Gunsmoke (TV Series) Root Down (1962) User Reviews

Strange but funny in an odd way.

[headhunter46 · 7/10 · 23 June 2014]

I swear, this is one of the oddest episodes yet. Chester who is always swooning over any pretty face gets a chance to marry the cutest, sexiest little gal in the 1950's Hollywood society and he passes it up. Strange indeed. But, I suppose his indignation at being lied about serves to demonstrate his character.

The pa was pretty funny in this episode as the laid back one. I have seen him in other shows where he was the hard case. He's a good actor, very convincing.

That sexy little gal rode that horse just fine with no saddle, impressive.

Overall, this was a good episode. Not a lot of mystery or suspense, but it was still enjoyable. I actually got a bit of a kick out of Chester's predicament.

Sobey Martin directed.. and it shows

[alexandercl-99575 · 6/10 · 11 January 2022]

Sobey Martin only directed two episodes of Gunsmoke.. this one and "The Bad One". Neither episode is memorable (other than being lackluster). Granted, writers provide their share of quality or the lack thereof, but it's ultimately the Director who creates the spark and emotion. He simply couldn't come close to the levels of excellence Harry Harris Jr., Norman McDonald and Bernard McEveety offered.

As for Root Down, any pretty girl no matter how sheltered a life would go gaga for Chester. For that we can thank the writers.

She is just TOO beautiful

[markmelsh · 6/10 · 28 January 2019]

I agree with others that this episode has nothing special to it. It doesn't help that Matt is not involved much in it, either. However, what I found ridiculous and what many men would find ridiculous is that a girl as gorgeous as a young Sherry Jackson could ever be, in any decade or century, would ever be attracted to a mildly-attractive-at-best hayseed with a limp like Chester. Even more ridiculous is Chester's reaction to her ultimate goal. There are many instances of beautiful females being paired with unattractive males, especially in TV, such as The King of Queens and The Big Bang Theory. Sherry Jackson is simply one of the most attractive women in the history of television and although she does a fine acting job here, she is just TOO beautiful for this role, which makes for the irony of her being the best thing about this mediocre episode and the only reason to watch it.

Chester and women

[rmont-06383 · 6/10 · 24 August 2022]

I have no sympathy for Chester when he has trouble with women. He is alway ogling them and flirting with them when they get off the stage or the train. I don't see why any woman is attracted to him.

Always Enjoy John Dehner

[janet-conant · 7/10 · 13 January 2024]

If I see John Deyner is in an episode then that's my go to episode. He's been in a dozen Gunsmokes and he has a way of acting that is real and genuine. Whether he's a no account or a prominent figure that voice and how he uses it is tops. In The Big Valley who was creepier than that murderous rawhider, Daddy Cade. Here he portrays a shiftless pa to a shiftless, angry son and vulnerable daughter who just wants to settle somewhere and find someone who might care about her especially since she appears to have quite a wardrobe for residing outside.

She decides she has to set out herself to Dodge and meet a man and lucky Chester is at the right place. As they often do, the casting picks an actress for a part that doesn't fit the character but will bring in the audience. Jackson is much too fetching as Aggie and would have no trouble with any man. Reminds me of the episodes, Take Her She's Cheap and Bad Seed both actresses were way too sexy and wonder how any man could resist them.

Anyway her only way to maybe catch Chester, who seems rather lukewarm about her, is to invite him to meet her father then delivers the news that they were together all night. Her old man, being a moral and noble father, yeah right decides a marriage should be in order. Aggie never wanted to bring harm to Chester but now he's almost a prisoner.

I think if Aggie had hung around Dodge for just an afternoon the boys would buzz around her like a honeycomb and she could take her pick. Even at the end when Aggie confesses that she lied about her and Chester and he rides off with Matt you still wonder why Chester bailed out. A plain girl would have been more believable but you're glad her future looks brighter as her pa promises to settle down somewhere so maybe there's hope?

Several hidden truths in life from this episode

[davidbrooksacademy · 10/10 · 1 July 2022]

I was checking out some of the other reviews about this episode. People were complaining that it's not realistic that this girl would be going for chester. I have to disagree for several reasons.

The first reason is when you're watching a story unfold you have to pay attention to the details. This girl is very sheltered and she's young, just a teenager. Her father doesn't like to go into town at all. And at this age for teenagers your hormones are just starting to kick in. She's obviously lonely and she admits that she wants to meet a boyfriend and get married.

Not waiting on her father's promise to go into town fast enough, she decides to take his horse while him and her brother are sleeping. She enters into the mercantile store and the first younger guy that she lays eyes on is chester! Chest or notices her also. As soon as she starts flirting with him doc is trying to cut Chester off! Typical friend right? Doesn't want your friend to enjoy talking to a younger and attractive lady! But whatever doc is old and he knows he's past his prime so he might as well ruin it for somebody younger than him!

But this did not deter the Young lady. She's been out of town not socializing and definitely had an agenda when arriving. She told you at the very beginning of the show. To get a boyfriend and get married! People that think Chester isn't good enough and that she's too beautiful underestimate the power of being lonely and not exposed to worldly evil environments. This girl was naive and new. Chester has been around the block maybe not with women but he knows the world. And that's attractive to a young lady just getting her feet wet. On top of this Chester is very polite and nice. It was enough for her. Great little story when you have time to watch.

Fun ep

[bobforapples-40146 · 10/10 · 9 August 2023]

The ep also has some probably authentic to the period dialogue. But with the great, highly highly beautiful Sherry Jackson that is very secondary.

A young lady needs a man badly and decides to hook Chester into the job. Will it work?

Dennis Weaver was trying to get out of the show by this point and if Chester had fallen for her ( after setting things straight!) this could have made an excellent farewell episode to his character-- that he had struck it super lucky with an ultra-great lady. It would have seemed so rewarding to the often luckless Deputy Goode. Too bad it was not done differently and a sendoff to Chester!

Sometimes you get a dull show- This happen to be one

[kfo9494 · 4/10 · 26 November 2012]

This is not a particular memorable episode. With many good recent shows, it was inevitable that there would be a clunker along the way. This was a simpleton show that had little if any interest to the viewer.

Chester gets caught up with the roaming Dutton clan when Aggie Dutton comes riding into Dodge to get a husband. Unfortunately her eyes go to Chester.

During one morning Aggie rides back into Dodge asking Chester to ride out to her Pa's spot. Tells him that her Pa wants him to go fishing. When Chester arrives Aggie tells her Pa that Chester was with her all night and that he has come "to do the right thing". Now Chester is held at the Dutton's wagon as her Pa expects Chester to marry his daughter. The Duttons set off for Colorado with their future son-in-law Chester tied up in the back of their wagon. Will someone from Dodge be able to rescue Chester from the pending shot-gun wedding?

The acting is not to blame for this episode being dull. Everyone in the episode was cast correctly for the character played. It really just came down to a story that was uninteresting and weak. With thirty-so episodes a season you are bound to have a dull show from time to time.