This is an above-average "Bonanza" episode, if only because it strays into "Gunsmoke" territory. Its theme is one common in "Gunsmoke" (even in Kathleen Hite's scripts) -- women are poison -- stay away!
Emily McPhail is an old flame of Joe's (who somehow escaped a disfiguring disease or death (alliteration intentional)). She wound up marrying a career lawman, Wade McPhail (who seems to be happy as just a deputy marshal).
Though no relation to Charlie Chaplin, the little tramp hides her wedding ring in her pocket. She just can't decide whom she "really" loves, and tries to seduce Joe into running away with her. Though heterosexual, Joe has no trouble resisting the trashy broad. In revenge, she lies about an attempted robbery -- which just might get Joe hung.
As bad as this sounds, it's rather less stupid than most "Bonanza" episodes. McPhail's marshal boss seems to have read Sherlock Holmes, and gives a brief lecture on how one judges evidence. (His investigation is decidedly Perry Mason-ish.) Lorne Green gives a (rarely seen) restrained performance.
Ron Hayes is effective as the husband Ms ***** wants to cheat on. The scene in which he forces her to put on her wedding ring -- with her near-violent resistance -- displays real emotion, uncommon in a series that is basically a dramatic sitcom.
There is, however, a huge plot hole involving the attempted robbery of the money being transported across the Cartwright property. I won't describe it, but it should be obvious.
I'd have given this episode a higher rating if Emily had been run over by a 20-mule team (or something equally ugly -- which is what would have happened on "Gunsmoke"). But no such luck -- this is the family-friendly "Bonanza". Evil people are almost always reformed.
PS: Typical of Paramount's poor production values, Joe's bullet wound is portrayed by a carelessly applied smear of red paint on his jacket. This was probably because he was wearing his default costume, and the makeup artist didn't want to dirty it too much.
Emily McPhail is an old flame of Joe's (who somehow escaped a disfiguring disease or death (alliteration intentional)). She wound up marrying a career lawman, Wade McPhail (who seems to be happy as just a deputy marshal).
Though no relation to Charlie Chaplin, the little tramp hides her wedding ring in her pocket. She just can't decide whom she "really" loves, and tries to seduce Joe into running away with her. Though heterosexual, Joe has no trouble resisting the trashy broad. In revenge, she lies about an attempted robbery -- which just might get Joe hung.
As bad as this sounds, it's rather less stupid than most "Bonanza" episodes. McPhail's marshal boss seems to have read Sherlock Holmes, and gives a brief lecture on how one judges evidence. (His investigation is decidedly Perry Mason-ish.) Lorne Green gives a (rarely seen) restrained performance.
Ron Hayes is effective as the husband Ms ***** wants to cheat on. The scene in which he forces her to put on her wedding ring -- with her near-violent resistance -- displays real emotion, uncommon in a series that is basically a dramatic sitcom.
There is, however, a huge plot hole involving the attempted robbery of the money being transported across the Cartwright property. I won't describe it, but it should be obvious.
I'd have given this episode a higher rating if Emily had been run over by a 20-mule team (or something equally ugly -- which is what would have happened on "Gunsmoke"). But no such luck -- this is the family-friendly "Bonanza". Evil people are almost always reformed.
PS: Typical of Paramount's poor production values, Joe's bullet wound is portrayed by a carelessly applied smear of red paint on his jacket. This was probably because he was wearing his default costume, and the makeup artist didn't want to dirty it too much.
