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The Best Episodes of Gunsmoke Season 20

Every episode of Gunsmoke Season 20 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Gunsmoke Season 20!

The Best Episodes of Gunsmoke Season 20

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. 8.8/10(195 votes)

    #1 - 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.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  2. 8.7/10(209 votes)

    #2 - Island in the Desert (1)

    S20:E11

    Festus, in the desert hunting escaped killer Gard Dixon is wounded by the outlaw. He is found by Ben Snow, a half-crazy hermit who has been living in the desert with his gold for many years.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  3. 8.6/10(204 votes)

    #3 - The Fourth Victim

    S20:E8

    A series of seemingly random killings have the citizens of Dodge City in near panic, but Dillon believes they are part of a pattern in which Doc is slated to be the next target.

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    Writer:N/A
  4. 8.6/10(173 votes)

    #4 - In Performance of Duty

    S20:E10

    Matt is frustrated by Judge Kendall's insistence that the letter of the law be maintained, which could result in Emmett Kaysinger and his boys, all known outlaws, be set free unless there is solid evidence to hold them for a double murder and robbery they committed.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  5. 8.5/10(206 votes)

    #5 - The Busters

    S20:E22

    Two bronco busters try to raise money for a ranch in Montana, only to have the dream ruined when one of them gets a death threatening head injury when thrown off by a wild stallion.

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    Writer:N/A
  6. 8.4/10(205 votes)

    #6 - The Tarnished Badge

    S20:E9

    Matt's friend, Sheriff Harker runs his town ruthlessly, punishing anyone disobeying him.

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    Writer:N/A
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  8. 8.4/10(207 votes)

    #7 - The Squaw

    S20:E14

    Fleeing from both Matt Dillon and his double-crossed partners, outlaw Gristy Calhoun discovers that his survival in the badlands depends on an Indian woman.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  9. 8.3/10(191 votes)

    #8 - Thirty a Month and Found

    S20:E5

    Matt houses a drunk Will & Friends in the jail they go looking for $300 that they think Bill took. Matt thinks it was a misunderstanding. Will doesn't want to tell Matt that they shot Curly Wills (They buried him before going to Dodge. Doak stops to see his girlfriend and says marriage will need to wait, as Will & Quincy leaves without Doak Quincy and the storekeepers are shot.

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  10. 8.2/10(207 votes)

    #9 - Matt Dillon Must Die

    S20:E1

    A mountain family in an attempt to avenge the death of one of their own capture Matt.

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    Director:Victor French
  11. 8.2/10(170 votes)

    #10 - The Angry Land

    S20:E18

    Matt takes a young orphan Bessie Sutherland after her parents were killed on the prairie, to live with her Aunt Rachel. Rachel tells Matt that because of the devastating experiences that she has had, does not want to take in her niece, besides she wants to sell her land.

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    Writer:N/A
  12. 8.2/10(187 votes)

    #11 - I Have Promises to Keep

    S20:E21

    Festus is caught in the middle when an Eastern preacher (David Wayne) wants to build a church for the Indians and the townspeople to share, but by all of whom that are filled with prejudice.

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  13. 8.1/10(192 votes)

    #12 - The Fires of Ignorance

    S20:E17

    Henry Decory is a schoolteacher who makes a strong statement for compulsory education for frontier children as a stubborn father feels that books and education are a waste of time and tries to keep his son Tommy out of school.

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    Director:Victor French
    Writer:N/A
  14. 8.0/10(173 votes)

    #13 - The Colonel

    S20:E13

    Lee J. Cobb and his daughter Julie Cobb appear together for the first time when Cobb guest-stars as a once-proud military officer who is suddenly faced with a painful and unplanned reunion with his daughter.

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    Writer:N/A
  15. 7.9/10(160 votes)

    #14 - The Guns of Cibola Blanca (2)

    S20:E4

    Matt, Festus and Newly attempt to rescue Doc and Lyla from Shindrow's camp.

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  16. 7.9/10(173 votes)

    #15 - The Iron Men

    S20:E7

    Matt and former lawman now turned alcoholic, Chauncey Demon go up against land baron Carl Ryker.

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    Director:N/A
  17. 7.9/10(181 votes)

    #16 - Larkin

    S20:E16

    Newly finds himself in a strange alliance with a professional killer as he tries to return to Dodge City with his prisoner (Jaeckel) before they are both killed by a trio of bounty hunters.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  18. 7.8/10(146 votes)

    #17 - The Hiders

    S20:E15

    A farmer comes by and asks Sharp where is cow is, Matt tells the milk cow owner that he has no proof to arrest ""the hiders."" The farmer wants to go after them himself. Matt tells the men that will leave Dodge if anyone else complains. Dink escapes from Carp after being hurt, Festus finds Dink and treats his wounds. Dink tells Festus he likes waking up in the morning, Martha warns Dink to watch for Carp. Carp asks Dink to help kill Festus.

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    Director:Victor French
  19. 7.6/10(166 votes)

    #18 - The Guns of Cibola Blanca (1)

    S20:E3

    Doc and fellow stage passenger, Lyla are captured by renegade comancheros.

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  20. 7.6/10(170 votes)

    #19 - Hard Labor

    S20:E20

    Matt Dillon is sentenced to life imprisonment of hard labor for shooting a fugitive in the town of Bedrock.

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  21. 7.4/10(153 votes)

    #20 - Town in Chains

    S20:E2

    A group of bandits attempt to rob a town while masquerading as soldiers.

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  22. 7.0/10(201 votes)

    #21 - The Sharecroppers

    S20:E24

    A comedy of errors puts Festus behind a plow, farming for a family of shiftless sharecroppers.

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  23. 6.6/10(217 votes)

    #22 - The Wiving

    S20:E6

    Jed Hockett(Harry Morgan), a farmer, orders his three boys to go to town and return with prospective brides.

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  24. 5.9/10(176 votes)

    #23 - Manolo

    S20:E23

    Manolo (Robert Urich)is a Basque youth who is not recognized as a man in the eyes of his people because he refuses to fight his father Alejo (Nehemiah Persoff), a traditional Basque custom to prove one's manhood.

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    Director:N/A
  25. 5.4/10(193 votes)

    #24 - Brides and Grooms

    S20:E19

    Farmer Jed Hackett (Harry Morgan) decides it's time for his three sons marry the women they brought back from Dodge City.

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Season 20 Ratings Summary

"Island in the Desert (2)" is the best rated episode of "Gunsmoke" season 20. It scored 8.8/10 based on 195 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 12/9/1974. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Island in the Desert (1)".