Rage for Vengeance

This ep had no humor to speak of, but was truly serious subject. What makes many mav's great is the tongue and cheek humor so this diverged greatly. Even with that the acting in the ep was exceptional and the writing was fantastic. If you love mav as much as me, and my Dad did, you should watch this because it is one of the few without humor so that you can get the breadth of james garner and mav.

This Maverick episode wasn't just atypical of the series, Maverick the character was atypical. First, it should be understood that Maverick the character is a crafty, humorous, lady's man. The few entrees that deviate from that are not very good, at least not as Maverick episodes. They may be perfectly fine in the Rawhide or Cheyenne series, but not in the Maverick series. Rage of Vengeance had Maverick proposing marriage. The episode had Maverick initiating a gunfight. I could barely recognize the character. Meanwhile, there were almost no wisecracks or repartees, the cornerstone of the Maverick character. Still, if you like a story told in a straightforward manner (although in one big flashback) with ordinary characters, you might like Rage of Vengeance. It simply was not my cup of tea.

While in Denver enjoying a good run at the poker table James Garner gets an offer from Catherine McLeod. She wants an escort to accompany her and a suitcase worth of $200,000.00 to a small town in Montana. It's strictly business but love finds a way and Bret Maverick actually falls for McLeod.

McLeod's got her sights set on cattle baron John Russell an outwardly charming man who is not that at all. She has history with him back in Texas and it isn't very good.

When McLeod and Garner arrive at their destination she buys the local newspaper on borrowed money. What she carries is not put on deposit, but put in a strongbox at the bank. What we'd call a safety deposit box today. With that she gets all kinds of credit.

This episode is a departure from the usual Maverick story. It's serious and I do mean deadly so. Shows James Garner could so more than cynical.

An interesting twist on the Million Pound Note.