... that being just why Gunsmoke, as I go through these episodes chronologically , gets less consistently appealing as the seasons wear on.
The primary reason is that the recurring characters - Matt, Kitty, Doc, and now Festus (replacing Chester's type of character, whether you are willing to admit that or not) are less and less the center of the episodes and more and more taking on a "Now you see here you darn kids!" role.
This episode is a tale of two brothers - Adam and Cyrus - out to make a new life for themselves in California, and a traveling companion named Boyd. It turns out that Boyd is bad news as he is a complete sociopath. He is so violent and unpredictable that Adam is afraid to try to get away from him, and his brother Cyrus, a complete simpleton, is impressed by him. When Boyd kills a local girl and Matt Dillon goes on the trail of the killer, complications ensue.
Gunsmoke did motiveless violence well. It fit with the wilderness atmosphere of the show, and it fit with what was becoming all too common in 1960s America - random violent criminal acts. But as I watched this episode with little interaction by the rest of the cast I had to wonder - What is it about these three guys that would keep me watching? I had to answer - not much other than the hope that the principal players would show up.
Perhaps the producers thought that as the main players transitioned into middle age they would not be as appealing as a series of younger guest stars? I think that belief was incorrect as no other guest stars and no script, no matter how compelling, could replace the chemistry and the talent of the actors playing the central and original roles.
The primary reason is that the recurring characters - Matt, Kitty, Doc, and now Festus (replacing Chester's type of character, whether you are willing to admit that or not) are less and less the center of the episodes and more and more taking on a "Now you see here you darn kids!" role.
This episode is a tale of two brothers - Adam and Cyrus - out to make a new life for themselves in California, and a traveling companion named Boyd. It turns out that Boyd is bad news as he is a complete sociopath. He is so violent and unpredictable that Adam is afraid to try to get away from him, and his brother Cyrus, a complete simpleton, is impressed by him. When Boyd kills a local girl and Matt Dillon goes on the trail of the killer, complications ensue.
Gunsmoke did motiveless violence well. It fit with the wilderness atmosphere of the show, and it fit with what was becoming all too common in 1960s America - random violent criminal acts. But as I watched this episode with little interaction by the rest of the cast I had to wonder - What is it about these three guys that would keep me watching? I had to answer - not much other than the hope that the principal players would show up.
Perhaps the producers thought that as the main players transitioned into middle age they would not be as appealing as a series of younger guest stars? I think that belief was incorrect as no other guest stars and no script, no matter how compelling, could replace the chemistry and the talent of the actors playing the central and original roles.