Best 'Gunsmoke' episodes

- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- Director: Harry Harris

In this Season 8 episode, Matt fulfills a man's dying request to retrieve his daughter, who unexpectedly turns out to be older—and far wilder—than he anticipated. Viewers repeatedly pointed to guest star Mariette Hartley's "fantastic performance" and "constant interplay" with the main character as an episode highlight. Hartley would later go on to guest star in well-known shows, including "The Incredible Hulk" and "Grey's Anatomy." Reminiscing her guest appearance on "Gunsmoke" decades later, she said, "'Cotter's Girl' was my very first television show, written by the great Kathleen Hite. It was Pygmalion! I just loved it."

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Gunnar Hellström

Both halves of this two-part Season 20 episode—some of the last of the entire series—ranked among viewers' favorites. The first finds Matt and Festus in a lone desert town, tailing an escaped convict who manages to attack and strand Festus for dead. Viewers appreciated the vivid scenery and scriptwriting behind this cliffhanger, applauding the "impressive locations and bravura performances" and "the fine acting and the way each line is delivered by the actors."

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Harry Harris

Viewers praised this Season 11 episode as a "taut thriller" filled with "surprising twists." In it, a bounty hunter tracks down the man who killed his client's son—not knowing all charges have already been dropped. The episode marked the eighth and final guest appearance from "Gunsmoke"-favorite Wright King, who would become well-known for his frequent roles on "The Twilight Zone" and in the 1951 film adaptation of "A Streetcar Named Desire."

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

In this Season 8 episode, the half-white, half-Native American character Quint tries to prove that white renegades—not Native Americans—were responsible for a string of recent raids, embroiling himself in a dangerous predicament. Season 8 marked Quint's first appearance and a breakout role for later Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds.

Viewers praised Reynold's "tough and brave" performance and his "impressive stunt work" in this episode. Reynolds went on to appear in 50 "Gunsmoke" episodes, becoming a fan favorite with more star power than his role allowed, with producer Norman Macdonnell recalling, "Innately, he's a leading man, which creates something of a problem for us. We can't use him as such."

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Christian Nyby

This Season 5 episode saw the story of a farmer unwilling to let Matt pursue a father-and-son pair harassing him for his land. According to viewers, it was the surprise ending that made it so memorable, with one commenting, "This is one of those shows that you want to watch a second time since you missed the clues (at first)."

Critics also praised the episode's examination of the true role and power of law enforcement on the Western frontier, with Screen Rant critics noting it "showed that the show could subtly ask political questions without drawing any negative attention from censors."

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

Season 9's "Once a Haggen" passes the spotlight to Matt's deputy, Festus, as he attempts to prove his friend Bucko's innocence after Bucko is falsely accused of murder and sentenced to death by hanging. Audiences loved the suspenseful plotline, praising the "lots of edge-of-the-seat tension" and "plenty of surprises—especially as the episode is gathering momentum to the end."

The episode also contained a memorable one-liner: Festus, after freeing his hands from the mob's rope, says, "I've got my hands loose," to which Bucko replies, "Good. You can wave goodbye to them."

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Vincent McEveety

This Season 14 episode sees Matt pursuing a gang to a small Mexican village, where he meets and befriends a young boy named Paco, who thinks of outlaws—not law enforcement—as authority figures.

Manuel Padilla Jr.'s performance as Paco stood out most to viewers, one of whom remarked: "There is really nothing else to make a movie or a television episode more special than for a child actor to give an outstanding performance, one that makes you forget he's acting. That is exactly what Manuel Padilla did in this episode."

Padilla Jr. later scored roles in landmark films such as "Scarface" and "American Graffiti."

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Vincent McEveety

The first half of this Season 11 two-parter tells the story of the Jim Stark gang, who arrives in Dodge City and attempts to get rid of Matt to clear the way for their planned bank robbery.

Viewers described the show as action-packed and "almost as good as a solid, 1950s Western movie that had been in theatrical release," complete with riveting music and guest stars. Among these stars included John Anderson, a character actor who later appeared in "Psycho" and "The Twilight Zone"; Gary Lockwood, who became a science fiction legend on "Star Trek" and in "2001: A Space Odyssey"; and Richard Jaeckel, a recognizable "tough guy" character actor who later appeared in "The Dirty Dozen" and on "Baywatch."

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Mark Rydell

In this Season 12 episode, a hitman hired to kill Matt fails to complete his job when he gets caught up in an unexpected romance with a woman of Asian descent, which his employers object to. Multiple viewers credited the episode's two guest stars—Darren McGavin as Joe Bascome, the hired gunslinger, and France Nuyen as Ching Lee, his love interest—as a main highlight.

One viewer described "Gunfighter, R.I.P." as a "tour de force by a pair of guest stars," while another said the guest stars were so good they didn't miss the regular cast. This episode marked the end of a three-episode run for McGavin, who would later be known for his starring role on "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" and in "A Christmas Story." Nguyen would become famous for her appearances in "South Pacific" and "The Joy Luck Club."

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Robert Butler

Midway through Season 14, Matt faces off with "notorious killer" Mannon, who arrives in Dodge and begins harassing the town's residents. Audiences loved guest star Steve Forrest's Mannon, with one observing, "Steve Forrest plays the villain so well that you're trying to reach into the screen to strangle him." The episode sets up Forrest's appearance well, with Festus memorably remarking of him, "You want to talk about a fast gun hand? If you was to take a snake's tongue's grease it and tie it to a bolt of lightning you couldn't get nothing as fast as his gun hand!"

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Mark Rydell

This Season 10 episode was both a fan and critic favorite. The episode finds Matt framed for murder and encountering a sergeant whose personal views of him get in the way of justice. Screen Rant critics praised the plot's deeper "questions about capital punishment and whether or not there is any truth to the idea of law and order."

Viewers enjoyed the episode's theatrical quality and surprising plotline. One described it as "an episode that seems like a real epic, packed into 50 minutes"; another noted its "great unforeseeable developments along the journey."

- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Director: Vincent McEveety

In this high-intensity episode from Season 12, Matt encounters Etta Stone, an older woman who plans to hang him in her front yard as retaliation for his role in her husband's execution years earlier. The enduring popularity of "The Jailer" is undoubtedly due to Etta being played by Bette Davis, who was already a living legend when she appeared on "Gunsmoke." Of Davis' performance, leading star James Arness said: "She was dynamite, of course. No question about that."

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Director: Gunnar Hellström

This Season 20 episode picks up where its part-one counterpart left off, with Festus stranded in the desert. During the second half, Festus is rescued by crazed hermit Ben Snow, who teams up with him to deliver Ben's long-hidden gold across the desert.

Audiences noted tension, cliffhangers, and twist as enjoyable elements of the episode, as well as Western character actor Strother Martin's standout performance as Ben Snow. One viewer stated: "Strother Martin … here embodies the role of a desperate and lonely man with PTSD … Adding up to a thoughtful, empathetically human and tense adventure in the [Badlands]."

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Director: Marc Daniels

In Season 11's "Wishbone," Festus attempts to use a wishbone from a dead chicken to salvage a snake-bitten Doc. Viewers enjoyed the chance to examine the relationship between Festus and Doc, which hadn't been explored until then.

One viewer noted: "This episode turned out to be a heartwarming and at times humorous tale of the relationship (between) Festus and Doc: a relationship that we all knew was present but is hardly ever talked about in the series." Another wrote, "What makes the episode so exceptional is the relationship between the two men."

The episode also marked the television debut of Lyle Waggoner, who became the acclaimed announcer of "The Carol Burnett Show."

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

Midway through Season 10 came the story of a local man who allows townspeople to mistake him for a hero who took down a band of robbers—then comes to regret it when his "skills" are called upon again. Viewers loved the episode's deep ethical questions, surprise ending, and tragic twist, with one calling the finale "inspirational and the outcome is tragic." The episode contains a memorable quote from Matt, who looks upon a fallen antihero and says, "When a man puts out his arm to help, he doesn't know how long it will extend."

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

The Season 8 finale depicts Matt hitting the road to prevent an innocent man's hanging. Viewers enjoyed the plotline's "full plate of adventure" and "twists and turns." The final scene also contained one of the series' most iconic lines: "The law says this has to be, and I understand. Wearing that badge ain't the easiest, but it's the right man wearing it."

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Director: Bernard McEveety

"Gunsmoke" challenged the status quo in this Season 16 episode, which showed the arrival of the first woman doctor in Dodge City working alongside veteran Doc. According to audiences, the interplay between Vera Miles (guest starring as Dr. Sam McTavish) and Milburn Stone's Doc made this episode shine. By the time she arrived on set for "Gunsmoke," former Miss America runner-up Miles was already known as an almost-Hitchcock darling, with parts in "Psycho" and "The Wrong Man."

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Director: Bernard McEveety

The titular "widowmaker" in this Season 19 episode refers to the character Scott Coltrane, who arrives in Dodge City and struggles to leave his reputation in the past. Audiences thoroughly enjoyed what they described as a "classic Western plotline with a twist," noting its robust dialogue and acting combined with an "ending … as unpredictable as a Twilight Zone episode" kept them engaged.

Coltrane's frequent standoffs with gunslingers led to many great lines, including his exchange with Kid Charma: "My name's Coltrane. Do you want something from me?" Coltrane says, to which Charma retorts, "Nothing I can't take by myself."

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

This Season 9 episode introduced Festus Haggen, Matt's deputy marshall, as a series regular. During the episode, the wolfer Haggen is hired to hunt down the wolves killing cattle in and around Dodge City. Haggen's new place as a central character was indicated during the final scene, during which Matt asks, "Festus, you'll be coming back, won't you?" to which Haggen replies, "Well, I reckon I will one of these days. Fact is, you can pretty near count on it, marshall."

Screen Rant loved the episode for examining the fickleness of loyalty and truth amongst law enforcement in the Wild West.

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Director: John Rich

Season 3 contained one of the darkest episodes "Gunsmoke" would air, wherein Matt is snowbound in a cabin with two men who have enslaved a young woman after murdering her father. Notably, one of the psychopaths, Alvy, is played by Harry Dean Stanton, who later became a recognizable character actor in "Alien," "The Godfather II," "Repo Man," and "Pretty in Pink." As Screen Rant noted, "Clever writing keeps the tension high throughout. Though Western tropes often glorify the Old West, 'The Cabin' reminded viewers that it could also be a dark and sinister place."

- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

During this Season 7 episode, Matt agrees to accompany a tempestuous young woman to an Army outpost to meet up with her fiance. Viewers were struck by the emotional journey between Matt and guest star Barbara Lord, who played the character Sarah Drew. One noted, "The entire emotional journey of the show—from Sara Drew's first entrance to the final, emotionally restrained and eloquent scene, is perfectly paced and shaped."

Another watcher stated: "[Barbara] Lord was passionately moving from beginning to the end. This episode was scripted to express the reality of the old west and all that life can bring."

- IMDb user rating: 8.9
- Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

This Season 8 episode didn't shy away from examining big questions in telling the tale of a spoiled rancher's son who thinks his wealth will buy him out from being hanged for his crimes. Screen Rant appreciated that the story is "subtly political and asks tough questions about the power of justice and whether it really is fair for all." It ends with a simple yet chilling line, giving the episode its title: "At least he died with a smile."

- IMDb user rating: 8.9
- Director: Vincent McEveety

The Season 11 premiere shows Matt taking a severe beating from an invading gang, leaving Festus and Doc to devise a trap for them. Viewers were in awe of the main character's trademark Western toughness in this episode, with one remarking that he appeared "superhuman" and another describing him as "the definition of tough." Film legend John Drew Barrymore (father of actor Drew Barrymore) guest-starred as gang leader Mace Gore.

- IMDb user rating: 9
- Director: Harry Harris

This Season 9 episode told the poignant story of struggling farmer Caleb, who attempts to infuse meaning in his life by participating in a duel. The central role was played by John Dehner, already a well-known voice of radio Westerns, including "Have Gun – Will Travel" and "Frontier Gentleman."

Audiences agreed that Dehner's performance cemented an already moving tale, describing the episode as "John Dehner's finest hour of his acting career" and calling Caleb's story "profound." The episode contained emotional one-liners, including "A real man makes his dying count for something" and "Until pushed to it, you never know what's inside a man."

- IMDb user rating: 9.2
- Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

This Season 7 episode was most popular with viewers, depicting Matt questioning his faith in the law when his friend Pruit Dover is convicted of murder despite a lack of evidence. Watchers were shaken by the hard truths the script didn't shy away from, with one calling it a "fascinating morality tale" and stating that "at the final fade to black, I sat there literally with my mouth hanging open."

Screen Rant shared similar appraisals, saying: "'The Gallows' is rife with tragedy as Matt realizes that the law can often be too swift and harsh to judge people. Matt, and therefore the audience, is left to question their own ideas about law and whether or not it really is possible to have justice."

Data reporting by Luke Hicks. Story editing by Jeffrey Smith. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.