User Reviews

In this episode, we have some of the things that made 'The Big Valley' a program to watch. Oh not the plot or the acting but some of the moments from the show that still stand out years after watching. We get to see Nick being Nick, we get to see some fancy gun-shooting, we get to see one of the most cheesy opening scenes and we get to see Barbara Stanwyck in an cow-women skirt with hat that is worthy of only a great performer like Ms Stanwyck.

After a strange opening scene where a stagecoach has a broken wheel and the woman passenger, Sabrina Lynn, goes running into the woods. It appears she is running between trees and brush only to fall at the feet on Nick that just happen to be in the same woods during a thunderstorm in the middle of the night.

Nick is infatuated with Ms Lynn and gets her a room inside Stockton. She tells Nick that she is running from an abusive wanted man named Jack Floyd. He tells her that Jack is very jealous and kills men that just talks to her. With the Nick Barkley flare, he tells her that if he comes into Stockton he will take care of him.

It is true that Jack Floyd is coming to town but there is also someone chasing him named John Pierce. John Pierce is wanting revenge for killing his son in another town and is after Floyd for the killing. Sabrina, who really loves Jack Floyd, schemes up with Mr Pierce and Nick to have a chance meeting on the street. She tells both men that they are meeting the criminal John Floyd. And with some fast-shooting gun skills Nick kills who he believed to be the criminal. But the sheriff finds out that it was Mr Pierce that Nick killed. And when the news is broken to Nick, Victoria is in the outfit that was sure a fashion statement in the streets of Stockton.

When Nick hears the news- nothing is going to stop him in finding Jack Floyd and Sabrina Lynn and bring both to justice.

Perhaps not the best show but it has many good scenes that make this show interesting. This is the reason we remember episodes of 'The Big Valley' even today.

The plot is pretty straightforward, a love triangle ruined by deception and Nick is played for the fool. What makes this episode stand out from any of the others is the Clint Eastwood style shooting contest between Nick and one of the good old boys in town. The first guy sets up 6 matches on a fence post and shoots all 6 and they light up one after the next and then Nick steps up and blows all 6 out with his gun rapid fire style. This is one of those Jump the Shark moments in Hollywood that must have ducked under the radar. A MUST SEE moment for anyone who liked these old shows. If I can manage to record it I will post it up on Youtube where it belongs. It's just as good or better than any Chuck Norris scene and Nick Barkley is without a doubt the baddest Cowboy who never had his own Cowboy movie.

There are not too many men who can take Nick Barkley in anything, but in this episode Peter Breck in anything, but like most of us the opposite sex can get him when he's most vulnerable. In Breck's case it's helping a lady in distress.

In this case it's Laura Devon who gets lost in a howling rainstorm and arrives at the Barkley ranch somewhat dissheveled. Her tale of woe is that she's fleeing from a man who won't leave her alone. Of course she's not giving him the straight story.

Devon plays one fine little vixen in this episode.