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The Worst Episodes of Gunsmoke

Every episode of Gunsmoke ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Gunsmoke!

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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 Worst Episode
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    Gunsmoke Season 20 Episode 19 - Brides and Grooms
    5.4/10(211 votes)

    #1 - 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.

    Director:Victor French
    Writer:Earl W. Wallace

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  2. Gunsmoke Season 10 Episode 32 - Bad Lady from Brookline
    5.6/10(307 votes)

    #2 - Bad Lady from Brookline

    S10:E32

    Just arriving in Dodge, Molly McConnell looks for her husband. When she finds out he's been killed, and Dillon is responsible, she wonders why he didn't tell her in the first place and sets out to learn how to shoot so she can kill him.

    Director:Michael O'Herlihy
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Gunsmoke Season 20 Episode 23 - Manolo
    6.0/10(195 votes)

    #3 - 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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Earl W. Wallace

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  4. Gunsmoke Season 14 Episode 6 - O'Quillian
    6.2/10(198 votes)

    #4 - O'Quillian

    S14:E6

    Leary O'Quillan kills a card cheat in self defense and is pursued to Dodge by the man's brother, Clay Tynan.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Gunsmoke Season 16 Episode 16 - Captain Sligo
    6.3/10(226 votes)

    #5 - Captain Sligo

    S16:E16

    A Captain of the sea wants to live Dodge City.

    Director:William Conrad
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Gunsmoke Season 7 Episode 19 - Catawomper
    6.4/10(282 votes)

    #6 - Catawomper

    S7:E19

    Chester is getting home-cooked meals from, and giving guitar lessons to, a spirited young woman who hopes thereby to make her estranged sweetheart jealous.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Gunsmoke Season 13 Episode 7 - Hard Luck Henry
    6.4/10(216 votes)

    #7 - Hard Luck Henry

    S13:E7

    A comedic episode. Festus tries to get a box full of gold coins away from his relatives and back to Dodge, the Dooleys who are feuding with the Haggens are also trying to get their hands on the box.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Gunsmoke Season 20 Episode 6 - The Wiving
    6.4/10(232 votes)

    #8 - The Wiving

    S20:E6

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

    Director:Victor French
    Writer:Earl W. Wallace

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  9. Gunsmoke Season 16 Episode 21 - Cleavus
    6.6/10(175 votes)

    #9 - Cleavus

    S16:E21

    Cleavus think he could be rich, but he soon finds fool's gold in the mine.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Gunsmoke Season 11 Episode 17 - Sweet Billy, Singer of Songs
    6.7/10(243 votes)

    #10 - Sweet Billy, Singer of Songs

    S11:E17

    Festus's nephew arrives, seeking a bride who can read and write. He soon finds one, but runs into difficulties earning the money he needs for her dowry.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Gunsmoke Season 12 Episode 14 - Champion of the World
    6.7/10(216 votes)

    #11 - Champion of the World

    S12:E14

    Bull Bannock (Alan Hale), retired heavyweight champion of the world, attempts to make a home for himself in Dodge City, and tries to buy Miss Kitty's Longbranch Saloon.

    Director:Marc Daniels
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Gunsmoke Season 15 Episode 18 - Doctor Herman Schultz, M.D.
    6.7/10(188 votes)

    #12 - Doctor Herman Schultz, M.D.

    S15:E18

    Doc Adams's old friend is thought to be a thief.

    Director:Bernard McEveety
    Writer:Calvin Clements Sr.

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  13. Gunsmoke Season 19 Episode 14 - The Child Between
    6.7/10(166 votes)

    #13 - The Child Between

    S19:E14

    Lew Harrod rides to Dodge looking for Doc Adams but learn he is out Newly goes to help but finds that the boy's mom doesn't newly to help. Newly tries to have the parent's take the baby to Dodge, the mom doesn't like the medicine Newly wants to use, and the dad is a wanted man. The dad is angry because he didn't know Newly is a deputy. Harrod trusts newly and his wife doesn't want to go to Dodge because she knows Newly might bring men to take husband away. Makesha takes the baby to her people after Newly asks them to go to Dodge under the oath doctors take that way Newly can't say anything about her husband.

    Director:Irving J. Moore
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Gunsmoke Season 2 Episode 39 - Jealousy
    6.8/10(243 votes)

    #14 - Jealousy

    S2:E39

    Jack Kelly plays a hot-tempered husband who thinks Matt is after his wife.

    Director:Andrew V. McLaglen
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Gunsmoke Season 9 Episode 6 - My Sister's Keeper
    6.8/10(240 votes)

    #15 - My Sister's Keeper

    S9:E6

    A despondent widower goes to work on a farm for two sisters, each of whom finds him fascinating in her own way.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Kathleen Hite

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  16. Gunsmoke Season 10 Episode 26 - Bank Baby
    6.8/10(228 votes)

    #16 - Bank Baby

    S10:E26

    Bert Clum uses his clan to get what he wants. They are camped outside of Dodge. When they meet a small wagon train, he hatches a plot to rob the local bank. But he needs to snatch a baby to hide behind first.

    Director:Andrew V. McLaglen
    Writer:John Meston

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  17. Gunsmoke Season 13 Episode 14 - Wonder
    6.8/10(222 votes)

    #17 - Wonder

    S13:E14

    Drfter Jud Pryor tries to clear his name of murder, meanwhile the two brothers of his girlfriend are planning to kill him.

    Director:Irving J. Moore
    Writer:William Blinn

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  18. Gunsmoke Season 14 Episode 18 - Gold Town
    6.8/10(181 votes)

    #18 - Gold Town

    S14:E18

    Will Mannon, a sharpshooter who rode with Quantrill's Raiders, terrorizes Dodge City as he waits for Matt to return and face him in a showdown.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Gunsmoke Season 16 Episode 18 - The Tycoon
    6.8/10(184 votes)

    #19 - The Tycoon

    S16:E18

    Festus becomes a rich man.

    Director:Bernard McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Gunsmoke Season 18 Episode 15 - Arizona Midnight
    6.8/10(213 votes)

    #20 - Arizona Midnight

    S18:E15

    A midget arrives in Dodge City claiming he will turn into an elephant at the stroke of midnight. Arizona begins asking for someone to care for him along with three bales of hay. Everyone finds the story a bit far fetched.

    Director:Irving J. Moore
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Gunsmoke Season 19 Episode 23 - To Ride a Yeller Horse
    6.8/10(171 votes)

    #21 - To Ride a Yeller Horse

    S19:E23

    Joan Shepherd wants Anna May to marry Steven Rogers, not Newly or Orlo who is a farmer. Ana May wants to date Newly. Newly drops by to take Anna May for a ride and is told she won't be back for awhile. Orlo fights Newly over Anna May, Orlo hits his head on the wagon causing him to lose his memory.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Gunsmoke Season 3 Episode 22 - Sunday Supplement
    6.9/10(235 votes)

    #22 - Sunday Supplement

    S3:E22

    Clifton Bunker and Samuel Spring, writers from New York, come to Dodge looking for a story. Finding none they stir up trouble to get a story.

    Director:Richard Whorf
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Gunsmoke Season 8 Episode 4 - Root Down
    6.9/10(261 votes)

    #23 - Root Down

    S8:E4

    Chester may find himself entrapped into marriage with a drifter's daughter who isn't particular about how she lands a husband.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Kathleen Hite

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  24. Gunsmoke Season 11 Episode 15 - Gold Mine
    6.9/10(235 votes)

    #24 - Gold Mine

    S11:E15

    When Matt is too busy to escort Kitty to a gold mine she inherited, she travels there alone and meets with claim jumpers and other difficulties.

    Director:Abner Biberman
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Gunsmoke Season 15 Episode 16 - The Pack Rat
    6.9/10(196 votes)

    #25 - The Pack Rat

    S15:E16

    An orphan steals from Matt but could risk his own life when he tries to help out in an ambush.

    Director:Philip Leacock
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Brides and Grooms" is the worst rated episode of "Gunsmoke". It scored 5.4/10 based on 211 votes. Directed by Victor French and written by Earl W. Wallace, it aired on 2/10/1975. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Bad Lady from Brookline".