I had to add my review after sadly reading 2-3 comments by people who are basically heartless and have no feelings or emotions. I don't have to go into detail as to the storyline as other reviewers have done that.
I missed this episode growing up and years ago recorded it. When I viewed it to my amazement I knew this was phenomenal. Johnny was so convincing as a boy with a fever hallucinating about the doctor, his mother and the big white horse. Dr. Henniken was perfect first as an impatient man then getting down to business to help this boy with Typhoid. As I watched everyone pitch in to save Mark's life from Hattie's nursing to Lucas's unshaven face to Micah and Nils bringing slush from the high country to break the fever, I thought this is not just another episode but a masterpiece of acting and writing. When Henniken sees the sweat on Mark and tells Lucas poetically that it falls like the gentle rain from heaven even that stoic doctor wipes his eyes. Mark's mother has sent him home. When Lucas sees his son no longer in danger, Mark asks him about losing his razor. Lucas has no words and hugs him hard. Even the most insensitive person would be moved.
Anyone who dismisses this episode as mediocre or lousy unfortunately has no emotions or feelings and should be pitied. My father said something like that wasn't any good and of course he would as he was devoid of ever having possessed a heart. It was not just the finest episode from 5 years of Rifleman but possibly the best of all TV watching.
I missed this episode growing up and years ago recorded it. When I viewed it to my amazement I knew this was phenomenal. Johnny was so convincing as a boy with a fever hallucinating about the doctor, his mother and the big white horse. Dr. Henniken was perfect first as an impatient man then getting down to business to help this boy with Typhoid. As I watched everyone pitch in to save Mark's life from Hattie's nursing to Lucas's unshaven face to Micah and Nils bringing slush from the high country to break the fever, I thought this is not just another episode but a masterpiece of acting and writing. When Henniken sees the sweat on Mark and tells Lucas poetically that it falls like the gentle rain from heaven even that stoic doctor wipes his eyes. Mark's mother has sent him home. When Lucas sees his son no longer in danger, Mark asks him about losing his razor. Lucas has no words and hugs him hard. Even the most insensitive person would be moved.
Anyone who dismisses this episode as mediocre or lousy unfortunately has no emotions or feelings and should be pitied. My father said something like that wasn't any good and of course he would as he was devoid of ever having possessed a heart. It was not just the finest episode from 5 years of Rifleman but possibly the best of all TV watching.