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The Best Episodes of Gunsmoke

Every episode of Gunsmoke ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Gunsmoke!

The Best Episodes of Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and...
  1. Background image for The Gallows
    9.2/10(445 votes)

    #1 - The Gallows

    S7:E22

    While returning suspected killer Pruit Dover to Dodge to stand trial, Matt is shot and badly wounded, and yet Dover stays with him and nurses him back to health.

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  2. Background image for Caleb
    9.0/10(338 votes)

    #2 - Caleb

    S9:E26

    Caleb Marr comes to Dodge in search of a meaningful life after finally acknowledging his failure at farming.

    Director:Harry Harris
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  3. Background image for With a Smile
    8.9/10(355 votes)

    #3 - With a Smile

    S8:E29

    A rancher's spoiled son believes even after he is convicted of murder that his father's wealth and influence will save him from the hangman.

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  4. Background image for Seven Hours to Dawn
    8.9/10(346 votes)

    #4 - Seven Hours to Dawn

    S11:E1

    Mace Gore's gang has taken over Dodge. When Matt is believed killed, Festus and Doc have a plan to lure Gore into a trap, even though his usual plan is to leave by dawn.

    Writer:Unknown
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  5. Background image for Sam McTavish, M.D.
    8.9/10(286 votes)

    #5 - Sam McTavish, M.D.

    S16:E4

    Doc Adams feels that Sam McTavish (who is a woman Doctor) may replace him.

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  6. Background image for The Widow-Maker
    8.9/10(269 votes)

    #6 - The Widow-Maker

    S19:E5

    A gunfighter wants to forget his past... and wants everyone else to forget it too. Unfortunately for him, this is not easy to accomplish...

    Writer:Unknown
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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Gunsmoke

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  8. Background image for The Cabin
    8.8/10(343 votes)

    #7 - The Cabin

    S3:E24

    Matt get caught in a blizzard then finds shelter in a cabin but finds more than he bargained for.

    Director:John Rich
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  9. Background image for Wishbone
    8.8/10(229 votes)

    #8 - Wishbone

    S11:E22

    Festus has a habit of using the wishbone from a dead chicken for making wishes on. When he comes across Doc Adams, alone and snakebit, he uses that wish to help him, if it can. Meanwhile, Matt searches for three outlaws who held up a stage, killing the driver and guard.

    Director:Marc Daniels
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  10. Background image for Mannon
    8.8/10(312 votes)

    #9 - Mannon

    S14:E17

    Gunman Will Mannon comes to Dodge, after shooting Festus and taking his mule, to face Matt in a gunfight.

    Director:Robert Butler
    Writer:Unknown
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  11. Background image for Island in the Desert (2)
    8.8/10(199 votes)

    #10 - Island in the Desert (2)

    S20:E12

    While Matt and Newly hunt for Festus, Ben Snow and Festus attempt to haul his gold out of the desert.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  12. Background image for Where'd They Go
    8.7/10(284 votes)

    #11 - Where'd They Go

    S5:E27

    When Jonas accuses Clint Dodie of robbing his store, Matt and Chester set out in the bitter cold go to Clint's farm to make an arrest.

    Director:Jesse Hibbs
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  13. Background image for Long, Long Trail
    8.7/10(394 votes)

    #12 - Long, Long Trail

    S7:E6

    A headstrong young woman will undertake the long, dangerous journey to her fiancé's fort on her own if she must, so Matt nominates himself to escort her.

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  14. Background image for The Hunger
    8.7/10(290 votes)

    #13 - The Hunger

    S8:E10

    Matt and Doc come to the rescue of a farm wife and daughter who essentially are kept as prisoners by the farmer and his son.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown
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  15. Background image for The Renegades
    8.7/10(250 votes)

    #14 - The Renegades

    S8:E18

    Quint says that white renegades, not Indians, are the cause of recent raids around Dodge. Working shotgun on the stage, he proves his point when he is attacked, then pursued by those renegades. His "Indian" skills save him and a colonel's daughter who has contempt for half-Comanche Quint.

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  16. Background image for Cotter's Girl
    8.7/10(337 votes)

    #15 - Cotter's Girl

    S8:E19

    A father's dying request is that Matt go to retrieve his daughter. Expecting to find a little girl, Matt finds a near-grown woman, but one who's wild and desperately in need of civilizing.

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  17. Background image for The Quest for Asa Janin
    8.7/10(256 votes)

    #16 - The Quest for Asa Janin

    S8:E38

    A young man is convicted of killing the saloon girl he wanted for his own. Matt is so sure that the young man is really innocent that he goes on the road after another suspect to prevent an unjust hanging.

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  18. Background image for Kate Heller
    8.7/10(274 votes)

    #17 - Kate Heller

    S9:E1

    A teen-aged boy who robbed and killed to impress a saloon gal is pursued by Matt. The boy waylays Matt and leaves him for dead, then goes home to his grandmother's house to find her nursing Matt back to health.

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  19. Background image for Prairie Wolfer
    8.7/10(288 votes)

    #18 - Prairie Wolfer

    S9:E16

    Festus returns to Dodge from wolfing and is hired by the Cattleman's Association to hunt down the wolves killing everyone's cattle. What he finds is that what's been doing the preying may wind him up in prison if he doesn't get Matt's help.

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  20. Background image for Hung High
    8.7/10(309 votes)

    #19 - Hung High

    S10:E8

    As Matt takes a convicted man to Hays City for hanging, Matt and the prisoner are waylaid and the prisoner lynched. Matt is framed for the killing, then arrested by a sergeant with a grudge against him.

    Director:Mark Rydell
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  21. Background image for Chicken
    8.7/10(240 votes)

    #20 - Chicken

    S10:E11

    Mistakenly hailed as a hero who downed four robbers, a man rethinks his decision to let folks regard him as a gunfighter when protecting the woman he wants calls for a gunman's skill.

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  22. Background image for The Raid (1)
    8.7/10(255 votes)

    #21 - The Raid (1)

    S11:E18

    A band of robbers have hit numerous banks with uncanny precision, planning and ease. They have their sights on Dodge now but they must remove a big obstacle before they can proceed - Marshal Dillon.

    Writer:Unknown
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  23. Background image for The Raid (2)
    8.7/10(222 votes)

    #22 - The Raid (2)

    S11:E19

    When one of the gang is hurt after robbing Dodge, the Doc is taken to patch him up. The posse was preparing to go after them but a new problem has been set they must take care of before they can recover their friend.

    Writer:Unknown
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  24. Background image for The Jailer
    8.7/10(713 votes)

    #23 - The Jailer

    S12:E3

    Six years after her husband's hanging, Ma Stone plots her revenge against Matt Dillon by first kidnapping Kitty to use as a lure and then jailing Matt to be hanged on the morning of the second day with Kitty watching as her man died.

    Writer:Unknown
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  25. Background image for Gunfighter, R.I.P.
    8.7/10(294 votes)

    #24 - Gunfighter, R.I.P.

    S12:E6

    A gunfighter (McGavin) hired to murder Matt Dillion gets wounded while trying to save the life of an elderly Chinese man.

    Director:Mark Rydell
    Writer:Unknown
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  26. Background image for Zavala
    8.7/10(267 votes)

    #25 - Zavala

    S14:E3

    Good western. Mostly action, not too much girl stuff. Gunplay by Dillon very very good in this one. Story is about Dillon taking a warrant into Mexico. He finds the culprit and outdraws him. One of the latter's gang members travels back to the US and tells Jim Davis that Dillon killed his brother. Davis responds with violence, then rides into Mexico and faces Dillon. The human interest part of this movie centers about the likeable Mexican kid, ""Paco"". Dillon and him get along so good that I'm wondering about the sexuality of one of the film bosses. About Rico Alaniz... top-notch performance. He's the guy who, in the movie ""Magnificent Seven"", was always saying 'no, don't anger Calvera, give him what he wants"".

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Gallows" is the best rated episode of "Gunsmoke". It scored 9.2/10 based on 445 votes. Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and written by John Meston, it aired on 3/3/1962. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Caleb".