Ten Little Indians

Ten Little Indians is one of my favorite episodes. But it's also an episode where Matt Dillon displayed a moment of handgun dazzle. If you never noticed, watch the Marshal's gun immediately after killing Billy Cole. I've never seen him do that in any other episode.. and he nailed it.

I would like to address some misconceptions from previous reviewers who have criticized the Gunsmoke team for airing episodes out of order or for inconsistent storytelling. One reviewer referred to a moment as an "Easter Egg," specifically when Pringle reveals that his motive for setting up the outlaws was revenge for the unlawful killing of his grandson, Thad Ewing.

It seems these reviewers have misunderstood this detail, mistakenly linking the name Thad Ewing to the new character introduced in the prior episode, Clayton Thaddeus Greenwood, portrayed by Roger Ewing. The confusion likely arises from the shared nickname "Thad," leading to a mix-up between the characters. Furthermore, Pringle's reference to his grandson, Thad Ewing, indicates that he is older and is contemporaneous with Sheriff Greenwood, who is also around the same age as Pringle.

While I don't wish to undermine anyone, it appears that some of the reviewers struggling with these details are male viewers who focus more on the action and violence typically associated with Westerns. In contrast, Gunsmoke's enduring appeal lies in its strong narrative and character development, enjoyed by both male and female fans. Women, in particular, were drawn to the emotional depth and storytelling, often requiring context for the violence shown. This is reflected in the shift from a 30-minute format to an hour-long format, which demanded more attention from viewers to fully grasp the plot.

As a female who grew up watching Westerns with male family, I often found myself frustrated by interruptions during key moments of dialogue, as my father and brother focused more on the action than the story itself. Interrupted the show with their talking "Why he do that" "Did I miss something" "Why is this one so mad at that one", it was all too clear that my dad and brother were not paying attention to the story, but watching all of the gratuitous violence; as I always had to explain a key piece of information that was in the dialogue, mind you I was only 9 or 10.

Remember, when they tried to cancel Gunsmoke after season 12, it was the producer's wife that saved Gunsmoke. So for you male viewer's that think there can be too much talking in some episodes, just remember Gunsmoke had mass appeal due to its great storytelling, so check your facts before writing your reviews.

Warren Oates, Bruce Dern and Nehemiah Persoff as gunmen out to 86 Matt Dillon. With a roster of baddies like that, how could you possibly go wrong? Well, this episode doesn't. A highly entertaining, suspenseful show that ends with a bang--so to speak.

Great to see the ever-crafty Festus do some sleuthing and spying on Matt's behalf. That good ol' boy may have seemed a bit light in his loafers, but was actually as sharp as a tack.

And in the episode's opening sequence, Rafael Campos' Miguel Semando cuts a pretty fair impersonation of "Gold Hat" from The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The slightly demented, smiling schtick comes off well. Of course, Matt wipes that smile away with a .45 slug.

PS--At this point in the series it's becoming pretty apparent that Matt's old friends--in this case played by Persoff--are nothing but trouble. Either Matt was a poor judge of character in his youth or he himself was a pretty shady customer.

The tension it starts with builds to no pay off. The scenes contained some of the best acting I've seen on a western tv show but they all reduced to a weak come around resolution for the ending. I didn't know Bruce Dern could act, I though he was just a face and a voice for a background bad guy.

This episode is IMHO one of the best of the series. Seldom if ever did you have the opportunity to see Bruce Dern and Warren Oates at the same time.. two of the best in the business. The episode keeps you guessing right up to the end. And for the purists out there remember, this is fiction.