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The Best Episodes of Gunsmoke Season 1

Every episode of Gunsmoke Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Gunsmoke Season 1!

Binge this in 10h 50m•Peaking at 8.2/10

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 around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 1 - Matt Gets It
    8.1/10(608 votes)

    #1 - Matt Gets It

    S1:E1

    Dan Grat, a gunman hunted by Texas authorities, seeks refuge in Dodge City. Marshal Dillon goes into action against this outlaw who shoots before he talks.

    Director:Charles Marquis Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 2 - Hot Spell
    8.0/10(420 votes)

    #2 - Hot Spell

    S1:E2

    Matt intercedes on behalf of ex-con Cope Borden, when Rance Bradley accuses Cope of horse theft and attempts to lynch him. Cope is proven innocent of the charge, but later kills Bradley's nephew in a fair fight during a gambling dispute. Matt is caught in an awkward situation when he must defend the unsavory Cope against the decent people of Dodge.

    Director:Charles Marquis Warren
    Writer:E. Jack Neuman

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  3. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 3 - Word of Honor
    7.7/10(352 votes)

    #3 - Word of Honor

    S1:E3

    Hank Worth, son of wealthy rancher Jake Worth, is kidnapped by three men and held for $20,000 ransom. They shoot him in the back for trying to escape. They call on Doc but Hank dies. The killers decide to let Doc go because he is the only doctor within 400 miles and they fear they might need his services someday. Before sparing his life and freeing him, they force the reluctant Doc to give his word of honor that he will never reveal their identities.

    Director:Charles Marquis Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 4 - Home Surgery
    7.9/10(370 votes)

    #4 - Home Surgery

    S1:E4

    When returning to Dodge, Chester and Matt are confronted by Holly Hawtree, whose father is desperately ill with gangrene. His only hope for survival is amputation of the affected leg. Matt performs the surgery, but the gangrene has spread too far and the old man dies. Matt later discovers that the presumed accident leading to Mr. Hawtree's condition was actually caused by Ben Walling, who has his sights on Holly.

    Director:Charles Marquis Warren
    Writer:John Meston

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  5. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 5 - Obie Tater
    7.8/10(353 votes)

    #5 - Obie Tater

    S1:E5

    Two outlaws seek the rumored hidden fortune of old prospector Obie. They drag him to get him to tell. Obie forgets his cares and disappears on honeymoon with newcomer Ella May. Matt suspiciously questions the simple Obie about Ella May's motives and finds Obie is deeper than he seems.

    Director:Charles Marquis Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 6 - Night Incident
    7.0/10(334 votes)

    #6 - Night Incident

    S1:E6

    Little Timmy Wyatt witnesses a series of bizarre murders. He has a habit of telling tall tales, so no one will believe him.

    Director:Charles Marquis Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 7 - Smoking Out the Nolans
    7.5/10(316 votes)

    #7 - Smoking Out the Nolans

    S1:E7

    Clay Young is trying to evict Josh Nolan, who says he paid for the property. Matt and Chester are tied up in reluctantly enforcing eviction law unless they can find another way.

    Director:Charles Marquis Warren
    Writer:John Meston

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  8. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 8 - Kite's Reward
    7.9/10(310 votes)

    #8 - Kite's Reward

    S1:E8

    Matt warns skilled gunman Andy Travis, of his choice between quitting the gun or else being constantly hunted and forced to prove himself. Matt finds a way to foil the $1000 bounty on Andy's head.

    Director:Charles Marquis Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 9 - The Hunter
    7.1/10(299 votes)

    #9 - The Hunter

    S1:E9

    Buffalo hunter Jase Murdock is warned by storekeeper Ross to stay out of Indian territory. Matt talks with Murdock's skinner, Golden Calf, who determines that Murdock's medicine is no longer good.

    Director:Charles Marquis Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 10 - The Queue
    7.8/10(318 votes)

    #10 - The Queue

    S1:E10

    Two bullies cut off Chen's pig-tail, gravely dishonoring him in Chinese culture. Chen vows vengeance.

    Director:Charles Marquis Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 11 - General Parsley Smith
    7.6/10(292 votes)

    #11 - General Parsley Smith

    S1:E11

    Old-timer Smith is a former Army officer considered a butcher. He arrives in Dodge City speading rumors about the new Banker, Drew Holt.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Meston

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  12. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 12 - Magnus
    8.2/10(370 votes)

    #12 - Magnus

    S1:E12

    Chester is embarrassed at a visit by his estranged mountain man brother Magnus. To prove that Magnus is too uncivilized for town, Chester tours him through the highlights of Dodge: card gambling, drinking, and talking with Kitty. Meanwhile, the Long Branch women plan a Christmas Eve dance which is busted by the spiteful Lucifer Jones.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Meston

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  13. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 13 - Reed Survives
    7.9/10(342 votes)

    #13 - Reed Survives

    S1:E13

    Lucy professes her love for handsome Booth Rider, and concocts a scheme against Ephram. Booth becomes the unwitting pawn in a homicide that culminates in an ironic twist of fate.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 14 - Professor Lute Bone
    7.4/10(281 votes)

    #14 - Professor Lute Bone

    S1:E14

    Doc is enraged by traveling medicine man Professor Lute Bone and his opium elixir, and digs up a gun to shoot him with. A lad also hunts him because his father died drinking his elixir, so Bone reconsiders the patent medicine business.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 15 - No Handcuffs
    8.1/10(270 votes)

    #15 - No Handcuffs

    S1:E15

    A dishonest deputy sheriff steals a prisoner from Matt's jail, so Matt and Chester hunt them.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Meston

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  16. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 16 - Reward for Matt
    8.1/10(299 votes)

    #16 - Reward for Matt

    S1:E16

    Matt kills a man and his widow posts a $1,000 bounty in vengeance. Everyone from sodbusters to gunslingers are out for that reward.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 17 - Robin Hood
    7.7/10(271 votes)

    #17 - Robin Hood

    S1:E17

    Witnesses refuse to testify against a notorious outlaw.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 18 - Yorky
    7.7/10(271 votes)

    #18 - Yorky

    S1:E18

    Yorky, a white boy who was brought up by Arapahoes, is victimized by horse thieves. Accused of their crime, he is shot by the vengeful Abe Brandt and his son. Matt is also targeted by the horse thieves.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Sam Peckinpah

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  19. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 19 - 20-20
    7.4/10(257 votes)

    #19 - 20-20

    S1:E19

    A former lawman tries to keep his failing eyesight a secret from his enemies.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 20 - Reunion '78
    7.7/10(253 votes)

    #20 - Reunion '78

    S1:E20

    A well-liked hardware drummer is actually a man wanted for multiple murders.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 21 - Helping Hand
    7.2/10(250 votes)

    #21 - Helping Hand

    S1:E21

    A would-be tough guy picks on the wrong man in an attempt to make a name for himself when he tries to involve Marshal Matt Dillon by staging a street fight.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 22 - Tap Day for Kitty
    7.7/10(287 votes)

    #22 - Tap Day for Kitty

    S1:E22

    An old sodbuster comes to town and decides he wants to marry Kitty. When he won't leave her alone she declares she'll shoot him if he pesters her anymore.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 23 - Indian Scout
    7.6/10(265 votes)

    #23 - Indian Scout

    S1:E23

    When an old Indian scout (Eduard Franz) murders a man (DeForest Kelley), Matt pursues him into Comanche territory.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 24 - The Pest Hole
    7.9/10(290 votes)

    #24 - The Pest Hole

    S1:E24

    Doc must find a way to thwart a typhoid epidemic in Dodge (Howard McNear appears).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Gunsmoke Season 1 Episode 25 - The Big Broad
    7.7/10(286 votes)

    #25 - The Big Broad

    S1:E25

    Matt has to figure a way around a six-foot-tall, 200-pound woman with a six-gun.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Matt Gets It" is the best rated episode of "Gunsmoke" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 608 votes. Directed by Charles Marquis Warren and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/10/1955. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Hot Spell".