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The Best Episodes of The Virginian

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

Binge this in 3d 20h•Peaking at 8.8/10

The Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming Territory of the 1890s is owned in sequence by Judge Henry Garth, the Grainger brothers, and Colonel Alan MacKenzie. It is the setting for a variety of stories, many more

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Virginian Season 2 Episode 1 - Ride a Dark Trail
    8.8/10(135 votes)

    #1 - Ride a Dark Trail

    S2:E1

    The Virginian accidentally comes upon, and is held at gunpoint by, young Lon Mortison (Buzz Martin). The boy had been searching for a gambler who he thinks is responsible for his father's suicide and had already shot and wounded a man who interfered. In order to convince the boy to give himself up, the Virginian recounts in flashback how Trampas first came to Shiloh Ranch. He came seeking revenge on Judge Garth who had been forced to kill Trampas' father (Sonny Tufts) in self-defence. This object lesson serves to get Lon to realize the error of his actions and convince him to surrender to the Sheriff.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Virginian Season 6 Episode 24 - The Handy Man
    8.8/10(88 votes)

    #2 - The Handy Man

    S6:E24

    No description available

    Director:Abner Biberman
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Virginian Season 6 Episode 25 - The Decision
    8.7/10(82 votes)

    #3 - The Decision

    S6:E25

    Age, inexperience and a rekindled conflict with Trampas hinder Dan Porter, an ex-sheriff who exchanged his badge for a job at Shiloh. Emily: Monica Lewis. Deputy: Steve Carlson. Trampas: Doug McClure. Manning: Ben Murphy. Virginian: James Drury. Tasker: Lawrence Dane.

    Director:E. Darrell Hallenbeck
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Virginian Season 8 Episode 17 - The Holocaust
    8.7/10(70 votes)

    #4 - The Holocaust

    S8:E17

    An eastern combine wants to take over the Wyoming cattle market with Shiloh in the middle of their sights. A burned Shiloh and delayed cattle drive leads to a loss on the sale of cattle resulting in all the Shiloh hands being laid off.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Virginian Season 1 Episode 13 - The Accomplice
    8.6/10(459 votes)

    #5 - The Accomplice

    S1:E13

    The Rocky Point Bank is robbed by two men who shoot its President. One of the men is captured and claims Trampas, with whom he has a grudge, was his accomplice -- so Trampas is arrested. His identification as the robber is supported by a spinsterish bank teller, Delia Miller (Bette Davis), who has recognized the real robber and is protecting his identity in order to blackmail him. The Virginian tries to prove Trampas innocent and expose the real criminal by falsifying Delia's story.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Howard Browne, William P. McGivern, Winston Miller

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  6. The Virginian Season 4 Episode 9 - Show Me a Hero
    8.6/10(102 votes)

    #6 - Show Me a Hero

    S4:E9

    While returning to Shiloh Trampas injures his horse saving a man with a runaway team. He is forced to stay a few days in a small town with the man as an old friend arrives to force the town to sign over its gambling rights to him.

    Director:Leon Benson
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Virginian

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  7. The Virginian Season 5 Episode 5 - Jacob Was a Plain Man
    8.6/10(79 votes)

    #7 - Jacob Was a Plain Man

    S5:E5

    Jake who can't hear or speak runs after he accidentally kills a man in a bar. He lands at Shiloh where his hard work results in a job. Stacey seeing Jake can't express himself decides to teach him to read and write but puts him in danger.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Virginian Season 5 Episode 15 - Vengeance Trail
    8.6/10(73 votes)

    #8 - Vengeance Trail

    S5:E15

    Stacey is forced to kill a man who tries to rob him. He returns the body to the man's sister who asks Stacey to leave rather than see the Sheriff. She is afraid their younger brother who joins the Shiloh cattle drive will try for revenge.

    Director:Thomas Carr
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Virginian Season 5 Episode 23 - Doctor Pat
    8.6/10(77 votes)

    #9 - Doctor Pat

    S5:E23

    Dr. Spaulding decides to hire another doctor to help share the load but he is unsure whether the attractive female doctor he is sent will work out. The Virginian takes a strong interest in her and her problems as she tries to adapt.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Virginian Season 7 Episode 16 - Last Grave at Socorro Creek
    8.6/10(78 votes)

    #10 - Last Grave at Socorro Creek

    S7:E16

    Investigating the lynching of a friend, the Virginian matches wits with a sadistic killer---and the dead man's vengeful son. Four-Eyes: Steve Ihnat. Virginian: James Drury. Luther: Lonny Chapman. Kate: Ellen McRae. Burden: Kevin Coughlin.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Virginian Season 8 Episode 22 - The Sins of the Fathers
    8.6/10(81 votes)

    #11 - The Sins of the Fathers

    S8:E22

    The Virginian and Shiloh money are rescued by a lone man who he rewards with a job at Shiloh. He rubs the other men the wrong way, works hard, but is obviously a gunman. Clay Grainger soon realizes who he is but won't let him be fired.

    Director:Walter Doniger
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Virginian Season 3 Episode 29 - Showdown
    8.5/10(109 votes)

    #12 - Showdown

    S3:E29

    The Virginian is forced to take sides in a bitter dispute between a family of ranchers and two domineering marshals.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Virginian Season 6 Episode 2 - The Deadly Past
    8.5/10(70 votes)

    #13 - The Deadly Past

    S6:E2

    Suspense builds as Trampas, a hard-drinking gunslinger and a sheriff's wife search for the person who has sent them death notes. Evans: Darren McGavin. Trampas: Doug McClure. Emily: Mary-Robin Redd. Chris: Linden Chiles. Ned: Bing Russell.

    Director:Abner Biberman
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Virginian Season 8 Episode 1 - Long Ride Home
    8.5/10(82 votes)

    #14 - Long Ride Home

    S8:E1

    Holly finds two cowboys who are looking for work. The younger hand Jim looks up to Ben as the only father he has ever known as the two roam around looking for a place to settle. Ben isn't ready to settle down but Jim may have found a home.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Virginian Season 8 Episode 5 - The Family Man
    8.5/10(76 votes)

    #15 - The Family Man

    S8:E5

    Jim becomes farmhand, midwife and friend to a pregnant teenager whose husband is on the lam from the law. Anna: Darlene Carr. Obie: Frank Webb. Jim: Tim Matheson. Rigby: John Pickard. Trampas: Doug McClure. Sheriff: Ross Elliott. Virginian: James Drury.

    Director:Joseph Pevney
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Virginian Season 2 Episode 4 - A Killer in Town
    8.4/10(110 votes)

    #16 - A Killer in Town

    S2:E4

    A bounty hunter named George Wolfe (Broderick Crawford) comes to Medicine Bow, having been summoned by a now dead informant who told Wolfe a fugitive is in town. Although the informant had left a letter revealing the fugitive's identity in a lock box at the bank it can not be accessed until the circuit judge can return and issue a court order. Trampas, who had accidentally become involved with some felons two years before, thinks he is Wolfe's quarry and Wolfe is suspicious of him. Before matters can come to a head, however, an outbreak of typhoid fever intervenes.

    Director:John English
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Virginian Season 2 Episode 23 - The Intruders
    8.4/10(106 votes)

    #17 - The Intruders

    S2:E23

    Judge Garth is hosting a meeting at Shiloh Ranch between a US Army General and the Chief of the Sioux (Iron Eyes Cody) as someone is trying to stir up trouble between the Indians and Army. He manages to send most of the hands away to keep the meeting secret. Four men arrive including Trachsel (Darren McGavin) and the Utah Kid (David Carradine), and they take the remaining residents hostage intent on killing the Sioux Chief when he arrives. However, the criminals did not reckon on the abilities of Judge Garth and Betsy's visiting friend, young Chicago newspaper reporter Eddie Tighe (David Macklin).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Dean Riesner

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  18. The Virginian Season 3 Episode 27 - Farewell to Honesty
    8.4/10(91 votes)

    #18 - Farewell to Honesty

    S3:E27

    A deputized Virginian arrives in the very misnamed Honesty, Wyoming looking for Major Ralph Forrester (Richard Carlson) who had defrauded Judge Garth. However, the local judge is in the Major's pocket and, using the excuse that the Virginian is not a full-time deputy, refuses to let the man be taken back to Medicine Bow. While waiting for Deputy Ryker to arrive, the Major is murdered and the Virginian is accused of the crime. Ryker arrives and with help of a local lawyer, John Harrison (Harold Gould), tries to sort out who the murderer is from amongst a number of suspects including the murdered man's wife (Dorothy Green), a former acquaintance of the Virginian who runs the local saloon and was being blackmailed by the dead man (Kathleen Crowley), and the Major's business partner(Douglas Henderson).

    Director:Leon Benson
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Virginian Season 4 Episode 5 - The Awakening
    8.4/10(120 votes)

    #19 - The Awakening

    S4:E5

    A destitute former Minister, David Henderson (Glenn Corbett), who has had a crisis of faith, comes to Medicine Bow just as a dispute breaks out at a local mine over safety issues. Emmett Ryker entreaties Judge Garth to try and find a solution to the problem. When an accident occurs at the mine David's assists in a rescue attempt but hurts his leg. He is taken to Shiloh where Betsy Garth nurses him and they become romantically involved. David's actions gain him the respect of the miners, he becomes their leader, and he calls a strike over the working conditions. Despite an attempt to intimidate the miners by importing scab labour, with Judge Garth's help the owners and miners manage to reach an agreement. David rediscovers his calling and asks Betsy to marry him. They are married at Shiloh Ranch and head off to start a new life at a parish David has been assigned in Pennsylvania.

    Director:Leon Benson
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Virginian Season 5 Episode 4 - An Echo of Thunder
    8.4/10(79 votes)

    #20 - An Echo of Thunder

    S5:E4

    After helping deliver a herd of horses, Trampas decides to take a few days to visit an old friend nearby but he arrives in time for his friend's funeral. He is bothered by the circumstances of his death, so he decides to investigate.

    Director:Abner Biberman
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Virginian Season 5 Episode 6 - The Challenge
    8.4/10(77 votes)

    #21 - The Challenge

    S5:E6

    After a stagecoach holdup and accident, Trampas stumbles into a farm with a concussion and amnesia. The farmer and his two kids tend to Trampas but the white handled gun he is carrying puts him into danger from the law and the outlaws.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Virginian Season 5 Episode 18 - Requiem for a Country Doctor
    8.4/10(90 votes)

    #22 - Requiem for a Country Doctor

    S5:E18

    One morning the Virginian arrives in a small town to meet Stacey Grainger and sees a gallows being built. From the owner of the saloon, Clara Plain (Cloris Leachman), he learns Stacey is being held in jail and is scheduled to be hanged the next morning. The Sheriff (Ford Rainey) tells him Stacey lost in a card game watched by the beloved local doctor, John Marsh, and had harsh words with him and that the doctor had a large quantity of money he had collected for the local orphanage. Having no money, Stacey went out of town where he encountered and murdered the Sheriff for the money and was caught by two locals. Stacey claims he came upon the already dead doctor, heard someone running away and fired a waring shot into the dark. Although Stacey did not have the money on him, the Sheriff claims he threw it away when he heard men approaching. In the next cell to Stacey is Randall (Morgan Woodward) who is awaiting transfer to prison. The Virginian learns that Stacey's trial was called hastil

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Virginian Season 5 Episode 22 - Melanie
    8.4/10(90 votes)

    #23 - Melanie

    S5:E22

    No description available

    Director:Abner Biberman
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Virginian Season 5 Episode 25 - Bitter Harvest
    8.4/10(76 votes)

    #24 - Bitter Harvest

    S5:E25

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Virginian Season 6 Episode 3 - The Lady From Witchita
    8.4/10(74 votes)

    #25 - The Lady From Witchita

    S6:E3

    The accent is on comedy as two ex-barmaids settle on a Medicine Bow ranch, hoping that their past won't catch up with them. Lorna: Joan Collins. Belle: Rose Marie. Trampas: Doug McClure. Kane: Harry Lauter. Grainger: Charles Bickford. Mrs. Graves: Ann Doran. Elizabeth: Sara Lane.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Ride a Dark Trail" is the best rated episode of "The Virginian". It scored 8.8/10 based on 135 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/18/1963. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Handy Man".