Arguably, if M7 has a protagonist, it’s probably Chris, in that a) he’s in charge, and b) it’s kind of his story overall(kind of. at least we have the most consistent arc/continuing story/goal for him of all the boys). But I’d probably argue there isn’t really a singular protagonist, it’s the Magnificent SEVEN after all.
What if there was a thread running through everything and it all came back to one of the boys, because it’s their story?
What if it was Josiah’s story, about putting his past behind him and re-learning to live in the present and to stop blaming himself for the mistakes a young man made because he didn’t know any better and he was young. About finding faith again, about being the oldest and the one they look to for wisdom more often than not and sometimes not having anything to offer, because he’s just a man at the end of the day, no matter how much he’s read and how much he’s learned. About slowly rebuilding the church and all the setbacks he encounters and the friends he makes and the advice he gives and the relationships they build while they’re sanding down pews and mending the roof after storms and painting the walls and getting covered in paint as JD and Buck chase each other around like children.
Listening to Ezra tell stories about his childhood when he’s willing to and believing them, and maybe one day asking Maude if she knew what she was doing to him. Listening to JD talk about the books he read when he was out East, longing to be where he is now, and how it’s all very different, isn’t it. Sitting in silence when no one wants to talk. Being the mediator in fights, not just between the boys but also with townsfolk because he’s not only trusted as a level head, he’s also big enough to crack sense into them if they need it.
Trusting the others, not just Vin, with Hannah’s story, with his story, and finding ways to help her, even if it’s a little and slowly. Riding out to the reservation and making friends there and learning from elders and writing down what he learns, because Vin can see what’s happening because he’s lived it, and Josiah sees it too, because his father was a missionary - he’s lived it too, just from the other side. Watching the boys get in trouble and officiating Nathan and Raine’s wedding along with someone from her village.