Gunsmoke A Game of Death... An Act of Love: Part 2 (1955–1975) watch online HD

This is a two-part episode that truly needed the additional time. It is ultimately a social justice episode, but one that considers justice not merely from a societal level, but also a more personal one.

The premise is straightforward enough.

A man and a wife, chiseled through many years of hardscrabble life on the frontier, sit amid financial success, but without a personal relationship that the wife wants and the husband wouldn't understand. An argument results in the man storming out to get drunk at a bar or brothel leaving his wife home alone.

A band of Comanche renegades then descends upon the home and murders the wife and sets fire to the home, destroying it. The man is filled with grief and rage.

In steps an Irish-Cherokee Princeton educated lawyer, very skilled, and moving through town on his way to a new practice in San Francisco. The way the story plays out has many quality scenes that speak to the heart of true social justice, as well as to the manifest need to fairly measure men in the time they lived.

There are a lot of people wishing to tear down monuments throughout America who desperately need to see this two-part episode, especially the lawyer's (played by Paul Stevens) eloquent courtroom soliloquy, where he laid out the reality of forgiveness and understanding.

The episode needed the time to tell the story, one that saw many characters develop from one-sided to multi-faceted, from anger to understanding. In the ultimate example, one man went from blind murderous rage to genuine respect and friendship.

Few TV series ever had the chops to tell a story like this, and in our current era, the pervading sense of PC doctrine might tragically well prevent it. And this is why Gunsmoke remains, even after forty years since its enviable run ended, and nearly the entire cast has passed away, remains as vivid and poignant today as it was when it first aired.

The conclusion of "A Game Of Death ... An Act Of Love" had Defense Attorney Cicero Wolfe trying the case. The renegades were being tried for first-degree murder and robbery. Bear Sanderson had been so vent up on being judge and jury into seeing the defendants getting hung for the killing of his wife. Cora Sanderson was being sarcastic about Cicero Wolfe's involvement with the trial. He told her that seeking a "Not Guilty" verdict in court was his sole objective in the episode.

The setting became interesting -- to say the least -- during the episode. Miss Michael Learned -- who played Miss Vassiter -- testified for the defense; she pointed out the time watch and other jewelry items were given to her. Bear Sanderson himself was drunk beyond recognition; moreover, the renegades were no more guilty of murdering his wife than the next group of murderers. In fact, Mr. Dekker did not call for Bear Sanderson to testify for the prosecution. In truth, Miss Vassiter obtained the jewelry from Bear Sanderson's wife at the time of the murder. Miss Vassiter's testimony virtually destroyed the prosecutor's hopes for a "Guilty" verdict in the show. By the same token, Bear Sanderson realized the renegades in question were never even close to the Sanderson home that night.

In the end, Bear Sanderson put aside his vendetta and obtained a friendship with Cicero Wolfe. Cora Sanderson would eventually return to school. Bear Sanderson would put his wife's death behind him. Cicero Wolfe -- in the end -- would eventually leave Dodge City and headed out for San Francisco. By the same token, Cora Sanderson was grateful for trying the case in court ... without reservation or exemption. A Brilliant 14!! A Recommended Episode From The 1973-1974 Television Season!!

After watching this two part episode, I have to say that it was not that bad. Perhaps it might have been better in a one hour format since there was much filler to stretch the story out for the full two hours but it played well enough to hold the viewers interest to the end.

To shorten the review it really is about Bear Sanderson (Morgan Woodward) having his wife killed by renegade Indians. When some Indians are found with a watch belonging to the Sanderson family, Mr Sanderson wants them dead on the spot. No court hearing for those red-skins.

But enter Marshal Matt Dillon who risk his friendship with Sanderson to make sure that the Indians get a fair trial. With a traveling attorney, Cicero Wolfe, willing to represent the Indians, it will go to trial and shocking evidence will be presented. But before that verdict is handed down we find out that the the lawyer, Wolfe, just happens to be an Indian himself. This only causes more problem for the lawmen in Dodge.

So now Sanderson and most of the town are near riot mode as Wolfe will defend the Indians in front of Judge Brookins. With the evidence presented it will be difficult to heal relationships that may be permanently severed.

The episode is worth a watch- but far from being the best in the series. Some parts were extremely entertaining while many parts were unnecessary dialog. A well acted show that is not a bad watch.