The Rifleman (TV Series) The Queue (1961) User Reviews

A predictable show that held up well.

[kfo9494 · 7/10 · 13 April 2013]

For the last episode of season three, we get a rather predictable show about a Chinese father and son arrive in North Fork to the ogles of the townsfolk. When their wagon spooks a horse occupied by a teenager named Noah Fergus the fall brings out his father, Vince, to confront the Chinese family. Right before the incident gets violent, Lucas takes charge and tells Vince to leave them alone.

The Chinese man, Wang Chi, is grateful toward Lucas and tells him that he and his son, Wang Lee, are traveling around to find a town to settle and open up a laundry service.

Well it is not long before Vince Fergus and a friend go looking for Wang Chi. They are going to run the Chinese out of town and keep North Fork free of foreigners.

This is one of those feel good episodes that teach us that some people look at a person's appearance to judge the person's character. Even though it was a very predictable show, it held up well and made for a nice watch.

One more point, definitely a spoiler.

[rsgreen-21468 · 8/10 · 28 May 2016]

The two reviews there now are good, but to add one more point that is definitely a spoiler, if anyone hasn't seen this already. In the end the boy decides to cut off his queue, the braid in back that I learned in the show or maybe elsewhere means that someday he will return to China. But even if the others don't know that, they know that's how he wants to wear his hair.

IOW, the low-lifes have to behave themselves, but in return, the minority group member assimilates, greatly, probably has to assimilate in the view of the 1960's. This was a big advance from a generation or 3 earlier, but I think we've made further progress. To a large extent, I like the USA better now, when people can have first names other than Steve, Bob, Mary, and Nancy, and unusual last names too. And can dress as their grandparents did. And someone who wants to live here now but go home to China to retire or to die, or even as soon as he makes enough money to live on, he won't get beat up because of that.

An often told tale Works

[gordonl56 · 8/10 · 11 December 2013]

THE RIFLEMAN – The Queue – 1962

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.

Victor Sen Yung and his son, Dick Kay Hong, arrive in North Fork. The two are looking for a location to set up a Chinese Laundry. This of course upsets the town arsehole, Peter Whitney.

The pretty well always drunk, Whitney, and his buddy, Paul Wexler intend on driving the "dirty foreigners" out of North Fork. "We don't need their kind here!" Chuck Connors steps in when Whitney and Wexler try to harm the boy, Hong. Whitney knows when he is over-matched and high tails it back to the saloon.

Connors offers to be Yung's first customer. North Fork general store owner, Joan Taylor, pitches in and sends business his way. Yung parks his wagon at the creek just out of town and gets his pots to boiling. That evening, while putting out the clean laundry out to dry, Yung is attacked by Whitney and Wexler. They push over his wagon and start throwing clothes into the fire. They are interrupted in this mischief by Connors and his rifle. Connors keeps Wexler quiet at gunpoint, while watching the very upset Yung, judo his way up and down the bigger Whitney. The beaten and bloodied Whitney is then handed over to Sheriff Paul Fix.

This story about the evils of racism was written up featuring various ethnic groups, and was used on many different popular television series of the early 60's.

Of some note on this episode, is the director, James Clavell. Clavell was a writer, producer and director all in one. On the writing front he did screenplays or story for, TO SIR WITH LOVE, THE Satan BUG, THE LAST VALLEY, THE GREAT ESCAPE, NOBLE HOUSE, SHOGUN and KING RAT. The last three were taken from Clavell's own novels. As a director, his most famous film is 1967's, TO SIR WITH LOVE.

Victor Sen Yung would go no to play the cook, Hop Sing, on the popular western series, BONANZA.

The Worst in Northfork

[kerrydragon · 9/10 · 9 January 2024]

This is one of my favorite episodes of the Rifleman,another one I like features Agnes Moorehead. This story is about a Chinese immigrant father and son who want to set up a Laundry in Northfork. They are warmly accepted by most in town but not by 2 drunken bullies,who begin a campaign of terror against the Asian newcomers. The polite Mr Wang tries to be kind and repectful to no avail. One of the drunken racists son starts to make fun of Wang's son and a fight ensues,the trouble isn't over yet however and it gets even worse. This episode shows how ugly racism is and how alcoholism can bring out the worst in people.