Bently

I enjoyed this episode where we get to see a more serious side of Chester.

It's a shame that we finally get to see him do some good detective work and all his friends think he's crazy. Then he rides off never to be seen or spoken of again.

Man, I wish this character was on the whole length of the show. What an interesting guy Chester is. I know why Dennis Weaver chose to leave, and it made sense but, I thoroughly enjoyed all his appearances. Thats why I gave it a 10, based solely on his performance. I loved how the writers brought out another facet not normally seen in him, and his exchange with the episode's antagonist on the street was cleverly handled.

This episode wasn't perfect, much of the action in it and the behaviors of some of the characters were somewhat hard to believe but, I'm glad Dennis Weaver's last appearance on the show was more well-rounded than usual.

That's the oddball, elegant but slightly creepy actor Gene Lyons, with his big ears and droopy eyes, NOT exactly your average gunfighter/killer. His scene in the office with Chester is probably the highlight of this VERY entertaining episode. "Well, if that doesn't beat all", says the guy with the limp after Lyons rides off.

A GREAT send-off for Chester, who somehow managed to insert himself into dangerous situations, rarely get involved in any gun play, yet still come out a winner.

A WONDERFUL script full of unexpected turns, and an excellent, sensitive performance by Jan Clayton (the original Julie Jordan in "Carousel" on Broadway, 1946).

Another top-tier episode from Gunsmoke's real "hey-day"-- the hour-long, B&W episodes ('61-65), before they went to color and things got too crazy, deranged and violent (in order to compete for viewers in the increasingly "mod" late '60's.) LR.

I agree with the many reviews complaining that Chester's departure was never noted. It certainly should have at some point. That said, it seems Dennis Weaver took some time to decide to leave and how could he be sure that leaving would end up a smart move? I think the writers, by not stating he was gone, left room for Chester's possible return. Nevertheless, at some point Chester should have been celebrated...maybe in a wrap up, gala, final episode. Oh yeah, that never happened!

I much prefer the earlier episodes of Gunsmoke. I think the series worked better in the half hour format, but let's just say I like the B&W episodes. This was a good episode, and one of the earlier ones that made it clear that the ensemble cast could carry an episode without James Arness.

He had already started to reduce his participation in the show, a tendency that would grow, and continue to the end of the series. Chester was a great character, and it was the show's good fortune that they were able to find Ken Curtis, as Festus, to take his place as the marshal's side kick.

There was much less (mainly none) attention paid to tying up loose ends in series TV in those days (this was 1964). I can't be the only one who finds the handling of Chester's disappearance frustrating at least, and an insult to the memory of the character. An episode that included a story explaining his exit would have been not just appropriate, but probably wildly popular (during sweeps maybe?).