Most moving moments in the series...

For me, my most moving moments:

When poor July realizes all of his companions are dead (and Gus is so kind to him). It's just devastating.

When Lorena says "They shouldn't have took me, Gus" and cries in his arms.

When Elmira reaches Dee (who cries out when he realizes she is bleeding) even as we know she is just moments from being too late.

When poor Deets asks Call and Gus to hold the little boy even though he is dying, to save him from the fall.

When July cries on Clara's porch as he realizes Elmira has been there.

When Call puts his hand on Gus's chest gently and says, simply, "Augustus." A lifetime of love and companionship in that one word.

When Newt looks on Call's suffering face and turns away to Pea, telling him, "I ain't kin to nobody" even though he knows the truth...

When Call hugs the body of Gus to him after nearly losing him in the river.

When Call answers the reporter on the streets of the town, "A hell of a vision," and we see his flashes of memory...

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I keep thinking I'm a grownup, but I'm not.

Sean's death in the nest of snakes, and the way Gus deals with it in a manner that helps and teaches the young cowboys how to cope with it. Gus never shies from accepting the truth of something, and understands the importance of continuing to live afterward. "There's accidents in life, and he met with a bad one. Dust to Dust. Now let's the rest of us go on to Montana." And so they did.

Gus weeping by the stream where he and Clara used to picnic. Gus is not afraid to grieve when necessary.

Woodrow's soft, slow, "Augustus . . . ." right before Gus passes.

Woodrow's reaction when Gus' body falls into the stream from the broken casket; the way he wades in and holds Gus' wrapped body in his arms. THEN, when he is awakened, still exhausted, by the sound and sight of the buzzards on Gus' body -- his howling rage and bellowing belie the tightly controlled Woodrow we see most of the time. It's such a primal reaction. And, finally, his weeping at Gus' grave when the burial is done.

Lorena's unwavering devotion to Gus as she stands guard by his body all night, grieving.

Gus' advice to Lorena when she asks him to take her to San Francisco. I like the way he tells her that if she puts too much into getting just one thing, instead of taking advantage of and enjoying all the little things life has to offer (like buttermilk and feisty gentlemen) she will not be happy. Great advice.

Also, the way Gus reacts to Lorena after he saves her from Blue Duck. He just lets her get it all out, but never tries to pretend it didn't happen, never tries to tell her it'll be OK. When she says, "They shouldn't a took me, Gus," he says, so wisely, "I know, honey. But they did." He's telling her it's OK and normal to remember. But she will eventually learn to cope.

"You're in over your head, Pea."

"She ain't watchin' you cause she loves you." Gus to Woodrow about the Hell Bitch.

"A man that likes to rent pigs won't be stopped."

"Well, it's a motto. It just says itself."

"I'm an American. By God."

"I never seen a more intelligent filly."

"Women!?" Call to Newt re: Clara

It would be hard to pick ... just about the whole thing is moving .. I can tear up at any time while watching .. and it the saddest when it ends , because I don't want it to end .

"A man that wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough".

But the best and funniest line .. is when Gus is sitting in the water after the long dry spell with the cattle ... and the Indians stole some horses to eat ... and Call and Deets ask Gus is he ready .. and Gus says as he stands " don't I look ready " .. I wonder what went on with that because it's not in the book .. I can just imagine what we didn't see .

"A man that wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough".

Not a moving moment,
HOWEVER,the look Clara gives Gus
when Lorena agrees to stay
at the ranch is priceless.

I think some of the most moving moments for me are the more simple ones.... easy to miss.

For example, Part 1 when Gus and Jake are talking about Jake's world travels and Gus asks if he had ever come across Clara. When Jake says "She's not as pretty as she once was..." - something about the tone and the theme of the passage of time just gets me. Very moving.

The Irish boy, Sean, after having a premonition about crossing the river being bitten to death by water moccasins and his brother too overcome by grief to be able to sing a song from home that Sean loved at the graveside.

Clara Allen tearfully telling July about the loss of her three boys and how if July doesn't want baby Martin, she would take him, but if he does, to take his baby and leave before she becomes too attached. That always brings the tears to my eyes.

July trying to summon from Elmira some interest in life when he finds her, telling her of the death of her son Joe and the birth of baby Martin. The poor man loves her so, and all she thinks about is that Dee Boot has been hanged. Then she runs from him again.

Dish on the porch watching over Lorie as she grieves at Gus' coffin. He loves her so much and it is not reciprocated.

The death of Deets killed trying to rescue and comfort the little Indian boy, the carving of a saint that the Mexican cook had made for him, telling him that she would protect him, falling from his hand, and later what seems to be his ghost leading Pea Eye to Call.

The look in Newt's eyes when in spite of the horse and watch that Call gives him, he realizes that he is not going to admit that the Newt is his son.

Call finally giving vent to his feelings and weeping at Augustus' grave.

When Woodrow almost lost gus's body on the river.