"Drago" has all the things that make for a great "Gunsmoke" episode -- irredeemably vicious bad guys, an innocent woman shot down in cold blood, a crabby/crusty old man out for revenge, a chase, great guest stars, and terrific on-location photography.
So why am I giving it only 7, rather than the 9 it "ought" to have? Because it's icky. The plump, round-faced little kid (Mitchell Silberman) seems to have been cast to evoke the maximum sentimental response, rather than for acting ability.
At the end, we are "treated" to a scene of Buddy Ebsen hugging the little bugger, calling him "son", and promising to help him grow up. The kid apparently has little appeal for animals (even though he has the name of something edible (Ruben)), because when Ebsen instructs Hound to "make nice" with the boy, it's obvious the dog is paying most of its attention to its handler. The boy might just as well be a rock.
This disgusting sentimentality is unfortunate, because the story plays out much like a clever inversion of the shopworn "someone wants to kill Matt Dillon" plot. Indeed, it strongly resembles the classic "Matt Dillon Must Die!" episode of two seasons later.
If you wish Kevin Corcoran had never grown up, you might enjoy this episode. Otherwise, it's recommendable only for the presence of Buddy Ebsen and Ben Johnson.
Mr Skyklutz... As for Buck Taylor's glutei maximi, they are certainly fine. But they can't hold a candle to those of the late Matt Mattox, who played Caleb in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". (Pay attention to the scene where they ride off to town in the wagon.) Buck Taylor had the good fortune to become better-looking with age, and is now a rat-handsome geezer.
* Do I have to explain that? I hope not.