Doctor's Wife

The story appears to be about spreading vicious rumors and gossip, but it is more than that. In fact, for me the basic theme was the presentation of a totally unredeemed character.

Ms. May was so completely lacking in any form of humility that it is impossible to imagine that with such egomania she could have any genuine virtues. This is not tender concern for her husband, but rather an attempt to aggrandize a possession. Lying, arrogance and deceit come so naturally to her that it is impossible to imagine she showed no signs of this earlier.

Doc Adams takes her with him on house calls, thinking that she may realize that the practice of medicine is not primarily to make money. But this sort of personality disorder is not easily treated and is incurable.

Here is an episode that features Milburn Stone as the lovable Doctor that we have all grown to know. When a new doctor comes to Dodge, he will have to put up with the doctor's wife that wants to see her husband excel in his practice while Doc Adams fails. But something will happen along the way that will be a turning point. And as usual, Doc Adams goes through the entire incident with his grace and character that we all know.

Doctor Wesley May and his wife Jennifer arrive in Dodge on their way to Denver. Doc Adams gets wind of another medical doctor in town and invites the both up for supper. Doc Adams tells the two that being the only doctor in town is a learning experience that is hard to beat. With that said, Jennifer wants to stay in Dodge instead of her husband being one of five doctors in the town of Denver.

They open up a practice but find out that getting patients is harder than first thought. So Jennifer starts spreading rumors about Doc Adams. Jennifer is so obsessed with making her husband look good that when Doc Adams tells Mr Boake that his leg must be amputated because of gas-gangrene, Jennifer tells Boake that her husband can save the leg. But things do not go as planned when Dr. May finally arrives and there is no chance for him to even save Boake's life.

The story then kind of makes a weird turn where Dr. May ends up needing the help of Doc Adams. And finally Jennifer will see that they should have went onto Denver instead of spreading rumors. A very nice ending to a show that was interesting to watch. There is a scene when Dr May is injured that really made little sense but for story sake, we take the results and go forward. A good watch.

And here I thought this was going to be the standard sort of plot: New Doc and wife arrive in town, start nasty rumors about Doc Adams, stirring up the townsfolk about Doc's outdated methods, Doc's about to "pack it in" until he comes through at the end to show that HIS way is best, and all is forgiven. WRONG!! George Eckstein's teleplay is a multi-layered, insightful study of human nature, in all its good and bad traits.

There are MANY unexpected but welcome elements to the story:

1.) Doc Adams APPRECIATES the competition from the new Doc.

2.) Doc does everything he can to help make the new doc feel welcome.

3.) The new doctor (James Broderick) genuinely likes Doc and appreciates his assistance.

4.) It's the doc's wife Jenny (Phyllis Love) who---sorry, ladies---is an ambitious, dishonest, shrewish and petulant woman who initiates the problems, the last of which BACKFIRES on her.

5.) Except for this last incident, the problems created by Jenny really never amount to much. But Doc Adams rises above it all, and disabuses Jenny of her hope that there's money to be made as a doctor in Dodge City...then actually invites her to accompany him on his local calls so she can see for herself the squalor and poverty in which most of his patients live.

6.) Doc's relationship to his patients in Dodge is very realistic..they are difficult to please, opinionated, and stubborn; it's not all the rosy sort of attitude you'd expect from a standard TV show.

7.) The entire sequence of events at the Boake home (and its aftermath in town) is gritty, intense, and entirely believable. Very dramatic and imaginative writing.

Milburn Stone shines in every one of his big scenes...of which there are many. The TOTAL ACTOR....truthful and convincing in every word, gesture, and expression.

Even the "comic relief" scenes with Festus are expertly integrated into the script...they are hilarious, but TRUTHFUL..like real people would speak to one another. Eg: during a Long Branch discussion on: Why the Haggens All Live So Long.... DOC: "It's because they're too DUMB to know they're dead, that's why."

I watched the episode twice in a row just to see Milburn Stone do his thing. He was the best. LR.

... but if you are a doctor's wife that may not be wise, especially if it is done at some other doctor's expense.

Doc invites a new doctor and his wife over for dinner and encourages them to consider settling in a small frontier town like Dodge rather than going to a larger place in Colorado. They decide to set up practice in Dodge itself, as it is a growing place and can probably accommodate two doctors. But the new doctor's wife is impatient, and she begins to rustle up customers by spreading rumors about Doc, saying that his hands are unsteady to people who are considering having surgery so that they won't go to Doc Adams.

But then a life and death case occurs and the doctor's wife tells a dreadful lie that just may cost her as well. To see what I mean by all this, watch and find out.

Doc Adams was probably the most centered character of the regular cast of Gunsmoke. Year after year, he has the patience of a saint. And he would need it in this particular episode. A standout episode that puts Milburn Stone's character Doc front and center for a welcome change.

An excellent, detailed review by Irrap that I won't repeat. One of the best episodes I've watched. Try to watch it if you can. Doc at his absolute best.