Gunsmoke (TV Series) Chester's Dilemma (1961) User Reviews

Dennis Weaver made this routine script watchable.

[kfo9494 · 8/10 · 2 October 2013]

The regular story of Chester Goode continues in this episode as Chester becomes smitten with a blond beauty that happens to get off the stage in Dodge City.

Edna Walston is the young woman that Chester takes a shine as he helps her upon arriving at the stage depot in Dodge. It seems that Edna is wanting to start a new life and appears to be sweet on Chester as she wishes to know everything about being the Marshal's assistant.

Everything goes great until one day Edna steals a letter that was intended for Marshal Dillon. It appears that Edna is trying to hide some secret from the Marshal Dillon. Chester is torn on what to do since he really is sweet on Edna.

Dennis Weaver, when given a large part, always comes through to produce a good watchable show. And in this episode it comes across so well that the entire program is made much better just by Mr Weaver's performance. The character Chester will always be one that the Marshal can always trust and it comes through very well in this episode. Good watch.

Dennis Weaver steals the show

[AlsExGal · 9/10 · 11 September 2022]

Chester sees a pretty girl get off of the stagecoach, seemingly alone. He introduces himself and offers to carry her bags and get her situated. Forget how creepy that sounds today, in 19th century Dodge City it is endearing. At first the girl, Edna, is suspicious, but Chester's genuine and guileless ways win her over. He gets her a job at the local general store. Everything is going fine, but soon Edna is Chester's shadow. He asks for some time off. He says it is to go hunting and fishing, but it seems he feels like the wilderness is the only place he can escape Edna.

Is this going to be a 19th century frontier version of Fatal Attraction or something else entirely? Watch and find out.

Dennis Weaver as Chester makes this episode with his priceless facial expressions and reactions. By the end of season six Weaver must have been making noise about wanting to be more than just Dillon's true blue friend and faithful employee. In fact, he's had significant roles in Gunsmoke episodes for some time now, and he has also been directing some episodes. He'll leave Gunsmoke in 1964 and have quite a bit of success on his own, but never quite matching up to his success on Gunsmoke. Perhaps Don Knotts should have looked at Weaver's trajectory before leaving The Andy Griffith Show. They had similar professional situations.

Chester the Molester

[Johnny_West · 1/10 · 14 April 2020]

Chester spends every afternoon at the stage depot so he can prey on any single women that arrive in Dodge City. Doc Adams makes fun of Chester, but the creepy simpleton claims he is only there to pick up the mail for Marshal Dillon.

As soon as the stage arrives, Chester is all over a poor girl named Edna. Edna is played by Patricia Smith, who appeared on Gunsmoke twice. Creepy Chester gets her a room at the Dodge House, and a job with Mr. Jonas at the General Store. Sadly for Chester, he can't seal the deal with Edna, so she is just his friend.

It turns out that the reason Edna has let Chester get close to her is so she could check the U.S. Marshal's Mail every day. Edna has a secret problem. She left the man who wants to marry her, and he is on his way to Dodge City. Meanwhile, insipid Chester continues courting Edna, and trying to be her sunshine and only love. Sadly for goofball Chester, as soon as Edna's true love comes to town, she picks him over Chester, and Matt Dillon gets to watch the total humiliation of Chester. Once again, Chester strikes out in every way possible.