I was appalled to witness this disturbing mess of an installment of the revered Gunsmoke western series. The only thing really praiseworthy is the beautiful color and vibrancy of the photography, which for me is something I don't really want anyway. I always felt that Gunsmoke was superior to its competitor Bonanza, in part because Gunsmoke didn't have that glossy, polished, fake veneer that Bonanza so strongly had. Beyond that, the constant, busy, overly grandiose, and obviously manipulative music runs as a constant through this episode and becomes irritatingly obnoxious.
But the worst aspect of "The Wiving" episode is what all the other detractors have pointed out, so I won't reiterate those items.other than to clearly mention that an additional demerit for this episode is that the show's regular characters are essentially no shows, or at least yes shows for only a minute or two at best (Dillon, Doc, Newly, Festus, and of course Kitty, who had departed).
Although the four backward mountain men are revealed along the way to not be the rotten idiots we are introduced to, the episode nonetheless just feels disquieting, creepy, unkempt, and uncomfortable. Quite the entertaining train wreck viewing experience I must say.
But the worst aspect of "The Wiving" episode is what all the other detractors have pointed out, so I won't reiterate those items.other than to clearly mention that an additional demerit for this episode is that the show's regular characters are essentially no shows, or at least yes shows for only a minute or two at best (Dillon, Doc, Newly, Festus, and of course Kitty, who had departed).
Although the four backward mountain men are revealed along the way to not be the rotten idiots we are introduced to, the episode nonetheless just feels disquieting, creepy, unkempt, and uncomfortable. Quite the entertaining train wreck viewing experience I must say.