"The Princess and the Gunfighter" is one of my favorite episodes in the "Have Gun-Will Travel" series; and it is unique. Paladin does not shoot his pistol; in fact, there is no violence whatsoever in this story. The main focus of the plot involves Paladin as helper, a guide, and briefly the promise of something far more intimate, possibly more lasting - a distinct departure from the other 224 episodes in which Paladin usually makes it quite clear that he is an inveterate bachelor.
This is certainly Paladin's most pensive and philosophical episode. In guiding a stranger through a perilous land, he employs the wisdom of a Sanscrit saying, advice from Aristotle about tyranny, democracy and anarchy, and two very poetic utterances from Marcus Aurelius. In each case, Paladin's delivery of these examples of sage advice about life, is presented with considerable empathy and tenderness and all of them apply to a certain innocent young lady trying to find herself.
This episode also demonstrates Paladin's patience and his droll sense of humor as well as distinctly-compassionate fatherly qualities.
Just as Robert Frost's persona admits that he "took the (road) less traveled by and that has made all the difference," the destination Paladin arrives at by the end of this episode leaves him a little sad, and more than a bit wistful.
Everything considered, I find this episode uniquely delightful and quite a departure from many other tension-saturated episodes where the fist and the pistol are king. Two human beings reaching hopefully through the bars of their existence, touch, just briefly.