Israel Boone's pets get into varying degrees of problems around Boonesborough. His frog disrupts Sunday services, though the pastor (Dick Sargent) takes it in good humor. But more importantly his pet deer may be eating the minister's winter crop.
The lull in Season 3 DB action episodes continues with an hour containing little frontier flavor that could easily have been done on "The Waltons" or "Lassie." Dick Sargent is given an opportunity to break out of the "Bewitched" box, and putting aside his Southern California midcentury look, makes strides as a clergyman grappling with his faith.
Again, Darby Hinton runs into the barriers of child acting - he is handed a dichotomy between Dennis the Menace and wise little prophet, with not much in between. If the series had enjoyed a "Gunsmoke"-like duration, his evolution into an adolescent, then young man who might experience conflict and deeper dialogue with Daniel would have greatly enhanced the series.
Sargent's denomination is left vague, though reference is made to the "Bishop of Boston;"
that might imply Congregational affiliation, though Boonesborough is a bit far south for that. A Presbyterian affiliation might be more regionally correct.
The Darby Hinton-potrayed character has little to no connection to the real Israel Boone, who was killed in action at age 23 during the 1782 Revolutionary War Battle of Blue Licks, Kentucky.
For "Lassie" and "Gentle Ben" crossover fans, lots of animal action here. The idea of a pet deer (Rosebud is mentioned only once briefly in a previous episode) seems a bit inane, as Daniel and Israel at one point keep it roped in a pen, where its of course vulnerable to predators. Interestingly, Mingo in the previous episode refers to Daniel's "pet deer...which almost killed you when he grew up." Its believable if it was a buck, which get nasty during mating season. Drafted into villain service here are bobcats, and one (in thrown-mannequin form) dies one of DB's very occasional onscreen wildlife deaths.
Enjoyable as a low-budget episode, and infinitely preferable to one more visit from a garrulous mountain man.