The Rifleman (TV Series) Shivaree (1959) User Reviews

An odd script but with exceptional results.

[kfo9494 · 9/10 · 12 October 2015]

Here we have one of those episodes that is difficult to explain without watching the circumstance that got us to the climax of the show. Even though after watching, the show turned into an exceptional story-- getting to the meat-of-the-story took us through some odd turns.

It all begins when two teenage brother get hired by a wagon train boss to help them take the cattle to a nearby town. Well, somewhere along the trail, they find out that one of the brothers is actually a female which cause all sorts of problems. When it is explained that the teens, Derek and Liza, are on their way to get married in the town where the cattle is being taken, it still does not sit well with the boss or the other cowhands. But to save grace, the boss makes the young couple marry in North Fork.

Now the cowhands, lead by Chet Parkard (John Anderson), wants to give the young couple a Shivaree. It is a tradition where people keep the couple up all night after a wedding but Chet wants to use the act to harass the couple.

With the couple staying at the McCain's ranch (that is another odd situation), Lucas is up to his eyeballs in the muck. Micah informs Lucas that the cowhands are on their way and up to no good.

Even though this review may not seem exciting, the story played out very well by the end of the show. With the ending coming fast and the odd things going on, it still makes a person feel good for watching. Or perhaps I am a sap for young people in love. Either way, I like it.

Shivaree or Harassment

[csmith-99615 · 9/10 · 14 September 2019]

This episode was a little strange from the beginning. People from a wagon train pull into town to get a young couple married. Turns out the female half of the couple was pretending to be a boy. Oddly murderers are on this TV series are treated with more respect than a gal posing as a guy! After the forced marriage, a shivaree takes place. This is supposed to a good natured event where the groom and bride are kept up all night by their "friends". This was more like harassment kidnapping and gun play. Lucas and Mark get caught in the middle of this and finally Lucas puts an end to it. The whole episode had an uneasy feeling about it mainly because Lucus and Micha let the shivaree go on way too long when it was obvious it was NOT good natured.

Peculiar Subject, Peculiar Depiction

[richard.fuller1 · 5/10 · 23 April 2011]

When two 'brothers' (Paul Carr and Luana Anders) who joined a wagon train are discovered to actually be a young couple running off to marry, she having her hair cut short to help conceal her identity, the characters on the wagon train take it upon themselves to 'force' the couple to marry.

To do the right thing? A strange episode all the way around, from the rowdy laughing of the other wagoneers (standout being Olive Carey as Ma Wilson, the one who 'discovered' one of the brothers was actually a female, wasn't explained how she learned this) to the decision to have a shivaree, which apparently is a joke played on the married couple by keeping them awake, which must lead to some image of preventing them from consumating the wedding or 'partying all night til the early morning'.

A strange custom and obviously rather pointless, especially as shown here.

The couple is abducted and separated. She is taken to the saloon and told to drink, basically get drunk (for what?) He ends up in the horses' watering trough.

Whether this practice predated bachelor parties as we know them today, not really sure, but it certainly was a peculiar concept.

Again, the oddest depiction was from Carey as Ma Wilson. "We just want to have some fun. Shivaree, everybody, shivaree!" and she rings a cowbell.

I've seen Hollywood depictions like this before and it is always odd to see; someone having to exclaim over and over they are having fun instead of actually engaging in some amount of fun itself.

"We're havin' a party! Whooo!" Only when Carr finally turns on the mob and runs them all out of the bar does it get entertaining, best of all when he turns on the wagonmaster.

You do have to wonder about the logic of having fun at someone else's expense and then what the conclusion is when a guy is shot and needing a doctor.

Perhaps an effective episode to today's sudden concern over bullying?

Gender issues in Northfork

[K80theShade · 5/10 · 28 July 2016]

I will try to avoid the use of big words I don't know the meaning of for this review.

It is not made obvious in the synopsis or any of these other reviews, but this is The Rifleman taking a stab at gender issues. Contrary to the title, this episode is not about the shivaree. It is about one boy and one girl, and how the girl looks like a boy.

It is a comment on gender roles. And the show handles it in a VERY 1950's way. They put the tomboy in a dress and cut the boy's hair and then magically all is right with the world.

No spoilers.....I just wanted to be read only by people who've seen the episode.