Oh dear- so many big brains casting giant aspersions on our fair horse opera and it's starring dynamic duo- they should be ashamed of themselves because ALL actors are insecure and 6'6" is giant enough for our purposes here. John Wayne was considered tall at 6'4" ~ and Arness was only an inch taller than Tiny, so Torrey qualifies as 'giant'. It would if it were me. Dogging someone for their height is lame anyway.
Dave Sutton is a little bland, yes, but the stories would have carried him if most of the writers hadn't gone to greener pastures the year before. As it is, David Hartman got a year, Tim Matheson got a year, they revamped and gave Stewart Granger a year, then that was it--they couldn't keep beating a dead horse, the series was done. Nobody's fault. Context is important.
Dave (6'5") and Trampas (6'1") are sent to Durango, Colorado (6,512 ft above sea level vs Denver's 5,280) to get in on a top-of-the-line bull auction. Dave is not really needed if they are able to bring the bull back by rail but space isn't guaranteed this time of year and it may have to be walked back to Shiloh--in that case, Dave will help out considerably.
Arriving finally in Durango, Dave is accosted by an average-height female (Julie Sommars 5'5" playing Martha Carson) who coincidentally has the same problem as the Polish girl in the last show of the first season--a giant (6'2" in that case) man wants her but she doesn't want him but he won't leave her alone. Trampas helped the girl in the first season because he was in love and it was serious. This one is Dave and it's played for laughs--probably because it was also the last show of fiscal year 1968. Big Tiny aired the week before Christmas, the next aired a week into January 1969, so the pace of this show was more likely aimed at little shavers and cowgirls on break from school rather than to negative grownups who thought there would be cattle drives and licorice whips. Santa enjoys Context too.
Trampas earned an extra star for being 'cuddly' ~ it's the only time in nine years of the show imo that you could use that word to describe him. Just like a Trampas teddy bear: soft, warm, smiling and eminently huggable. You'll know it when you see it. Santa calls that a "sugarplum".
This one is easy to watch with your kids on a couch with blankets and pillows and mugs (any size) of hot cocoa if possible. Scrooges will look through your frosted windows and wish they had been more kind.
Thank you Everyone who shares with us in the Joy of the Holidays and in Joyful Appreciation of The Virginian.