There's a romantic strain to this episode, with something of a respite from the harsh, violent-tinged action that has launched this rugged series. But Sheridan's script is careful to continue the sense of life & death consequences of the immigrants' decision to seek a new land.
Also, the hard edges of the central character, starting with taciturn Moses-like Sam Elliott, are being softened a bit, expanding them toward 3-dimensional figures. Sheridan's ability to balance his lead players with significant supporting roles, so efficiently demonstrated on "Yellowstone", is solidly on view here.
A wonderful scene has Elsa playing a piano that must be left behind at the river crossing to underscore the silent horrors of the actual crossing, the type of elegiac touch that separates Sheridan's approach from both traditional and revisionist Westerns.