I enjoyed this episode quite a bit. Reviewers who think the results were not believable to them I simply disagree. Lucas practices shooting his rifle a great deal based on sound and becomes quite good at it considering he cannot see. I find nothing second rate or below par about this episode. Lucas dealing with temporary blindness is realistic and emotionally moving in the way he interacts with his friends and loved ones.
4 Reviews
Blindness kills
gordonl5619 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
THE RIFLEMAN – Dark Day at North Fork - 1961 Chuck Connors headlines this 1958 to 1963 western series that ran for 168 episodes. Connors is a world class hand with a Winchester rifle. This of course ends up getting him in no end of trouble. This episode is number100 of the run.
Connors is preparing to clear some tree stumps off a newly cleared section. He loads up a barrel of blasting powder in the wagon. He fails to notice a small crack in the barrel through which powder is leaking. When Connors tosses some tools in the back of the wagon a spark causes the powder to go off. The explosion badly burns Connors' face and blinds him.
Connors' boy, Johnny Crawford rushes for help and Connors is soon at the doc's place. The doc, Ralph Moody cleans the burns and washes out Connors eyes. He bandages up Connors and says it is now a matter of time whether he will recover his sight. They will wait a month before he will remove the bandages.
Several weeks later, Sheriff Paul Fix rides out to the Connors' ranch. He tells Connors' that John Milford is in town. Milford is a killer that Connors had helped put away 7 years before. Milford is now out on parole and swears to get even with Connors.
Connors has son Crawford help train Connors to make sound shots with his rifle. Crawford will toss a can with a stone and Connors tries to hit with his rifle. After several days Connors has gotten pretty good at the art.
Needless to say the swine, Milford comes a calling. He thinks it quite funny that Connors is blind. His laughter is short lived as Connors puts several rounds into him. The day the bandages come off arrives and doc Moody unravels the wrappings. At first everything is just a blur, but soon Connors can see again.
Connors is preparing to clear some tree stumps off a newly cleared section. He loads up a barrel of blasting powder in the wagon. He fails to notice a small crack in the barrel through which powder is leaking. When Connors tosses some tools in the back of the wagon a spark causes the powder to go off. The explosion badly burns Connors' face and blinds him.
Connors' boy, Johnny Crawford rushes for help and Connors is soon at the doc's place. The doc, Ralph Moody cleans the burns and washes out Connors eyes. He bandages up Connors and says it is now a matter of time whether he will recover his sight. They will wait a month before he will remove the bandages.
Several weeks later, Sheriff Paul Fix rides out to the Connors' ranch. He tells Connors' that John Milford is in town. Milford is a killer that Connors had helped put away 7 years before. Milford is now out on parole and swears to get even with Connors.
Connors has son Crawford help train Connors to make sound shots with his rifle. Crawford will toss a can with a stone and Connors tries to hit with his rifle. After several days Connors has gotten pretty good at the art.
Needless to say the swine, Milford comes a calling. He thinks it quite funny that Connors is blind. His laughter is short lived as Connors puts several rounds into him. The day the bandages come off arrives and doc Moody unravels the wrappings. At first everything is just a blur, but soon Connors can see again.
below-average episode of a usually great show
richardskranium30 June 2017
The Rifleman was a great show,with many memorable episodes and only a few duds. This episode was not quite a dud but I consider it to be pretty weak.Suffice to say that there are many improbabilities mixed into the plot along with a few downright impossibilities for good measure.If somebody only saw this single episode they could not be blamed for thinking poorly of the show- and that is a shame.
Not much suspense in this episode.
kfo949422 March 2014
This episode begins as Lucas is loading a barrel of dynamite in back of the wagon at the ranch. When Lucas throws some tools in back of the wagon, it makes a spark that causes the dynamite to explode causing injury to Lucas' eyes. Doctor Burrage believes that Lucas only has a small chance of being able to regain his eyesight which leads to sadness throughout the town of North Fork.
But that is not the only problem that faces Lucas. Jack Solby, just being released from prison, rides into town with a grudge against Lucas McCain. Blind or not Jack is in town to kill Lucas and make him pay for the years he spent in prison.
This was a predictable script with reliable results. The main character is possibly blind for life and a villain enters town to kill him, not much thinking on how this episode will conclude. There are some good moments between Lucas and Mark but otherwise an episode that is foreseeable.
But that is not the only problem that faces Lucas. Jack Solby, just being released from prison, rides into town with a grudge against Lucas McCain. Blind or not Jack is in town to kill Lucas and make him pay for the years he spent in prison.
This was a predictable script with reliable results. The main character is possibly blind for life and a villain enters town to kill him, not much thinking on how this episode will conclude. There are some good moments between Lucas and Mark but otherwise an episode that is foreseeable.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
