This episode did not have the general interest or the usual flair that earlier episode seem to capture. It appeared that they were trying to do too much in this show and it took away from the main conflict that involved the gold bandits. Instead of Matt just going off and serving papers or to Hay City to pick up a prisoner, they made him go out and frolic with an old friend, Caleb from a 1964 episode, that had nothing to do with the story. Why they needed Denver Pyle in this show is puzzling? It was a wasteful use of time and film.
The story begins in the usual western way when a gang of bandits, led by Martin Landau, intercepts a gold shipment by army officers and steals the loot. The bandits kill off the soldiers then they realize that the gold had been mixed with other metals in anticipation of such an event. So now the bandits dress up like soldiers and ride into Dodge to melt the bar down and separate the gold.
In town the soldiers take over the blacksmith shop and advise Festus and Thad that they have special orders that cannot be revealed. This all happens when Matt is out-of-town reminiscing with Caleb about old times. But when things get even more suspicious, Thad rides out to get Matt.
When Matt arrives he is also suspicious about the army's action. When smoke rises from the blacksmith shop, Matt is determined to find out what exactly is going on. This could prove dangerous.
There was just something about this episode that just was not appealing. Perhaps if they had spent more time inside Dodge with the fake soldiers then the show may have had more interest. Since that did not happen we are left with an episode that was lacking in entertainment value. Not one of the better shows.
The story begins in the usual western way when a gang of bandits, led by Martin Landau, intercepts a gold shipment by army officers and steals the loot. The bandits kill off the soldiers then they realize that the gold had been mixed with other metals in anticipation of such an event. So now the bandits dress up like soldiers and ride into Dodge to melt the bar down and separate the gold.
In town the soldiers take over the blacksmith shop and advise Festus and Thad that they have special orders that cannot be revealed. This all happens when Matt is out-of-town reminiscing with Caleb about old times. But when things get even more suspicious, Thad rides out to get Matt.
When Matt arrives he is also suspicious about the army's action. When smoke rises from the blacksmith shop, Matt is determined to find out what exactly is going on. This could prove dangerous.
There was just something about this episode that just was not appealing. Perhaps if they had spent more time inside Dodge with the fake soldiers then the show may have had more interest. Since that did not happen we are left with an episode that was lacking in entertainment value. Not one of the better shows.