Laramie (TV Series) The Replacement (1962) User Reviews

The new deputy

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 20 February 2017]

This episode of Laramie has the citizens upset somewhat with sheriff Stuart Randall because he's been bringing in too many slumped over the saddle. They send for Richard Coogan who has a reputation as a good lawman to be deputy until Randall can be replaced.

One of those recommendations isn't from Jess Harper. Robert Fuller has some bitter memories from the war where he served the last few months in a Union prison where Coogan was commander. If that wasn't enough a few more old Confederate vets show up including brothers L.Q. Jones and Chuck Courtney. Courtney has been mute since his time in the Yankee jail.

It's an interesting tale, one of the best Laramie episodes with great performances by Coogan and Jones.

A difficult oath to honor

[annefey · 10/10 · 9 August 2017]

This episode, one of my favorites, aired again this morning. As usual, I missed the first couple of minutes, so even though we learn that Jess fought at Chickamauga, the prison camp where he was sent was not named in the 50 minutes I saw. Do we learn where Jess was incarcerated, or are we only told it was a camp that held Southern soldiers? There is a real depth to this episode that reveals a lot about honor, forgiveness, and hard decisions

Laramie's casting and story lines never disappoint, and the show has a surprising number of well-known actors who appear in single episodes. Like GUNSMOKE, RIFLEMAN, and WAGON TRAIN, the shows are great entertainment, and the same episodes can be watched several times without becoming stale or trite.

One of my absolute favourites

[kitteninbritches · 10/10 · 6 September 2023]

Excellent story involving a new deputy being installed in Laramie. It turns out that there's old history between Jess and this man as he was in charge of a prison where Jess was incarcerated during the war, and apparently had been a cruel man who treated the prisoners appallingly. Jess had always been determined to revenge himself on this man though Slim tries his best to restrain him. Good scene in the bar when Jess tries to provoke the deputy into a gunfight but fails, knowing he couldn't shoot the man in the back. Slim takes him outside and Jess says he'll try again. Slim warns him if he does, he'll be in big trouble. There's a touching little moment (which I remember from decades ago) when Jess replies "With you?" and Slim answers yes and with any law abiding people. Slim thus sets himself on the side of law and order and thus in opposition to his close friend. The bond between these two is a strong thread going throughout this series and this is a momentous moment in a way, as it shows Slim's loyalty isn't to be depended on. Jess has second thoughts but is dragged further into the revenge plot by the arrival of three more ex prisoners, who have also vowed to kill the man who treated them badly. An exciting and different story and one of the absolute best.