Had the series continued in the vein of this episode, it might have lasted two or three years and then been forgotten. It plays like a hundred other horse operas of the day, as Garner plays Bret Maverick in straight style, even twirling his gun at one point, something the later Maverick would never do. In this second entry, Bret's not yet a professional gambler, but a self-described drifter dressed all in black without the trademark vest. The familiar tongue- in-cheek character has yet to evolve.
Nonetheless, a step on the way to the later series style does occur here. According to Buddy Boetticher, the director, he decided to experiment with one scene, where Bret gets into a fist- fight in the woods. Now, instead of staging the fight in conventional fashion, Boetticher decided to film the action as occurring behind a bush, hidden from audience view. This, he considered, had comedic potential and as a result encouraged him to suggest a lighter approach to the producers. At least that's a version of what I read about the show's evolution, and, after all, it's that sort of style that turned the series into a classic.
The plot in this entry is pretty routine, nothing special. Bret hooks up with the fetching Karen Steele, thinking she has an eye for him. However, she's got more than romance on her mind as he eventually finds out. The acting from Steele and the sheriff (Richard Garland) is pretty bad at times. All in all, there's nothing to recommend here besides the one scene which itself is unremarkable, but did help point the series in a whole different direction.
Nonetheless, a step on the way to the later series style does occur here. According to Buddy Boetticher, the director, he decided to experiment with one scene, where Bret gets into a fist- fight in the woods. Now, instead of staging the fight in conventional fashion, Boetticher decided to film the action as occurring behind a bush, hidden from audience view. This, he considered, had comedic potential and as a result encouraged him to suggest a lighter approach to the producers. At least that's a version of what I read about the show's evolution, and, after all, it's that sort of style that turned the series into a classic.
The plot in this entry is pretty routine, nothing special. Bret hooks up with the fetching Karen Steele, thinking she has an eye for him. However, she's got more than romance on her mind as he eventually finds out. The acting from Steele and the sheriff (Richard Garland) is pretty bad at times. All in all, there's nothing to recommend here besides the one scene which itself is unremarkable, but did help point the series in a whole different direction.