The Jailbird

I began rewatching The Rifleman on YouTube right after Johnny Crawford's death. I've also been watching a series I never saw much of when I was around 8 or 9, Yancy Derringer. So I was surprised when during the opening scene of this episode, the Yancy Derringer theme was played! I'd love to know if it was due to a mix-up, or there was some special reason.

As for the episode, it's the kind Rifleman fans want.

I really can't believe how many of the same actors appear again and again on this show! It is only season two, and this has to be the fourth go-round for both Dabbs Greer and Karl Swenson. Not to mention multiple turns from Richard Anderson, Warren Oates and especially John Anderson.

I admit that watching these episodes at the pace of 2 per day on MeTV greatly compresses time, and this frequency might not have been so noticeable back in the 1950's. And, I'm not questioning the talent, popularity or charisma of the players.

It's just difficult to accept that the acting pool was so small that these stars were recycled over and over again. Sorry if this isn't helpful, but I wanted to express my incredulity now, knowing there are likely three more seasons of this to follow!

The episode begins with Farley Weaver(Dabbs Greer) arriving in North Fork and looking for a job. The thing about Weaver is that he has just been released from the territorial jail after serving time for manslaughter. And as we all know that Lucas is a fair man, he agrees to hire Weaver to help him make repairs on his fence.

When Lucas sends Weaver into town for more wire, the clerk at the store has sold out. But he did tell Weaver that a man outside town may have some for him. Weaver rides out to the Manse farm house only to find that Mr Manse had been murdered. He rushes back and telling Lucas of the event and knows that people are going to accuse him of the crime. And sure enough, Mr Manse mentally slow son, Eli, tells the Marshal that he saw Weaver kill his Pa. But there is more to this interesting story.

There is nothing that really stands out in this episode but the subject matter was indeed interesting. Even though the viewer was well aware of the events, it still did not take away from watching and getting interested in this story. And when a show makes the viewer want to watch, the task has been accomplished. Good watch.