Thunder from the North

In this episode Beau Maverick is on an army post and making a few dollars playing poker at the sutler's store. Roger Moore is also wooing the Colonel's daughter Janet Lake. But when she throws him over in a fit of pique he gives the various presents he gave her to visiting Indian princess Andra Martin.

Martin's chief Robert Warwick's daughter and she's got a complaint with sutler Richard Coogan who is giving her rancid flower and diseased cattle and threatens to expose his dirty dealings. To prevent that Coogan murders her brother and throws the blame on Roger Moore.

After that things get a bit too silly and unreal and this is not the best of Maverick stories. It does however briefly touch on a serious item. Since its creation in 1849 the Interior Department which handled Indian affairs was a patronage cesspool for both parties and corrupt Indian agents were a rule not an exception. Coogan and partner John Zacaro got their appointments no doubt through political connections. An interesting backstory for this episode.

Funny in spots but more silly tha funny.

Beau is framed again, accused of killing an Indian, the brother of Pale Moon, after she complained about bad flour. I sensed a rivalry between Pale Moon and the white girl. Kitty returns all of Beau's presents. The Indians are buying whiskey, and it was always said that Indians could not drink. In reality, no one can drink that terrible stuff! Beau is captured by Indians and about to be decapitated when Pale Moon steps in and stops it. She chooses Beau as her husband, although he must pass a series of tests. Pale Moon is Andra Martin in real life, of Swedish descent, and not an Indian at all. Beau is named after his uncle, Bret and Bart's pappy.

This was a great Roger Moore/ Beau Maverick story. Not perfect, especially when it comes to your usual Native American representation. I'm quite sure the whole fire death thing is no Native American tribe ritual of any tribe, mind you I could be wrong. But considering they never mention which tribal nation these Indians belong to, I doubt it. Makes for entertaining copy rather than reality.

But gee all the tortuous tasks Beau had to do to be a warrior certainly put him in some James Bond territory he was going to take on in the coming years. Also seeing too gals at once; this is an episode where Roger Moore's suave personality really comes through. Other than that really lazy writing and plot with things being found out by the characters without knowing how or showing dialogue unfortunately.