Amongst fans of The Virginian everyone knows the #1 most asked question about the series, which has no answer. The answer to the #2 most asked question - "why did Gary Clarke leave the series" - is still somewhat murky. I've read various reports that he went over a powerful producer's head to ask for more screen time, and was punished for it by first being removed from the opening credits, then from the series totally. I don't actually know if this is true, but Clarke's character of Steve Hill remains a huge fan favorite, and that is absolutely undeniable. Personally my favorite era of the series is from Seasons 1 and 2, with the original three leads adapted from the Owen Wister novel. Unfortunately, the series was never quite the same after the demotion of Gary Clarke.
Clarke's appearances in Season 3 were sporadic, and were nothing like his episodes in Seasons 1 and 2 as one of the big three. However, this episode focuses on Steve Hill entirely, and Clarke rises to the occasion with a great performance, likely because it was his swan song in the series.
The plot is straightforward, the authorities suspect Steve's old girlfriend Jane Carlyle (the always wonderful Ruta Lee) of providing information to notorious outlaw Jack Wade (Mark Richman), whose face has never been identified. Steve is recruited by one Marshal Cass (Don Collier) to reconnect with Carlyle in order to assist in eventually capturing Wade, but to do the job he first has to basically reverse his character completely and burn every bridge he built, most notably with the Virginian when he quits Shiloh in a staged fit of anger. Of course Steve is very uncomfortable and is reluctant to do these things, but Judge Garth (Lee J. Cobb) convinces him it's a job worth doing.
The episode is notable in that it provides a kind of closure with Gary Clarke's departure from the series, something that wasn't done a lot at that time on television. It's quite clear that Steve was not returning to Shiloh. For starters, Steve never really squares things with the Virginian after the affair, and the state of their relationship is left unsaid, an indication that their relationship was damaged permanently. In addition, as he rides away on a wagon with Judge Garth he expresses regret in doing what he had to do, and Garth doesn't say "let's go home" as he said many times in similar situations, they just ride away. Steve Hill obviously kept going, as he never returned to Shiloh Ranch over the remainder of the series' long run.
In closing I'll say this is an important episodes for Gary Clarke fans. Steve Hill was sorely missed on the series, and in later years during one of their convention appearances James Drury told Clarke wistfully he never should've left. Unfortunately it wasn't Gary Clarke's choice to make, and it's all history now.
A solid episode and a sad farewell to Steve Hill.
