Of course, we get the main jest of the story line in the opening song. I love this song, and even my nine year old son is caught singing it every now and then.
This episode opens with Jason McCord (played by The Rifleman's Chuck Connors) walking slowly across the hot desert. The desert scene is done very well. It shows first a dead horse, and later a man stumbling around looking for something to quench his thirst. We see rattle snakes and bones from animals who have perished on the hot desert sand.
I also enjoyed the image of Jason laying down in the sand after he tried to 'drink' it.
The ending, of course, is quite surprising. I expected a confrontation. But then this might have been much more educational and satisfying. Jason did or said nothing. Jed held his daughter in his arms, stared at Jason and knew that Jason was a true friend. Even though Jed had left him out on the hot desert sand to die, Jason was the bigger man. He was no coward, and Jed knew it in that instant. Jason had done him a great favor, and Jed would have to live with the choice he had made for the rest of his life. No words were necessary.
Though some will, and have, disagree with me, I think this is a great way to open the series. Jason let's the audience know that he's not ashamed of what happened at Bitter Creek. Though he's been found guilty of being a coward and running, he knows the truth. And someday the truth will set him free.
This episode opens with Jason McCord (played by The Rifleman's Chuck Connors) walking slowly across the hot desert. The desert scene is done very well. It shows first a dead horse, and later a man stumbling around looking for something to quench his thirst. We see rattle snakes and bones from animals who have perished on the hot desert sand.
I also enjoyed the image of Jason laying down in the sand after he tried to 'drink' it.
The ending, of course, is quite surprising. I expected a confrontation. But then this might have been much more educational and satisfying. Jason did or said nothing. Jed held his daughter in his arms, stared at Jason and knew that Jason was a true friend. Even though Jed had left him out on the hot desert sand to die, Jason was the bigger man. He was no coward, and Jed knew it in that instant. Jason had done him a great favor, and Jed would have to live with the choice he had made for the rest of his life. No words were necessary.
Though some will, and have, disagree with me, I think this is a great way to open the series. Jason let's the audience know that he's not ashamed of what happened at Bitter Creek. Though he's been found guilty of being a coward and running, he knows the truth. And someday the truth will set him free.
