As a previous reviewer has mentioned, this is a recycled plot-which in its turn was later recycled in season 4 in the episode entitled Naked Steel! I know it can't be easy thinking of new plots for 124 episodes but even so...Not a bad story, in which Jess plays the main part this time, becoming friendly with the local sheriff, who, in the thralls of a gold-digging saloon girl, ends up keeping stolen money from a bank robbery, and who comes to a bad end. What is noticeable is that it begins with Jess having apparently ridden off from the Sherman Ranch without a word, being caught up by a worried Slim and merely saying he didn't like goodbyes! Slim makes several attempts to detain/accompany Jess and is thrust away by a series of excuses. Now I know in the initial episodes, there's always the possibility that Jess will get itchy feet and take off but I'd have thought he was so well established by the fifth or sixth one that at the very least it would need a quarrel to precipitate his departure (as nearly happened in The Long Riders). And it's unthinkable even at this early stage that he'd go without warning when they were on good terms. All very odd especially as the script very quickly established a bond between him and Slim. It does underline the fact that Slim has always "done the chasing", is always the persuader to stay even though Jess supposedly is glad to have found a home. Furthermore Jess THEN accepts a job as deputy at the new town and though he's writing to Slim to tell him he won't be back yet, as far as I could tell, no time limit had been set on the job! No mention that it's only for a week or two. Not a bad story, apart from these aspects. NB already filming complete episodes with only a token appearance by either John Smith or Robert Fuller.
Reviews
78 Reviews
Wondered why they chose this plot
22 March 2024
I did wonder, on first watching this episode why they had decided on such an unusual plot. It's used, by the way, to introduce the latest addition to the Sherman Ranch, a young boy named Mike. But any amount of plot lines could have done this (though I did wonder "Why bother?" since they'd successfully got rid of the other juvenile character, Andy! Maybe it extended the possible storylines or added some variety to characters and dialogue...) I wasn't all that impressed when I first watched it some months ago. It seemed a very artificial situation throughout and maybe I missed something but I thought Mike had originally accused the Japanese family of killing his parents! Anyway..predictable plot re Jess getting romantic- struck all of a heap, it seems, God knows why-right away with one of the pretty (ish) Japanese daughters. But this time I realised why they'd done it. This episode I'm sure comes after it was realised just how popular Laramie had become in Japan and I'm sure after Robert Fuller's successful visit there! I've my own ideas why it WAS so popular in Japan but they'll keep. But I suspect this plot was deliberately included to encourage continued Japanese interest. Didn't see Jess getting romantically involved ever with anyone English though a lot of English emigrated into Wyoming! No capital in that, obviously.
A recycled plot
10 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Apart from the initial events (Slim being unreasonably accused of failing to nursemaid a rancher's son and the $3,000 from a cattle sale he lost gambling) this plot is almost identical to an earlier story- namely, previously honest sheriff besotted by a greedy saloon girl who wants nothing to do with him keeps some stolen bank money to bribe her to go away with him, is found with the money by Slim and ends up being killed....this is a rehash of an earlier episode and if that's the calibre of season 4 perhaps it's not surprising the series was cancelled. On its own( if it had been original) it wouldn't have been a bad tale though it was never explained why one villain's brother, who'd been threatening the sheriff, never reappeared. Lazy writing and not up to standard.
An attractive introduction to what would be a good series
22 February 2024
As previous reviewers have described, this sets the scene for the whole series, introducing us to the cast as it would stand for season 1. Slim and his young brother Andy, plus Jonesy the elderly friend of their father, and Jess Harper, the newcomer to the ranch who would make his home there. The main relationship, between Slim and Jess, begins with some antipathy which becomes a growing friendship during their first adventure together overcoming the bad guys. It's a rapid process (of necessity, given the 48 or so minutes it's told in) beginning with Slim first of all trying to kick Jess off his land, and later off the ranch and ending with him offering Jess a job and place to stay. The beginning of a beautiful friendship as an earlier reviewer has quoted, though the relationship wasn't without its rocky moments as the series went on. However the bond between these two very different but complementary characters proved unbreakable and it was this relationship the series was built on. I don't remember any other western of the period being structured in quite the same way. I think it was the main part of its appeal. However I did wonder why Jess initially stopped at the Sherman ranch after his prickly encounter with Slim and why Andy took such a fancy to him. And why he thought teaching a young boy how people cheated at cards would be regarded as desirable!
Strange timeline!
9 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This is quite a watchable episode, starting with a couple of insufferable brothers taunting a man into a gunfight deliberately and after he's killed , trying to do the same with Jess Harper. Jess shows enormous self restraint, given that he's a quick tempered man himself and as we'd expect, given that it's a series so he's likely to survive (!) and eventually it ends well for him. However, it seems strange that even by season 4, when presumably he's lived in the area for only 4 years, that he has a history with the father of these two brothers, in that he shot and wounded the older man, damaging his right hand, FIVE years before. I wonder if the scriptwriters ever think about the givens in a plot before creating an episode!
Unsatisfactory episode
5 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This felt like two halves of two different stories. The first half was Jack Mahoney as a Robin Hood type, taking money from the rich (in the case shown, a banker on the stagecoach ) and giving some at least of it to the poor. He also saves Jess Harper's life when the latter is attacked by Indians. However it seems strange that he then rides into Laramie on a very noticeable horse, virtually inviting arrest by the local sheriff. Jess likes the man and finds it hard to believe Slim's antipathy towards him. In fact Slim is altogether too black and white in his outlook, as shown in other episodes. After the case against this Robin Hood of the West is dismissed the story then takes a much more unpleasant direction. Slim isn't about to let things alone and deliberately conspires with the deputy sheriff to inveigle Mahoney into a card game the two of him know Mahoney will lose and is hell bent on taking him on in a fight though Jess does his best to dissuade him. The idea is to impoverish Mahoney so that he'll be tempted to steal from a poor person and thus demolish his reputation. Coincidentally the people he selects are the poor ranchers he helped during the stagecoach robbery and worse still he's about to kill both of them when Slim and Jess (who've amazingly managed to track him to this very ranch!) turn up and save the day, shooting Mahoney in the process. Jess meanwhile having gone through a complete volte face in his opinion of his erstwhile friend. Not only is this one of the most unlikely plots I've ever seen, not one of the main characters comes out of it with distinction. Mahoney changes from good guy to villain in the twinkling of an eye, Slim Sherman shows himself to be, not for the first time, an inflexible stuffed shirt and troublemaker and Jess Harper's loyalty changes quicker than the eye can see from admiring Mahoney to hunting him down. Not particularly enjoyable.
A reminder of grim reality
25 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This episode Is a well written mix of sentiment, courage and the realities of life in remote ranches away from the protection of even a small town. Assorted travellers are trapped at the Sherman ranch by a large and threatening group of Indians (though I hadn't realised till I read the first review that the gold in question had been stolen from them! Is this true?) This stuff isn't sugar coated as it would be in say, Bonanza (happy ending for all, all round)-which is one of the things I like about Laramie. One of the travellers bravely offers to try to get to Laramie to get help and is brutally killed by their attackers, another (the the gunrunner) gives his own life to save the others, redeeming in part his crime of selling guns to the Indians. My heartstrings aren't tugged much by little orphans but the little boy in question played his part of a traumatised child very well and his was a happy ending, being adopted by the grieving widow. Life was hard and could be dangerous in the newly settled West and Laramie pulls no punches in bringing this home.
Good episode with a few inconsistencies
24 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Good action packed episode with a satisfying villain in the bounty hunter making his trade official by becoming a marshal. R. G. Armstrong comes across as a sadistic and unpleasant piece of work, arresting Jess on fake evidence and forcing him to accompany him to a Colorado town where, even if he survives the journey, a local and powerful family intend to see he is lynched. Slim manages to get himself deputised but sticks to his promise upon receiving his badge that he'll do nothing to help Jess get free, even suggesting Jess is handcuffed to a tree overnight where they make camp, adding to the chained up Jess "Get some sleep." ! This would have got a higher rating if not for this point, and the fact that Jess after his escape attempt on a horse bareback, seems to be obliged to continue bareback even though I'm pretty sure all three horses had saddles to start with! (Also nobody ties a horse up for the night with its own bridle.)Robert Fuller again displays some good riding skills in this one. Finally, we have the bad marshal seeing the error of his ways, especially when our two heroes save him from a quicksand, and become a good guy fighting the lynch mob on their side. Cruel psychopaths don't change.
Generally a good story
13 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This was indeed generally a good story, even including a romance for Jess, with a woman resurfacing from his past. Presumably he was still infatuated as he agreed to take her to Mexico almost at the drop of a hat and furthermore taking hardly any supplies with them. This manipulating woman is a cold hearted user though and when Jess found out she'd shot her husband , though not fatally, the scales fall from his eyes. Even more so when he realises she has also stolen $60,000 from their marital home. When he tries to take her back home she shoots him too and rides off with the cash. A satisfactory ending, their 3 unpleasant pursuers end up killed, the husband and his "friend" appear, having also been in pursuit. The husband realises what sort of a woman he's married and casts her off and Slim( who has ALSO followed the couple) and Jess return home. The main thing that puzzled me is how they got to Mexico from Laramie after only 4 days ride when the distance to travel by horseback is nearly 1800 miles. It's physically impossible.
Too many obnoxious characters
1 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This would have got a higher marking if not for the above. Beginning with the young married couple, he's a totally irresponsible clown who thinks only of his own pleasure (which consists of hunting down animals), she's a silly fool who sticks with him even when he turns from irresponsible to downright criminal when he's determined to steal someone else's gold dust and is quite prepared to see his old friend Jess walk for a couple of days without horse or gun to get home. She's supposed to be Jess' friend as well but weakly complies, allowing him to be treated in this distinctly hostile way. Then we have Hale's character, completely unscrupulous, ready to kill anyone standing in the way of him thieving the gold dust, even his own partners. All three are pretty unattractive but only Hale gets his comeuppance. The married couple make peace with Jess only because their own plans are foiled and lo and behold, all's well that ends well! They're presented with a load of new equipment by Jess and Slim as a reward for their unpleasant behaviour. If I'd have been Jess, I'd have had a long memory regarding this "mountain man" and his stupid wife.
Passable episode
31 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Not a bad story except that I really don't think Slim and Jess would be stupid enough to venture outside in the dark (when they were expecting the ranch house to be attacked by villains,) not only alone (Slim) armed with only a rifle , when I'd say a handgun would be more use but after a warning shout from his friend, Jess also goes out armed with only a rifle! Both are captured, not surprisingly, after these stupid responses. Then to top it all , we're expected to believe that Mike, the kid, asleep in a cupboard, takes ages to wake up and even when he sees Slim , Jess and Daisy all tied up, asks if breakfast isn't ready! That child was always a thorough irritation, not helped by silly scenes like this. Oh and did Revue Studios only have one female actress on the payroll? Jacqueline Scott was at least three people in this series!
Not one of my favourites
10 October 2023
A fairly mediocre story, I thought. I'm not a big fan of Julie London (though her version of Cry Me A River is very good) and I suspect this is one of the very many examples of someone being chosen for a part via who they know. She'd been a "friend" of Robert Fuller's since 1955 I believe and it'd be no coincidence she was given the part (which in actuality, any pretty and competent actress could've tackled). Similarly, Robert Fuller was given one of the main roles in Emergency, starring (you've guessed it) Julie London and her husband, Bobby Troup, the show being produced by London's ex husband , Jack Webb. These people seem to belong in such closed and tight-knit groups, it amazes me how any newcomer ever gets a look-in, such is the level of nepotism. Ordinary, and I wouldn't rewatch it.
Mixed feelings about this one!
9 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I found it almost impossible to believe that Slim would not only fall for the unlikely story spun by the so-called professor, but that he'd drop everything and set off instantly with him into the wilds, leaving a note for Jess which even lied about where he'd gone! Totally and utterly out of character. Slim's a cautious type and the last person to act like this. He's not an impulsive fool, nor is he money-mad. The two rustics provided a little comedy eventually but were malicious mischiefmakers to start with and I was sorry they didn't get more of a comeuppance. It was also hard to believe Slim survived that crashing fall with only a broken arm. A little dramatic licence, I think! On the plus side, it was good to see Jess ride to the rescue (though amazing how tracks can be so easily followed..) and his concern and care for Slim. I did feel for his poor horse with (as often happened) it was lumbered with a double weight! All in all, watchable as long as disbelief is somewhat suspended!
A change of scene (and weather)
22 September 2023
Fairly interesting episode, adequately described by other reviewers. An unusual feature is that none of the action takes place at the ranch or in its environs- we see Slim and Jess battening down the hatches before leaving to take up temporary jobs as guides for the army. Meanwhile Andy and Jonesy are heading off to Laramie to wait out the bad weather. Which did make me wonder where the livestock were! Horses, a cow, goats, chickens, cat, Andy's waifs and strays..... it never specified who'd be caring for any of them!! This programme does like to cover practical points as a rule. The plot is mainly centred upon Slim's activities, including his fatal attraction for the white woman turned Indian sympathiser. Naturally like all the romances, this understandably went nowhere. A golden rule which still holds good today is that heroes remain steadfastly single! I didn't mind the fake snow (but would horses be left tied up outside in it?) and the avalanche looked real enough, probably from stock footage. Watchable though not much interaction between our main characters.
An unusual plot
21 September 2023
Not immediately appealing, perhaps, with its plot about a mentally ill (and pretty dangerous character) but when I watched it for a second time, small but interesting details caught my eye. Jess is still the bad boy, smoking as he has his umpteenth coffee. Slim comments that if he charged Jess for all his coffee, he'd have no wages to pick up! And also their burgeoning friendship takes a little knock when Slim tries to make Jess confide his history with this strange character and the reason he's leaving with him. Jess promptly tells him to mind his own business. It's clear Jess isn't prepared to be open with Slim yet, who's demanding confidences a little early, probably because he still has (and will continue to have) a fear Jess will return to his wandering ways. They do exchange a slight meaningful look though as Jess leaves, which can be interpreted as a silent promise he'll come back. This whole series is built round their strong and complementary relationship, which makes the many episodes where only one is featured feel like they're slightly lacking. Good early start though. I was a fan from the outset.
One of my absolute favourites
6 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Excellent story involving a new deputy being installed in Laramie. It turns out that there's old history between Jess and this man as he was in charge of a prison where Jess was incarcerated during the war, and apparently had been a cruel man who treated the prisoners appallingly. Jess had always been determined to revenge himself on this man though Slim tries his best to restrain him. Good scene in the bar when Jess tries to provoke the deputy into a gunfight but fails, knowing he couldn't shoot the man in the back. Slim takes him outside and Jess says he'll try again. Slim warns him if he does, he'll be in big trouble. There's a touching little moment (which I remember from decades ago) when Jess replies "With you?" and Slim answers yes and with any law abiding people. Slim thus sets himself on the side of law and order and thus in opposition to his close friend. The bond between these two is a strong thread going throughout this series and this is a momentous moment in a way, as it shows Slim's loyalty isn't to be depended on. Jess has second thoughts but is dragged further into the revenge plot by the arrival of three more ex prisoners, who have also vowed to kill the man who treated them badly. An exciting and different story and one of the absolute best.
The only glimpse we get of Jess's family
30 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
While Jess is once again standing in as deputy, he meets up with the sister he thought was dead, though the encounter is traumatic in that she wants to bury her late husband in the town cemetery, against the wishes of the townspeople, as he's known as a criminal. Jess of course says he'll defend her decision but there's a lot more to it than that. The truth is that her husband isn't dead, merely hiding out, wounded, but she's trying to throw some would-be assassins off the scent by burying a coffin and having a headstone for him. The three of them turn up in Laramie and try to force Jess to tell them where the "body" is to be buried as they aren't convinced he's dead. Jess puts up with a lot of hassle from them and is roughed up quite nastily and eventually not only are the townspeople behind him but his brother in law also turns up and the bad guys are defeated. Also said brother in law has served his sentence and is no longer a wanted man so he and Jess's sister can start afresh further west. Plenty action, a quite unusual plot and a glimpse of Jess as a caring brother makes this one worth watching.
Disappointing
27 August 2023
This is the first time I've watched Wagon Train for decades and the first time I've seen Robert Fuller in it. I was expecting a far more engaging plot after seeing a description of it and being a big fan of Laramie. However I struggled to stay interested. There was a flatness about the whole thing and none of the characters, including Fuller's felt like they had any reality. Whether this was the unlikely plot , the poor direction or merely actors going through the motions, I don't know. Modern hairstyles and obvious make up didn't help. There WAS a very passionate kiss (but even that was faked, as "Coop" confessed later,) and a good fight scene, but these did not rescue this episode. In Laramie, Robert Fuller's character was very different, dynamic, engaging, charismatic and he had a believable bond with the other lead. These elements were missing here and it resulted in a dull and pedestrian story. If the rest of season 7 and 8 are like this, I won't be buying the dvds.
Pretty good episode
23 August 2023
The best element of this very watchable episode is the tension engendered in the Sherman ranch household caused by the rescue/arrival/employment of Dan Duryea's character. Especially when it comes to light that his background is one of a gunslinger. Furthermore one who knows a suspicious amount of detail about an incident in Slim's past, the participants of which are systematically being killed off. Jess mistrusts him and his motive for being there at the outset, whereas honourable Slim can only see that he's a good ranch hand and feels Jess is being unreasonable in his hostility. Andy too is taken in by this affable stranger. This leads to such a tense situation that Jess is ready to leave and worse still, that Slim is ready to let him. There's much acrimonious dialogue between these erstwhile close friends regarding the stranger and it makes for good viewing. I recommend it.
One of the best episodes
19 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
We don't see much of Slim here as he's lying injured out in open country somewhere after being shot while following a gang of outlaws. But we do see Jess' increasingly desperate efforts to get the sheriff to take him seriously regarding the need to locate Slim and bring him home in worsening winter weather. It seems the only way to do this is to persuade the bad guy to give up his location by any means to hand and Jess is fully prepared to be as violent as required until he's restrained by the sheriff. The prisoner however refuses to play ball until he's released which the sheriff also won't consider. But Jess manages to persuade the sheriff to give him access (unarmed) to the prisoner and he tries every way he can to get the information he needs without success, till eventually Jess is obliged to forcibly take the keys and let his adversary out. Even then it needs a bit of strong arm stuff to squeeze the info out of him. Sufficient to say, he finds Slim in time and manages to bring him home, dealing successfully with the gang later. Well done Daisy, using her training to remove the bullet from Slim (as usual from the shoulder, conveniently). It's a good episode and unpredictable to some extent, with a particularly nasty piece of work as the baddie. However I was a little disappointed that Slim's rescue wasn't accompanied by a more emotional reaction from the rest of his "family", especially Jess, who after some practical help for Daisy during the bullet retrieval, showed no signs of emotion, affection, relief etc but merely set off in pursuit of his adversary albeit necessarily quickly enough to avoid pursuit. A bit of an anti-climax in that respect I thought.
Not bad but as usual features only one lead...
18 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This wasn't a bad story but it was hard to believe Jess would be stupid enough to have anything to do with this old acquaintance. Any town with a sheriff like that one should equally be departed from as soon as possible. I was surprised he'd been able to wire Daisy for help but it was thanks to her ingenuity and a bad guy's girlfriend that Jess escaped. I didn't see any trial featured where he was found guilty of anything by the way, despite being sentenced to hang! HOWEVER..! The habit of using one of the main leads while the other is absent (completely so, in this episode.. Slim is "on a hunting trip with Andy" apparently- so God knows who's attending to the stage) reduces the effect and the enjoyment, a lot of which lies in the interaction between Slim and Jess. I found it hard to believe the claim of Mr. Fuller in interviews when he said they both worked 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. John Smith must've had the full week off in this one. As another reviewer said, once a series becomes successful , they always start using this ploy of writing an episode round only one lead. Maybe it was handier to arrange having just one star involved per week. Daisy as a character is also used increasingly as time goes on, and while it's "cute", she's not who we're watching to see. If it had gone to a 5th series I expect Mike ( a kid I never took to) would be carrying an episode as well. Significantly, Laramie didn't go to a fifth one, though westerns hadn't quite gone out of fashion.
Good, albeit with some inconsistencies
13 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A fast moving episode with one very memorable scene, which is the mock execution! Full marks to our two heroes for not begging for their lives first when dealing with a true psychopath. They exchange a quick glance of mutual support and that's all. No tears shed when that one gets a well deserved comeuppance. This is of course season 1 when killings were more commonplace numerically, presumably. I did wonder about one or two things though. When Slim is sent to collect the dancer at the saloon bar, he seems far more relaxed than you'd think he would be, given his mission and that he'd left Jess in the hands of a known killer. Smiling and joking in the bar, stopping for, of all things , a drink of water at a convenient stream/lake or whatever it was, an air of flirtation in his dealings with said dancer....not as much sense of urgency as one might think. Also....no plan B when they were attempting to protect "Lita" from having to join up with said psychopath and were obviously outnumbered, plus the threat of the property being burned down. (NB fortunate that they kept guns in the barn though I'd have thought it wasn't a safe place). Luckily the bold Lita saved the day by killing the bad guy herself!
Very watchable episode
8 August 2023
The most interesting aspect of this episode was how Slim was adamant that his friendship with and support of Jess came before any instruction from any representative of the stage line. This was a brave stance to take, given that the ranch sometimes passed through some precarious times financially and that a regular income from the stage company was therefore pretty important. Plenty action, plenty villains and even a couple of heroes keep the viewer's interest but to me the whole series revolved round the developing friendship and bond between the two main characters. It wasn't put into words often but this is one of the occasions.
A more realistic view of ranching/stage stop life
8 August 2023
Interesting to see a more real life view of the Sherman ranch, with financial hardship and stock problems, lack of business, bad weather etc. Also gives us a rare glimpse of Jess actually smoking, so stressed and argumentative he and Slim are over what to do. The plot itself is a bit complicated but interesting. After quite a few twists and turns, during which time Jess' eyes are opened to the real character of the man he'd admired (mind you I didn't think the original shooting the episode began with was anything to admire) the villain gets his comeuppance eventually. I suspect they used stock footage of the herd being driven, but nothing lost by that. All in all, a good episode with plenty action.
A dark and disturbing episode indeed
5 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the best episodes I've watched so far. Very adult in content (which is a pleasant change from the frequent family-friendly fluff) and the two leads cope well with this change. Kangaroo courts and lynchings of innocent men I'm sure were not unknown in relatively lawless times and the plot is quite believable. Plenty action, plenty violence and Jess and Slim don't overcome all the odds, with an innocent man murdered despite everything they do, and not all the perpetrators getting real punishment even at the end. The judge's suicide is a satisfying outcome, though probably slightly unrealistic. We also had Jess intending to leave the ranch even at the end, needing Slim to coax him back. The bond between them is already there. Well written and acted.
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