Great potential is wasted here as this story idea was too big for one half-hour episode.
A band of Apaches raid Lucas's ranch, kidnap Mark and leave Lucas for dead. Of course, he isn't dead, just knocked unconscious---the Indians' first big mistake. The second was taking the Rifleman's son.
Marshal Torrance teams up with the "tame Apache" marshal (who we've seen before, long hair and all) and along with a few somewhat reluctant townspeople they go in pursuit of the Apache band, whose leader apparently lost his own son a couple of months before and chose Mark as his replacement because he's the son of a man known to be brave. Did I mention this was a mistake? Bandaged head and all, Lucas insists on going along. It's his son, after all. After a day of trailing, a couple of the townsfolk start raising objections---reasonable ones like Mark is already dead, they got their own kids and families to consider, etc. They get pressured into continuing by Lucas & Micah until finally a few of the Apaches ambush the white men, killing one of the "disposable" family guys. Lucas & Co. run off the rest of the Indians and then bury the poor sap right there along the trail. At this point the remaining townspeople have had enough and they turn tail, saying that the death of "Most Unlucky Townsman #23" was a big waste.
At this point, I'd be inclined to agree since this posse is not operating very intelligently. They're blundering after a band of wilderness-savvy Apaches, making lots of noise, especially with the weary, injured Rifleman falling off his horse time after time. Well, now they're down to three (injured Lucas, elderly Micah and the presumably still sharp "tame Apache" lawman) and the Apache good guy finally talks the others into staying in camp while he attempts to scout ahead for Mark's kidnappers. Lucas agrees so he heads off and then Lucas changes his mind and decides to follow along. Good thing because this "tame Apache" (his term not mine) has evidently lost all his stealthy tracking skills since his strategy appears to consist of CHARGING INTO THE ENEMY CAMP and getting himself knocked out, and then tied up as a captive. Lucas follows along shortly and literally blunders into the camp. What saves the day is that all the renegades stand right up with the campfire providing nice visual definition and Lucas is able to pick them off one by one with his ever-helpful rifle.
Tame Apache is saved, Mark is saved and Lucas is the hero as usual.
It's just a weak, weak story, folks. And in terms of fighting strategy it's pitifully bad. If this story had taken place in a TV show called "The Apache" and allowed the eponymous hero 50% of the luck of the Rifleman, his band of Apaches would have ambushed and wiped out the cowboy posse in the first encounter and 10 years later Mark McCain would be known as the great Apache chief "Son of Man with Fancy Rifle."
Not every episode can be great but this is still one my all-time favorite western shows.
A band of Apaches raid Lucas's ranch, kidnap Mark and leave Lucas for dead. Of course, he isn't dead, just knocked unconscious---the Indians' first big mistake. The second was taking the Rifleman's son.
Marshal Torrance teams up with the "tame Apache" marshal (who we've seen before, long hair and all) and along with a few somewhat reluctant townspeople they go in pursuit of the Apache band, whose leader apparently lost his own son a couple of months before and chose Mark as his replacement because he's the son of a man known to be brave. Did I mention this was a mistake? Bandaged head and all, Lucas insists on going along. It's his son, after all. After a day of trailing, a couple of the townsfolk start raising objections---reasonable ones like Mark is already dead, they got their own kids and families to consider, etc. They get pressured into continuing by Lucas & Micah until finally a few of the Apaches ambush the white men, killing one of the "disposable" family guys. Lucas & Co. run off the rest of the Indians and then bury the poor sap right there along the trail. At this point the remaining townspeople have had enough and they turn tail, saying that the death of "Most Unlucky Townsman #23" was a big waste.
At this point, I'd be inclined to agree since this posse is not operating very intelligently. They're blundering after a band of wilderness-savvy Apaches, making lots of noise, especially with the weary, injured Rifleman falling off his horse time after time. Well, now they're down to three (injured Lucas, elderly Micah and the presumably still sharp "tame Apache" lawman) and the Apache good guy finally talks the others into staying in camp while he attempts to scout ahead for Mark's kidnappers. Lucas agrees so he heads off and then Lucas changes his mind and decides to follow along. Good thing because this "tame Apache" (his term not mine) has evidently lost all his stealthy tracking skills since his strategy appears to consist of CHARGING INTO THE ENEMY CAMP and getting himself knocked out, and then tied up as a captive. Lucas follows along shortly and literally blunders into the camp. What saves the day is that all the renegades stand right up with the campfire providing nice visual definition and Lucas is able to pick them off one by one with his ever-helpful rifle.
Tame Apache is saved, Mark is saved and Lucas is the hero as usual.
It's just a weak, weak story, folks. And in terms of fighting strategy it's pitifully bad. If this story had taken place in a TV show called "The Apache" and allowed the eponymous hero 50% of the luck of the Rifleman, his band of Apaches would have ambushed and wiped out the cowboy posse in the first encounter and 10 years later Mark McCain would be known as the great Apache chief "Son of Man with Fancy Rifle."
Not every episode can be great but this is still one my all-time favorite western shows.
