If there is ever a Love Story for the ages, this is it. For any dyed-in-the-wool Gunsmoke fan, this story puts a new spin on the oldest theme in the world. Matt and Kitty always had a "thing", but Matt was always too married to his work to be really serious. It takes amnesia to get Matt to be really serious about really one woman. This shows the inner Matt Dillon. He is compassionate, thoughtful, fearless and, yes, loveable. After a spell he shows how truly grateful he is for being cared for by anyone. Matt always had that side of him, however, he always had that badge to guide his true focus - his badge and the law.
Because of his focus on the badge, it took a blow to the head to find out what was really in Matt's heart. And Michael Learned, who else could play this part, was perfect in the part of Mike Yardner in this award winning episode. Parley Baer as Chester Wesley Proudfoot. After nurturing and helping and getting Matt back on his feet, she finds out who he really is. Her line at the very end "Its hard to find two good men and lose them both", will make you cry is revealing as we learn what we always knew throughout the story that Mike was a hard working, deeply committed person who has had some bad breaks. But you know she's gonna get through this heartbreak as well.
This, in my opinion, casting being so good, is why Gunsmoke ran for 20 years while others fell by the wayside. This and James Arness, who played the part consistently and professionally, gave its adoring fans something to store in their hearts. Gunsmoke always had a stellar cast from the originals, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake and Dennis Weaver. Even the smaller regulars were consistent and good. When they needed to add a cast member, they found the best in Bert Reynolds, Ken Curtis, Buck Taylor, Roger Ewing, James Nusser and Roy Roberts.
But along with the TV Gunsmoke fans, there were many old Radio Gunsmoke fans who were hoping the TV version would measure up to the radio version. Gunsmoke on radio also had a stellar cast with William Conrad as Matt, Parley Baer as Chester Wesley Proudfoot, Howard McNear as Doc Adams and Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell.