Abhiroop Das
Created by Karen Kingsbury, Pure Flix’s ‘A Thousand Tomorrows’ follows two rodeo superstars, Cody Gunnar and Ali Daniels, on their shared journey of self-discovery. Both characters have their own share of secrets, some bigger than others, and as they spend more and more time together, the full extent of their psyche comes to light. Behind Cody’s machismo and aloofness lies a past with unresolved questions, and behind Ali’s cheerful smile lies a heartbreaking story of loss and suffering. Before long, what starts out as a simple friendship blossoms into something special, and the duo decides to take on their challenges together, no matter where they eventually lead. The season finale brings their dynamic to a climax, along with a unique perspective on how to make peace with an insurmountable reality. SPOILERS AHEAD.
A Thousand Tomorrows Plot Recap
While Cody Gunnar is a bull riding legend in the circuit, once back in his regular life, he is a brash loner who comes off as cold-hearted. This is in large part due to a traumatic past, tied to the actions of his father, the football star Mike Gunnar. He abandoned his family shortly after the birth of his second child, Carl Joseph, who has Down Syndrome, and since then, Cody has shut himself out of any human connection, save for the one with his brother. His life draws some parallels to that of Ali Daniels, a barrel racing sensation who is all set to win the championship. However, her expert performance on the field belies her rapidly degrading health, which can be attributed to Cystic Fibrosis. Despite the risks, Ali determines to participate in the tournament, going as far as to hold her breath throughout her segments.
When Cody and Ali’s paths cross, sparks fly immediately. However, Ali is not too eager to form a deep bond just yet, and playfully limits their conversation by the hour. Her actions also have another reason, as behind closed doors, she sustains her health with lung vest sessions. As the days go by, the two grow closer and feel comfortable enough to discuss their pasts. Ali reveals that she is motivated to race by her sister, Anna, who had the same disease as her. Anna died of Pneumonia when she was little, and Ali refuses to let her spirit go to waste. However, her chase for freedom comes at a cost, and a mishap at the final round of a race puts her out of the winner’s conversation. Although Cody bags the competition, he still feels empty and realizes that his true calling lies with Ali. The two confess their feelings for each other, and she invites him to celebrate Christmas with her family.
During the Christmas getaway, Cody introduces Ali to his family, and internal tensions flare up once again. However, the couple manages to deal with these problems together. As their love story deepens, Cody learns that he qualifies as a lung donor for Ali, along with her father, Daryl. With three years potentially being added to her lifespan, the protagonist agrees without hesitation, and following a successful transplant, the couple gets married. Thus begins the most joyous chapter in their lives, with Ali feeling healthier than ever. However, she still yearns to return to rodeo as soon as possible and decides to mount her horse once again. Cody tries his best to convince her otherwise, but also understands that it is futile to curb her drive. Things don’t go as planned, and health complications soon follow, making it clear that her fight with the disease is still far from over.
A Thousand Tomorrows Ending: Does Ali Live or Die? What is in the Letter?
Ali’s long battle with Cystic Fibrosis ends with her tragic demise, as she contracts Pneumonia and is unable to recover from it. Although things look bright following her lung transplant, her desire to return to the rodeo world stands in the way of her good health. Things get even worse when Dr. Cleary announces that Ali’s Cystic Fibrosis has spread to her new organs, and her projected life extension is halved. In the face of these mounting adversities, Pneumonia comes as a final blow, ending a lifetime defined by perseverance. While that may be the case, Cody ensures that her funeral is defined by her shining achievements in life. Going beyond the fame and fortune she has earned, the protagonist sheds light on her kindness and the role she played in infusing his life with meaning. To that end, the spirit of Ali Daniels Gunnar lives on.
Ali’s death mimics the fate of her sister, Anna, who similarly died of Pneumonia after a long struggle with Cystic Fibrosis. However, while Anna is described as having died without fulfilling any of her dreams, the same cannot be said for her sister. Ali’s final few days are marked by a sense of closure and satisfaction. This is made possible in large part by Cody and how he supports the rest of the Daniels family. This positive transition is symbolized through Ali’s horse, Ace. Sometime prior to her death, Ali realizes that she no longer feels the same when riding her horse, a sign that it now belongs to a new successor. In a heartfelt gesture, Ali hands over the reins to her husband, creating a new bridge between the two souls beyond life and death.
In the final sequence of the season, Cody comes across a letter left behind by Ali, addressed specifically to him. The letter paints a picture that recontextualizes the entire narrative, with Ali expressing that the thing that mattered the most to her in life was not racing but the love she felt for Cody. She further describes him as the perfect man, who came into her life at the right time and enriched it with meaning and happiness. To that end, she asks him not to be mad at God for talking her away so early and instead to focus on the bright side. A sentiment expressed by Carl Joseph earlier in the story, about heaven being free of all hardships and confusions, plays a key role in this scene, as Ali describes her state beyond death as one defined by a sense of freedom. The heartfelt note ends with a call for Cody to keep living and showering the world with his selfless affection, as that is the purest way to remember Ali.
Does Cody Win the Bull Riding Championship?
In the immediate months following Ali’s death, Cody goes into mourning, with sorrow completely overwhelming any other feeling that he could harbour. This goes on for nearly a year, and only ends when he attains a new perspective on remembering his loved one. When Ali’s father, Daryl, advises Cody to start living his life once again, the latter explains that he cannot swallow the idea that Ali is gone. He declares it unfair, but Daryl is quick to point out how that idea diminishes her lived experiences, particularly in her final years. Her time with Cody stands out as a lifetime highlight, and Cody intends to preserve that joy in any way he can. Cody is then reminded of Ali’s deepest desire, to be free and pursue the act she loves the most, rodeo. To that end, his victory in the following National Bull Riding Championship becomes his way of paying homage to his deceased lover.
Cody’s decision to participate in the championship is also informed by another reason that was elaborated on earlier in the show. Both Cody and Ali wished to collect enough prize money to buy an estate property, where they could build a house of their own and live in peace. With Ali’s passing, that dream seemed to have withered away, but the finale resuscitates it. In the championship’s final round, held in Las Vegas, Cody recalls a piece of advice he once received from Ali, asking him to anticipate a bull’s move instead of reacting to it. This time, the seasoned bull rider acts on it, and this leads to his best performance ever, ultimately clinching him first position in the competition. With the prize money at hand, he is also able to buy the estate, fulfilling one more dream of Ali’s, while also creating a safe haven for his brother, Carl Joseph.
At the start of the story, we are told that Cody performs his best on the circuit when he is angry, and while that is demonstrated to be true on several occasions, his final showing subverts that idea. His previous way of riding can be interpreted as mirroring, or channeling, the bull’s aggression, which points to his self-destructive tendencies. However, by learning to predict the animal’s movement, he learns to control his own emotions in the process and act with calmness. This helps the protagonist step into a healthier frame of being, one that balances both his love for Ali and for the sport. Additionally, Cody’s actions also mimic Ali’s, in that both characters ride in the memory of a loved one. However, Cody now realizes the true value of life and is likely to respect it more than he ever did in the past.
Do Cody and His Father Reconcile?
A large chunk of the story in ‘A Thousand Tomorrows’ is about the complex dynamic between Cody and his father, Mike Gunnar. However, the latter appears to have changed over time, and consistently tries to make amends for his mistakes; there is still plenty of ground left to cover. The father-son conflict finds its resolution over a phone call, with Mike getting a chance to pour his heart out and apologize for his mistakes. Cody’s rage towards his father is nuanced in the sense that it is driven by Mike abandoning him on top of Carl Joseph. Despite the protagonist’s unending love for his brother, this points to how he has more personal grievances that have been left unresolved. His father’s apology, as such, becomes a turning point, and Cody finally starts to warm up to the idea of them reuniting once again.
While Mike and Cody have their own issues to manage, the former’s biggest mistake is undoubtedly his prejudice against Carl Joseph. An equally important factor is his anger management problem, which had previously led to aggressive bursts, causing rifts in the family. In the present, Mike actively involves himself in the life of his younger son, without letting his prejudices come in the way. Given that Carl Junior’s birth is the first scene of the show, how Mike grows in relation to his son is one of the central narrative pillars. Additionally, his maturity in embracing Cody’s career choices is also a show of positive growth. While this may be the case, their dynamic is still far from perfect, as Mike still needs to have a full conversation with his son, face to face, where they can truly release all of their pent-up frustrations.
Notably, Cody and Mike’s relationship reaches a climax in a scene that is not about them in the first place. When Cody hears of Ali’s worsening condition, he breaks down and calls his family for support. Incidentally, it is Mike who picks up the phone, and in his mother, Mary’s absence, he becomes the new sympathetic ear. The details play an important role here, as more than just being a listener, Mike shows his newfound appreciation for Carl by relaying the call to him and letting him talk to his elder brother. In this moment, the family unites as one whole, bringing to light Cody’s true character. Despite starting the story as a brash, aloof person, Cody learns to trust his family once again. To that end, his love for Ali indirectly rekindles his relationship with his father, building up to a hopeful future where they can.
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