That moody mountain backdrop adds atmosphere to this outdoor episode. Paladin has to bring to justice the n'er-do-well son (West) of a high government official. The kid's got a slippery but charming side that makes him likable one minute but obnoxious the next. Apparently, he's part of a saloon crew that's packed up and is now in the middle of nowhere. It's unusual seeing the familiar types—saloon girl, card sharp, hardened boss—set up in an outdoor setting. It's an interesting premise.
There's some nice character touches; however, a number of motivations and relationships remain muddled in a script that appears not very well thought out. (Why let the kid loose in camp with a gun, no less.) Look for Ken Curtis as the slick card sharp showing a sinister side very much unlike his Festus character in Gunsmoke.
It's an engaging and scenic episode that keeps promising to be better, however, than it is.
There's some nice character touches; however, a number of motivations and relationships remain muddled in a script that appears not very well thought out. (Why let the kid loose in camp with a gun, no less.) Look for Ken Curtis as the slick card sharp showing a sinister side very much unlike his Festus character in Gunsmoke.
It's an engaging and scenic episode that keeps promising to be better, however, than it is.
