Here they are:
1.) Rough-and-tough (self-appointed) Preacher (Whitmore) comes to Dodge with his lovely young daughter. 2.) Young, violent miscreant named Dingo (John Saxon) puts the moves on her; her father intervenes. Dingo will continue to circulate as the plot develops. 3.) Drunken rowdies in Dodge led by Wally (LQ Jones) accidentally cause a young boy to be run over. 4.) Whitmore convinces the boy's parents that his recovery is due to divine intervention, but Doc Adams says it was a standard medical treatment issue (I thought the episode might develop this idea: spiritualism vs medicine, but it was dropped).
5.) The Preacher decides to conduct a "temperance" campaign and wipe out booze in Dodge 6.) Kitty (and later Wally and friends) decide to fight back 7.) The Preacher's daughter enlists the kindly Festus to assist in the campaign, creating additional conflict 8.) A huge street brawl breaks out at the preacher's meeting. 9.) Kitty decides to take the young girl under her wing, dress her up and show her (and her dad) what it's like to be an attractive young lady.
All of this leads to a big confrontation between Preacher and Dingo (the conflict with which the story began). It's very dramatic, and the final scene between Whitmore and his daughter is beautifully written. Also intriguing is the fact that the ending remains unresolved: will Dodge go dry? Tune in next week to see if the Long Branch survives the fire-and-brimstone of Preacher Amos.
James Whitmore is his typically powerful self; you never quite know what's on his mind when he flashes that big, steely grin: maybe kindness and tolerance, maybe volcanic rage. Fascinating interchanges between Whitmore and (alternately) Dingo/Matt/Miss Kitty/Festus.
The cinematography (and direction) are also first-rate; the richness of the B&W photography in the final night scenes in the street are bold and awesome to behold.
In the end, I felt that the lack of focus in the middle of this show, as one sub-plot led to another, deflating some of the tension and pace; fortunately, things pulled back together at the end. Whitmore's final march into the street to confront the weasely Dingo...and its aftermath...provided some mighty satisfying, exciting, and touching drama.
PS-- it was the NECKLACE that Whitmore ripped from his daughter's neck and stuck in his breast pocket that made all the difference in the end. Very cool idea...we all thought it was the Good Book that saved him, until he noticed the necklace/locket (or what was left of it). LR.
1.) Rough-and-tough (self-appointed) Preacher (Whitmore) comes to Dodge with his lovely young daughter. 2.) Young, violent miscreant named Dingo (John Saxon) puts the moves on her; her father intervenes. Dingo will continue to circulate as the plot develops. 3.) Drunken rowdies in Dodge led by Wally (LQ Jones) accidentally cause a young boy to be run over. 4.) Whitmore convinces the boy's parents that his recovery is due to divine intervention, but Doc Adams says it was a standard medical treatment issue (I thought the episode might develop this idea: spiritualism vs medicine, but it was dropped).
5.) The Preacher decides to conduct a "temperance" campaign and wipe out booze in Dodge 6.) Kitty (and later Wally and friends) decide to fight back 7.) The Preacher's daughter enlists the kindly Festus to assist in the campaign, creating additional conflict 8.) A huge street brawl breaks out at the preacher's meeting. 9.) Kitty decides to take the young girl under her wing, dress her up and show her (and her dad) what it's like to be an attractive young lady.
All of this leads to a big confrontation between Preacher and Dingo (the conflict with which the story began). It's very dramatic, and the final scene between Whitmore and his daughter is beautifully written. Also intriguing is the fact that the ending remains unresolved: will Dodge go dry? Tune in next week to see if the Long Branch survives the fire-and-brimstone of Preacher Amos.
James Whitmore is his typically powerful self; you never quite know what's on his mind when he flashes that big, steely grin: maybe kindness and tolerance, maybe volcanic rage. Fascinating interchanges between Whitmore and (alternately) Dingo/Matt/Miss Kitty/Festus.
The cinematography (and direction) are also first-rate; the richness of the B&W photography in the final night scenes in the street are bold and awesome to behold.
In the end, I felt that the lack of focus in the middle of this show, as one sub-plot led to another, deflating some of the tension and pace; fortunately, things pulled back together at the end. Whitmore's final march into the street to confront the weasely Dingo...and its aftermath...provided some mighty satisfying, exciting, and touching drama.
PS-- it was the NECKLACE that Whitmore ripped from his daughter's neck and stuck in his breast pocket that made all the difference in the end. Very cool idea...we all thought it was the Good Book that saved him, until he noticed the necklace/locket (or what was left of it). LR.