This relatively early episode was strange, because it depicts Dillon, shortly after killing three men in self-defense, in psychological torment, reflecting on all the men he's killed over the years. It actually causes him to resign.
Perhaps the strangest thing is the ending. Chester convinces Dillon to put his gun belt on again because Chester admits he's not up to the task and only Dillon can face the gunfighter. But after Dillon rearms himself, we just see him ride off to face the gunfighter; we never actually see how the action is resolved.
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Reply by Tresix
on September 14, 2018 at 1:32 PM
Well, since Matt was still alive, there could be only one of two results:
Unless someone else in town took care of him before Matt and Chester got back to town.
Reply by Moondoggie
on September 15, 2018 at 5:19 PM
The point is that this is perhaps the only episode that does not explicitly resolve the situation clearly. I wonder if they received criticism for that, and never did it again. (I.e., the production code tends to require clear justice for the criminal.)
Reply by Tresix
on September 16, 2018 at 2:38 PM
Maybe they just felt there was no need to show the results this one time. Since the series kept going with Dillon as the main character, we know the gunman has been dealt with in some way. Fatally or not.
Reply by PT 100
on January 27, 2021 at 3:58 AM
**** WARNING: SPOILERS ****
Later on there was another episode (season 4, episode 26, "The Coward") in which Matt is feeling jumpy, which causes him to accidentally shoot and kill an innocent man. At first I was puzzled that this episode survived the production code guys. But I guess there was some sort of justice because the meddler that caused Dillon to get jumpy was forced to wander the West for the rest of his life w/the label of "coward" on him for twice attempting to goad someone else into trying to kill Dillon instead of doing it himself.
It still bothered me because, after all, Dillon did kill a completely innocent man and suffered no legal consequences at all. It just seemed strange and troubling that there wasn't even an inquest.
Reply by Moondoggie
on January 29, 2021 at 4:29 AM
Now that you mention it, I do recall this episode, and it was unsettling to me also. There were several where the plot resolution seemed unsatisfying, but this one had perhaps the weirdest outcome.