User Reviews

A very mean and smug gun fighter played by Jay O. Sanders who's done many a villainous role on the big and small screen. Never was he nastier than in this particular episode of The Young Riders.

Sanders feels he was insulted by young Jimmy Hickok and responds likewise to Jos Brolin. As we know this was the old west and responses go only one way.

Sanders is arrogant, nasty, and smug. But he gives himself a big edge in these duels.

Nicely done story of what was Wild Bill Hickok's first gun battle. If not true at least a good story.

Hickok crosses paths with an urbane and menacing gunfighter (Jay O. Sanders), and may be pushed into confrontation by traumatic childhood memories.

Cast introductions continue in Episode 2 with a closer look at Hickok's motivations. Sanders enjoyed a run as a heavy during the 1990's and he is presented with some innovation as a well-dressed hired killer, relative to the general run of ragamuffins Matt Dillon confronted on "Gunsmoke." His ties to Emma's past will add still more complications. (It's hinted that she has a saloon girl past, unfortunately not developed here) Also stepping onto the stage is Texan Brent Cullen as the Sweetwater marshal; the Western formula demands one even though Sweetwater, Nebraska (an empty field in 1859) and the Oregon Trail towns generally had not near the population to support civil law enforcement. Wayne Northrop, in the midst of a quarter century run as Roman Brady on "Days of Our Lives," is a former gunfighter trying to leave his past behind to protect his son.

The show's nature - large ensemble cast accompanied by substantial guest star contingents - means we will have to wait a while for character profiles to emerge. And we will also have to accept that we will see a standard Western format - town, saloon, livery stable, marshal, etc. - grafted onto a pre-Civil War setting. The approach with variations was tried before; "Wagon Train" purported to show a weekly voyage into the unknown, but the unknown served up a developed town every other episode. A more authentic production would depict the prewar Oregon Trail setting ad primarily a highway concerned with shuttling freight and emigrants from Missouri to the coast, with a few roughhewn support stations and Army posts en route. But, once again a modicum of research escapes the network screenwriters.

Hickok is portrayed as ready-made gunfighter at the start of a Pony Express career, but such actually began during a shootout over a Russell, Majors, and Waddell property bill at Rock Creek Station, Nebraska in 1861. He killed the aggressor, but also made restitution to the deceased's widow.

Just a recycling of "Gunsmoke" themes this hour; hopefully some more script innovation on the way.