S1.E22

The Death Merchant

Name: The Death Merchant
Genre: Western
Released: 1966-02-23
Duration: 1 h
Rating: 8.1
Cast: Richard Long, Peter Breck, Lee Majors

Episode aired Feb 23, 1966
TV-PG
1h

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

143

YOUR RATING

Western

Everyone except Heath (who has met the stranger and knows some of his exploits firsthand) extends a warm welcome to the aging cowboy who killed the murderer of patriarch Tom Barkley during t... Read allEveryone except Heath (who has met the stranger and knows some of his exploits firsthand) extends a warm welcome to the aging cowboy who killed the murderer of patriarch Tom Barkley during the Barkley-Railroad War. The man, as it turns out, is a friend to no one. He's a sociopath... Read allEveryone except Heath (who has met the stranger and knows some of his exploits firsthand) extends a warm welcome to the aging cowboy who killed the murderer of patriarch Tom Barkley during the Barkley-Railroad War. The man, as it turns out, is a friend to no one. He's a sociopath and mercenary who enjoys range wars and will sell his sanguinary services to either side.... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

143

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Trivia
When Nick goes to talk with the sheriff, the stage is the exact set-up for the Marshal's office on Gunsmoke (1955), even right down to the coffee pot.

Goofs
As James Whitmore leaves the room right after meeting Audra, his hearing aid is clearly visible.

User reviews7

Review

Featured review

10/10

Hired Gun

The Death Merchant is one of the more intense, dramatic dramatic episodes of The Big Valley series, and as such deserves high praise. The storyline is simple, as a once helpful, seemingly benign individual, Handy Random, makes a visit to the Barkleys and offers to help. Ransom, his folksy ways notwithstanding, is a psychopath, a man with an appetite for killing, and this gradually unfolds as the episode progresses.

Most of the best western series of this era were drama than action, closer to anthologies that just happen to feature regular characters than sagebrush sagas. The Death Merchant is a fine example of a show that makes the viewer feel and think differently in every scene. Its conclusion is not what one might have guessed anymore more than the featured guest character (excellently portrayed by James Whitmore) is an easy man to figure. Indeed, he's an enigma, and a frightening one at that. One never really comes to understand why he's so intent on making trouble, stirring the pot.

Like all good drama, this one makes one ponder how people become who they are. I rate it highly for not giving up its secret. It's a character study, not a case history: make of it what you will.