I am watching "Gunsmoke" unfold in chronological order, and since the series lasted 20 years, I am sure that the series did not stay in the ditch that it is in at the current time.
So many episodes leading up to this one in season 11 have attempted comedy and fallen short. "Three Stooges" humor does not work in "Gunsmoke," and that's what the last few episodes, including this one, have tried to do.
In other reviews, I have read that the original writers and producers had retired from writing this season, and I can tell that James Arness is tiring of the role, as he is only making disjointed cameos now. He is constantly involved with off-camera action, like taking horse thieves to Hays City, or other extended leaves.
Festus is a great character, and I am fascinated watching his character evolve, but I am sick of all the other Hagens who are inflicted on us. These relatives reminded me a lot of the Darling Family or Ernest T. Bass on "The Andy Griffith Show," though such things worked there.
The low point of this episode has become the low point of the entire series, I think. When Matt shows up, sitting behind Festus on his mule, Matt's feet nearly dragging the ground, I wonder how Arness even let this picture get to the silver screen. He looked ridiculous! That said, I know the series learned how to work around Arness' frequent absences and his declining involvement in the show, and they must have gotten better writers, because I remember some color episodes that were real classics.
But this one was silly, ridiculous, and insulting to the true fan of the "Gunsmoke" legacy. I think these transitional writers must have moved on, maybe to work on "My Mother the Car" or "Gilligan's Island." If they had stayed, "Gunsmoke" would never have reached 20 seasons.
If you skip this episode, and about three or four before it, you will miss nothing important. Be warned.