Dry Well

I have seen some bad reviews on this one, and I think the show deserves a fair shake. One low review here even says it's hard to follow. Of course it is; that's the way reality works.

Matt actually pulls of a bit of sleuthing worthy of Columbo. One reviewer has questioned how both of Yuma's lovers knew about each other. The answer is simple. Yuma's husband had confronted the wrong man in town, and he realized she was seeing someone else, and figured it out.

Quint shines as a man of integrity and courage, and it shows at the end of the episode (that is NOT a "spoiler"; he's a regular and we knew he wouldn't die). It is worthy of the character that Burt Reynolds plays here, maybe the best role he ever had.

And I agree that the conversation between Doc and Kitty was delightful. Even if you don't like the rest of the show, it's worth it for that little bit of repartee. So, give this one a chance. It's not open and shut, and you have to think a little bit, and it might hurt someone's brain to do so, but it will be worth it.

...just a bit unfocused and illogical.

You can understand that old Dave is having trouble keeping track of who's "doing" his pretty wife on Mondays when he's away in town; and that dust storm during Dave's murder does confuse ALL of us. But, the show is not that hard to follow.

Karen Sharpe-- another "Gunsmoke" actress whose mid-60's glamorous looks totally blows the 1870's Kansas setting, does very well with the type of role that's difficult to pull off well...especially with all of the tight-shots and close-ups. I was just reading how she abandoned acting in the late 60's to marry Stanley Kramer and manage his estate; she was obviously "hot property" in her early years, with John Wayne also taking an interest in her.

William Henry--who plays her hapless hubby Dave, had a LONG career in Hollywood, and it's good to see him in a decent part. Old pro Ned Glass similarly gets a chance to do some serious acting as the proud, protective (but crazed) father, Ira.

But there's lots of silliness here, too. Are we really to believe that Quint couldn't SLUG his way out of the barn before (or after) he's tied up with wire, prior to being dumped in a well with a bucket-o'-rocks hanging over his head??

ALSO-- why the H___ didn't Kitty IMMEDIATELY tell Matt about the nasty conversation she overheard in the Long Branch between the two jealous lover boys, which could have prevented a lot of violence and mayhem? Of course, if she did that, this episode could have been wrapped up in a HALF hour.

TWO EXCELLENT "TIME-FILLER/WASTER" dialogue scenes between the regulars, both of them witty and charming. DOC and KITTY (mentioned by other commentators here), and DOC and MATT, as Doc gently chides the big guy about wasting time. Maybe I'll watch this episode again for these scenes. LR

Hilarious ep! Great work by Burt Reynolds! Gunsmoke was famously billed as an 'Adult Western' and this episode drives that point home well! Drama is meant to EVOKE, and the "Yuma" character sure is evocative, to the degree of making some other reviewers here despise the entire show! Sheesh, it's a MELODRAMA! The characters are, um... CHARACTERS!! Sorry for all the caps, but viewers who review the shows as if they're judging the morality of the actors' parts (again, the CHARACTERS -- they're not real!) should probably take their sedatives and have their nurses tuck them in.

Exemplary installment of a groundbreaking TV show. 9/10 (minus a point for lack of Festus).

It was refreshing seeing Ned Glass playing a tough ruthless character. He usually played weak cowering characters on Gunsmoke. A wicked woman caused lots of trouble in this morality play. It is worth a watch just to see Doc playfully coming on to Kitty.

There are some Gunsmoke episodes that I just hate and there are some that I don't mind watching over and over. Dry Well is one of the latter, despite some of the absurdities.

I like to watch Yuma (Karen Sharpe) put the boys and her husband through their paces and then turn around and try to use her powers on Marshall Dillon. Not having enough coffee for Jeff was a hoot.

On the other hand, what was Web's pappy doing in Dave's barn at just the right time. He should have known what happened. Quint preferred to get thrown in a well rather than admit he knew Web was telling the truth. Meantime, Web's obsession with Yuma continued to the bitter end. Some gals got it and some don't.