dynamic duo of Buscemi and Radcliffe holds our attention really well from the get-go.

What isn’t expected from many of us is the subtle humor and strength of Jon Bass’s performance. In previous seasons he has always played the hapless wonder who doesn’t really know how to fully function properly. The difference with Todd Aberdeen on “Hittin’ The Trail,” is he’s still a bit hapless, but he’s also more than that. 

Todd is not built for life on the trail, but his inability to make smart decisions plays well against the dangers of the uncharted west. He unwittingly provides the best source of comfort and humor for this premiere episode. 

That is a testament to Bass’ subtle acting skills that we aren’t completely turned off and annoyed by Todd — unlike his fed-up wife, Prudence. In fact, Todd reminds us that even if we have it bad, nobody has it worse than Todd. 

One of the best things about Miracle Workers is the show’s ability to make satirical jokes that everyone can understand and get behind. The characters are always a bit rough around the edges and a little on the dim side, but ultimately we fall in love with them very quickly. 

For example, Reverend Ezekiel Brown is super good and pure, but “Hittin’ The Trail” shows that he has a bit of a wild side if given the opportunity. His mishaps with trying to stick up the Gunslinger just serve to make us love him that much more, which is desperately needed by that point. 

Honestly, it’s interesting to see just how much each of these actors carry different characters each season, but they all have similar qualities to them. For example, Geraldine Viswanathan always plays a female character that pushes against the status quo and shows a strength beyond the others around her. 

Similarly, Radcliffe always plays a character that works hand in hand with Buscemi but constantly gets under Buscemi’s skin. And Karan Soni is the type who is second fiddle to someone else, but still marches to the beat of his own drum.

These constants across the seasons really help to tie all the worlds together. No matter the setting, fans can go into each season knowing the general type of character their favorite actors are going to play. Just like we know this, we also know that somehow, some way, Radcliffe and Viswanathan’s characters will always have a sort of romantic connection. 

With Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail Prudence is married and Zeke is a preacher so their obvious connection even in the premiere is going to create some drama down the road. To watch how their connection this season will play out is going to be a nice overarching theme to keep an eye on. 

With regard to the story itself though, as of this first episode, there isn’t much to go on. Not a whole lot happens which can either be really great or really bad. 

It’s understandable that premiere episodes are meant to set up the story for the season, but with an anthology series like Miracle Workers, it’s more than that because it has to also set up the world. I’m interested to see if the story picks up a bit as we move forward because the characters already intrigue me, and that is half the battle.

What did you think of this episode of Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail airs Tuesdays at 10:30/9:30c on TBS.

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