The best tv western

[deleted]

Lucas definitely knew the difference between right and wrong.... his morals could not be compromised. What better guy could you have on your side?

Best western ever.

I enjoy The Rifleman, but think it pales in comparison to Gunsmoke, not as good as Rawhide or Maverick (the Bret episodes only).

I agree that Chuck was a good actor, but I don't think this show brought out his skills as he was a rather narrowly written character, really not unlike Matt Dillon. Both had murky pasts, a period of time where they rode as gunmen. Both series had them running into old friends that rode with them who since became outlaws. The writing of Lucas is narrow in that while he was a gunslinger previously, it seemed he always wore a white hat. Dillon's character was much darker and there were episodes that hinted that his moral choices in the past weren't very clear cut.

Mark's role I think was more important to the series being good, his character provides most of the interesting dialogue in the series. The number of episodes where he's in mortal danger was way overdone.

Arness didn't have to carry his whole series as there was a wealth of interesting and entertaining characters in the early Gunsmoke episodes, even Moss Grimmick the stable owner had more depth than any of the supporting actors in Rifleman, outside of Paul Fix and the rifle itself.