User Reviews

This is an outstanding episode. Contrary to another review, it makes perfect sense. We know from near the start who the "renegade white" is. There is nothing "abrupt" about the ending, as it grows logically out of everything that came before. (My only complaint is the clumsy way Matt is brought into contact with the Indians -- his horse stumbles, then he conveniently bumps his noggin on a large rock.)

My reason for giving 9 stars is that I was impressed with Matt's conversation with Wild Hog. (Yes, that's his name in the credits, though it sometimes sounds as if he's called Wild Hawk.) Throughout the series, "Gunsmoke" treats white/aboriginal relationships in an intelligent fashion, without apology or lecturing. Wild Hog is allowed to present his point of view without making him look like some sort of deranged savage, bent on killing everyone in sight. (This is one of the problems with the later "Chato".)

Matt falls into the clutches of a gun-runner and a band of renegade Cheyenne.

The entry is most notable for its probing treatment of renegades. Spicer (Phillips) is a renegade white in that he respects no white men or their laws. Instead he's a law unto himself, regardless of race. Wild Hog (Pate) is a renegade Indian at least in the eyes of the army since he and his band have jumped the reservation. But he's a renegade only in the sense that his people are a captive people subject to the laws of their conquerors. By heading back to their ancestral land, the band stays true to their people, and thus are not renegades in that important sense. Hence, writers Meston and Crutchfield draw an important distinction that provides another thoughtful subtext for this peak period of the series.

The narrative itself is less strong, with the usual half-hour expedients (hasty shootouts, etc). Then too, Spicer is almost a caricature of evil, with no shading at all. Also, there's Hollywood's favorite Indian of the period Michael Pate, who at least doesn't need much make-up to fit the part. Nonetheless, most of the 30-minutes is filmed in the wide-open spaces that, at least, has a resemblance to southwestern Kansas, providing a realistic touch. All in all, it's another outstanding entry in this High Noon of TV westerns.

Just when this episode was getting interesting someone turned a switch and in a flash the entire show was over. It ended so quickly and without much fanfare that the entire story seemed a waste of time to watch. Was like they were hitting the thirty minutes mark so they just ended the story the easiest way possible.

Before the abrupt ending the story was moving along nicely as a man, Ord Spicer, had cause some trouble in Dodge and now Marshal Dillon believes that he has killed two men outside of town. So Matt sets out on his trail and then gets bucked off his horse hitting his head. Upon awakening, Matt finds himself in the middle of Cheyenne Indians that has purchased buffalo guns from their friend Ord Spicer, who just happens to be riding with the Indians. Now Matt is in the middle of hostile Indians and a known killer.

The story moving along and then, like a dream, we are back in Kansas and the clouds have departed. This is one of those times where the ending killed the entire episode. Watching this episode was for naught.