This easily could have been a two-parter, but perhaps it has more of an impact because it was limited to just one episode, but still poignantly told a love story from beginning to end. This was Season 18, but this series still continued to provide some excellent storytelling. Very few series can make this claim. Gunsmoke ran for an amazing 20 seasons, and never had a "Jump The Shark" moment.
7 Reviews
Excellent Acting, Excellent Script
rhklwk-114 September 2015
This is the second review of this episode and, to avoid repetition, I will incorporate most of what was written in that other review.
I found this to be a top notch episode from the 1972-73 season which, in my opinion, continued to reflect a general improvement in the show: better story lines, better script, and higher production values.
Newly did demonstrate that he knew how to act, and the scenes and the dialogue between Patricia and him are quite tender and quite believable.
I wish that this had been a two-part episode. The story is slightly compressed in the last fifteen minutes.
After Doc returned from his real-life heart ailment the previous season, his role began to expand, and he became a key ingredient in more episodes -- and it improved the series. I was particularly interested in hearing Doc say that he needed to take a blood sample, and seeing him examine the slide under his microscope gave us a window into the early study of hematology.
I think Sam the Bartender added much to the series over his 11-year run. I know that he is going to die in real-life in 1973, so I find myself looking at him carefully in the episodes that were filmed in the 1972-73 season. In this episode, shot most likely in late 1972, he does appear to have lost a little weight. Kudos to James Arness for keeping Glenn Strange on the payroll until Glenn could no longer go on.
It was nice to see the cast dressed in their Sunday best for the wedding.
I've bounced around in this review (see the earlier review for details). My intent here was to say that this is a very worthwhile episode, and the director did an excellent job in getting a good effort out of all the actors. Highly recommended!
I found this to be a top notch episode from the 1972-73 season which, in my opinion, continued to reflect a general improvement in the show: better story lines, better script, and higher production values.
Newly did demonstrate that he knew how to act, and the scenes and the dialogue between Patricia and him are quite tender and quite believable.
I wish that this had been a two-part episode. The story is slightly compressed in the last fifteen minutes.
After Doc returned from his real-life heart ailment the previous season, his role began to expand, and he became a key ingredient in more episodes -- and it improved the series. I was particularly interested in hearing Doc say that he needed to take a blood sample, and seeing him examine the slide under his microscope gave us a window into the early study of hematology.
I think Sam the Bartender added much to the series over his 11-year run. I know that he is going to die in real-life in 1973, so I find myself looking at him carefully in the episodes that were filmed in the 1972-73 season. In this episode, shot most likely in late 1972, he does appear to have lost a little weight. Kudos to James Arness for keeping Glenn Strange on the payroll until Glenn could no longer go on.
It was nice to see the cast dressed in their Sunday best for the wedding.
I've bounced around in this review (see the earlier review for details). My intent here was to say that this is a very worthwhile episode, and the director did an excellent job in getting a good effort out of all the actors. Highly recommended!
Newly's Tragic Love Story
wdavidreynolds20 September 2021
Newly O'Brien meets a woman named Patricia Colby as he is returning to Dodge City on a stagecoach. Patricia is escorting a boy named Johnny as his governess. They started their journey in Boston.
When a tornado outbreak impacts the Dodge area, Johnny suffers a broken leg, which results in Patricia and Johnny stopping in Dodge longer than they had expected. Doc Adams is overwhelmed with requests for help, and he solicits Newly's help in treating people injured during the storms.
Newly once aspired to become a doctor and even attended medical school for a brief time but he found the responsibilities overwhelming. Patricia expresses her willingness to help, since she had some experience as a nurse. Newly and Patricia work together treating the injured people, and they quickly fall in love and make plans to marry.
Unfortunately, Patricia is ill. She is often tired and was given some "tonic pills" by a doctor in Boston to improve her appetite and increase her energy level and stamina. She bruises easily. When she visits Doc to obtain more medicine, Doc takes a blood sample and discovers she has leukemia. Doc knows her condition is terminal.
Actress Jess Walton portrays Patricia Colby in this story. Walton is best known for her longtime role as Jill Foster Abbott (later Jill Atkinson) on daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, a part she still plays in 2021. This is her first Gunsmoke role. She returns for one additional appearance -- as a different character, of course -- in the final season.
Child actor Ike Eisenmann returns for the second of three Gunsmoke appearances as Johnny. After Patricia and Newly decide to marry, Johnny's father comes to Dodge to get the young man.
This is very much a Newly centric love story. Milburn Stone plays a significant role as Doc Adams. There is also an endearing scene where the Festus Haggen character presides over the wedding rehearsal for Patricia and Newly.
This is a sad story, but it is not especially original. It seems many times when a major character in a television drama falls in love, it means either a new cast member is being added, or the story will be tragic. There are many examples with the tragic outcome, but a few examples come immediately to mind:
This story also seems to serve to expand Buck Taylor's role on Gunsmoke. Up to this point, the Newly O'Brien character had been prominently featured a few times, but he is often completely absent. The character is a sort of "utility man" often used to fill distinct roles. He is a gunsmith and deputy. He has been used as a lawyer a couple of times.
Milburn Stone was growing older and had already experienced time away from the show due to a heart attack and subsequent heart surgery. By having the Newly O'Brien character resume his medical training under Doc's tutelage, it provided a likely replacement for the Doc Adams character at some point in the future. (Of course, that potential was never realized, as the show only lasted two more seasons.)
At some level, this is a cruel story, in addition to being sad. The Gunsmoke world was a strange place where none of the regular characters were allowed to marry or remain married beyond a single episode. Having seen this episode a few times, I wonder how it would have been to have a married couple featured as a regular part of the series.
Any episode where the viewer learns more about one of the main characters is "must-see" material, and this story certainly falls into that category.
When a tornado outbreak impacts the Dodge area, Johnny suffers a broken leg, which results in Patricia and Johnny stopping in Dodge longer than they had expected. Doc Adams is overwhelmed with requests for help, and he solicits Newly's help in treating people injured during the storms.
Newly once aspired to become a doctor and even attended medical school for a brief time but he found the responsibilities overwhelming. Patricia expresses her willingness to help, since she had some experience as a nurse. Newly and Patricia work together treating the injured people, and they quickly fall in love and make plans to marry.
Unfortunately, Patricia is ill. She is often tired and was given some "tonic pills" by a doctor in Boston to improve her appetite and increase her energy level and stamina. She bruises easily. When she visits Doc to obtain more medicine, Doc takes a blood sample and discovers she has leukemia. Doc knows her condition is terminal.
Actress Jess Walton portrays Patricia Colby in this story. Walton is best known for her longtime role as Jill Foster Abbott (later Jill Atkinson) on daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, a part she still plays in 2021. This is her first Gunsmoke role. She returns for one additional appearance -- as a different character, of course -- in the final season.
Child actor Ike Eisenmann returns for the second of three Gunsmoke appearances as Johnny. After Patricia and Newly decide to marry, Johnny's father comes to Dodge to get the young man.
This is very much a Newly centric love story. Milburn Stone plays a significant role as Doc Adams. There is also an endearing scene where the Festus Haggen character presides over the wedding rehearsal for Patricia and Newly.
This is a sad story, but it is not especially original. It seems many times when a major character in a television drama falls in love, it means either a new cast member is being added, or the story will be tragic. There are many examples with the tragic outcome, but a few examples come immediately to mind:
- Doc Adams falls in love with Dr. Sam McTavish in Season 16, but she contracts an infectious disease she is attempting to treat and dies.
- The Burt Reynolds character Quint Asper plans to marry a woman in the episode "Crooked Mile," but Susan is killed by a family member.
- "Little" Joe Cartwright marries in the final season of Bonanza, but his wife is killed by outlaws.
- Lt. Art Malcolm, as played by Ward Wood in the series Mannix, marries in a seventh season episode, but his bride is killed shortly after they are wed.
This story also seems to serve to expand Buck Taylor's role on Gunsmoke. Up to this point, the Newly O'Brien character had been prominently featured a few times, but he is often completely absent. The character is a sort of "utility man" often used to fill distinct roles. He is a gunsmith and deputy. He has been used as a lawyer a couple of times.
Milburn Stone was growing older and had already experienced time away from the show due to a heart attack and subsequent heart surgery. By having the Newly O'Brien character resume his medical training under Doc's tutelage, it provided a likely replacement for the Doc Adams character at some point in the future. (Of course, that potential was never realized, as the show only lasted two more seasons.)
At some level, this is a cruel story, in addition to being sad. The Gunsmoke world was a strange place where none of the regular characters were allowed to marry or remain married beyond a single episode. Having seen this episode a few times, I wonder how it would have been to have a married couple featured as a regular part of the series.
Any episode where the viewer learns more about one of the main characters is "must-see" material, and this story certainly falls into that category.
Newly gets married
kfo949416 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
In this excellent episode we are introduced to Newly's new wife Patricia. They meet while on a stagecoach when Patricia is serving as a governess to a small boy. When they stop at a rest stop near Dodge, a tornado moves through the area. When they get to Dodge, Newly helps with the injured working along side Patricia.
It is not long before the two are engaged and then married. But Patricia has a medical problem. When she goes to Doc Adams concerning tiredness the doctor wants to run blood test. Much to his chagrin, Patricia has leukemia.
The information is kept from Patricia for as long as possible. But when she finds out it will sadden the hardest heart.
I have always been hard on Buck Taylor concerning his early acting ability but in this show there is nothing to complain about. Buck Taylor and Jess Walton (Patricia) are excellent together. Wish the results would have been different because the two would have made a great couple for the rest of the 'Gunsmoke' run. This is an excellent episode one that has you entertained to the very end. Another interesting item about this show, at the end, Newly agrees to study medicine under Doc Adams direction.
It is not long before the two are engaged and then married. But Patricia has a medical problem. When she goes to Doc Adams concerning tiredness the doctor wants to run blood test. Much to his chagrin, Patricia has leukemia.
The information is kept from Patricia for as long as possible. But when she finds out it will sadden the hardest heart.
I have always been hard on Buck Taylor concerning his early acting ability but in this show there is nothing to complain about. Buck Taylor and Jess Walton (Patricia) are excellent together. Wish the results would have been different because the two would have made a great couple for the rest of the 'Gunsmoke' run. This is an excellent episode one that has you entertained to the very end. Another interesting item about this show, at the end, Newly agrees to study medicine under Doc Adams direction.
Buck Taylor's best performance on Gunsmoke
cpolster1 March 2023
A few that posted here would have liked to have seen a two part story. If the writers could have written as well for a two part, then I would agree. It could have been easy to do and have shown more between Newly and Patricia
Buck Taylor as Newly and Jess Walton as Patricia was a perfect match. The love story about them was quite believable. Both played their parts well. This episode really shows the acting ability for Buck Taylor.
Milburn Stone when he removes his hat near the end, show his age more than usual. Look at his greying and some lack of hair. Age and his health problems that he had for a time period is likely the reason. This was another episode where Doc has an important role.
This is a must see episode. A Love Story you will not forget.
Buck Taylor as Newly and Jess Walton as Patricia was a perfect match. The love story about them was quite believable. Both played their parts well. This episode really shows the acting ability for Buck Taylor.
Milburn Stone when he removes his hat near the end, show his age more than usual. Look at his greying and some lack of hair. Age and his health problems that he had for a time period is likely the reason. This was another episode where Doc has an important role.
This is a must see episode. A Love Story you will not forget.
Should Have Been a Two Parter
csmith-9961521 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Another Great episode that probably should have told in two parts. Although the story was very well written, 45 minutes is really not enough time for Newly to fall in love, marry and lose his wife to illness. An exceptionally strong performance by Buck Taylor and as good as writing as the series has seen. This is another episode that reminds us how great a show Gunsmoke was.
Little Gunsmoke on the prairie
alfredpr-696113 March 2019
Tired convention of strickening love interest of main cast with a terminal illness. You've seen this crap a thousand times on other dramas. The writing gods sure are cruel and lack imagination.
Patricia (Jess Walton) is hot, that is the only thing going for this over done idea
Patricia (Jess Walton) is hot, that is the only thing going for this over done idea
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