User Reviews

This episode is one of those that confirmed why this series rose to number one in the ratings and stayed there for a great number of years. The script is entirely unpredictable, and ultimately presents how it is most important to size up the character of anyone you are trying to guide, or go up against.

The plot is too rich to give any of it away and if one has not seen this episode, then steer clear of any explanations and just watch it. You owe yourself that much!

Gunsmoke rose well above the typical 1950's era "shoot-em-up" Cowboy show. It did that in episodes like this one, that put character development and layered plot ahead of all else.

Good story idea credited to Les Crutchfield. Tassie is something of a coquette as we learn from the charming little byplay in Clem's millinery shop. But suddenly a stranger rides into town. It's her former boyfriend Sted who's been away three years (Lew Gallo, in a well-played turn). In the meantime, however, she's married Sted's brother, Tom. Trouble is that Sted won't let Tassie go, and challenges Tom to a gunfight. Sted seems like a bad one, but things aren't always as they seem. The plot plays out to a nicely staged conclusion.

Not a lot of action, but character interest picks up as we learn more about the two brothers and Tassie. I like the way the script ties the lessons of the poker game with Doc into the moral of the story. The final scene of the rider departing creates considerable sympathy. These laconic endings are one of the key strong points to the success of the early episodes.

The love triangle, especially between brothers, was done a few times on Gunsmoke. It is a pretty trashy story, and it never gets better. In this case, one brother always looked out for the other. When the younger brother commits a crime, the older brother takes the blame. That did not make much sense. Especially when the younger whelp brother confesses to Matt Dillon, the U.S. Marshal. The crime took place three years earlier. Dillon should have arrested whelp, but he just totally lets it slide.

The older brother, Stedman, is also upset that his whelp brother married his girlfriend. Right there, I am thinking this is a Jerry Springer episode. Who leaves a girlfriend behind for three years and expects her to be virgin pure when he comes back? As Dillon says, Stedman is still a kid.

So while Stedman is making threats of killing his brother, and Dillon is violating his oath by not arresting the whelp after he confessed, nothing much is happening. The highlight of this episode is Doc Adams talking about poker philosophy, and Chester reading a book about poker and discussing it with Dillon.

Eventually the big confrontation does not happen, thanks to Dillon pulling out his ace, which changed Stedman's whole attitude. Stedman eventually moves on to become Oprah's boyfriend.

These characters, like most of the neighbors on Gunsmoke, are never on the show again. It would have been nice to see how baby Stedman turned out. It would have been nice if some of the guest characters from previous seasons had been brought back now and then.

I'm not going to rehash for this episode was all about. You can read that some of the reviews other than mine. I will say this. This episode reminds every man just what true love is. It will make a grown man cry. Should I say, and at least made this one. Dr. Dave.

(*Marshal Dillon to Tom Rutger quote*) - "You're not getting help from me."

This is yet another episode from TV's "Gunsmoke" that involves a love triangle where 2 men are vying for the affections of the same woman.

Sted Rutger has just returned to Dodge after 3 years absence. The woman who he seeks out to rekindle their romance is Tassy Carlton.

But, the trouble is - Tassy is now married to Sted's younger brother, Tom and this creates a real rift between these 2 siblings that looks like it just might escalate into a gun-firing showdown.