First to Thine Own Self

This episode introduces the guitar strumming and country/folk singing Randy Boone. The storyline for this episode, and the acting is enjoyable enough. The addition of young Randy is a mixed bag.

Randy is related to the famous Boone lineage that includes the storied Daniel, actor Richard, and even pop-heart-throb Pat Boone. Randy is written into episodes that seem to showcase his musical talents. As with all such musical scenes comes the just awful screen shots of fellow actors smiling, nodding, and trying to show enjoyment of the tunes. These painful scenes just seem so out of place, at best, and downright awkward in most cases. While Randy brings decent acting and singing ability, with decent acting skills, it just seems out of place week after week. It came across as shoehorning a musical interlude into the storyline, adding little in the end. To Randy's credit, there are episodes where it all fits together nicely and Randy is a decent addition to the cast. Randy fit in nicely with the cast and the storylines, it just got a bit odd at times with musical sideshow.

Still, the series remained strong and survived other changes like replacing the Judge. Perhaps is was a reflection of the time , or maybe a whim from the studio heads. The episodes remained strong and entertaining despite the addition of a troubadour. The series remained strong and popular for many years with and without the musical sideshow. Enjoy my friends.

Randy Boone joined the cast of The Virginian and gets hired by the Shiloh Ranch after what takes place in this episode. Young Boone is a drifter with a nice smile and song but distrustful ways. He gets a ride with Frank Maxwell and little Claire Wilcox father and daughter on their way to Medicine Bow to join Mary LaRoche, the child's late mother's sister.

But she has a no good gambler of an uncle in Jan Merlin and Merlin has an accomplice in Shiloh rider Bruce Dern in one of his earliest roles. Dern is every bit the mean villain he usually played in the 60s and 70s. Maxwell and Wilcox are bringing a considerable inheritance and Merlin and Dern would like to have it for themselves.

With Boone around they've even got a potential fall guy. But it all works out with the help of James Drury and Roberta Shore who takes a real liking to young Wilcox and vice versa.

Boone had a pleasing personality and a nice song every now and then. He was a welcome presence on the show for many years.

I love the Virginian series, but this show left a lot to be desired. Randy's singing is good (and genuine), and the story has lots of potential, but the acting, production, and continuity has to be some of the worst in the series.

It's extra disappointing because this story line was focused on Betsy more than usual, and she had a major part in the story. Unfortunately the actress seemed to think it meant she needed to overact.

For Virginian fans, this will be a decent show. But if your watching Virginian for the first time to see if you might want to watch more, choose another to start with.

Randy Boone makes his first appearance in this episode in which he plays a cynical, untrusting drifter. His character has the misfortune of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. He is accused of murdering a young girl's father, and does his best to protect the girl while running from some bad guys. Betsy, believing he is innocent, defends him. Boone has a fresh-faced charm and musical talent, but his acting skills leave something to be desired here. Also, Roberta Shore struggles to deliver her lines with a script that provides her with some awkward lines. On ther other hand, Bruce Dern is at his "villainy" best. While there is a lot of blame to go around, the writing is the weak point.