Season Two, Episode Twenty Three

As “The Intruders” came around, I was preparing myself for a “Judge Garth episode”. Speaking truthfully, there’s little I enjoy more than watching Lee J Cobb chew the scenery with his traditional verve, I don’t always vibe with his quieter, often more sedate episodes. However, “The Intruders” rolled around, I was in for a surprise.

This isn’t simply a Judge Garth episode. Rather, Cobb and Roberta Shore share the lead in an impressive, ensemble story that kept me on the edge of my seat.

“The Intruders” finds Judge Garth struggling. He needs to get everyone out of Shiloh due to a super secret upcoming conference he’s holding with the local indigenous tribes. However, what he doesn’t count on is one of Betsy’s paramours showing up for a surprise visit. Judge Garth is apparently a “Girl Dad” who doesn’t always read every telegram he’s given.

The episode features the return of David Macklin as Eddie, the Chicago newspaper reporter previously seen in season 2, episode 17. The young man’s eye for Betsy has only increased since her trip to Chicago. However, life is soon thrown for a loop when an opportunistic group of criminals invade Shiloh trapping them in the house.

This is a guest heavy episode. The always dynamic Darren McGavin dominates every scene he’s in as the criminal ringleader. He’s cold, calculating and up until this point, is one of the show’s most memorable villains (up until this point at least).

This comes ten years before McGavin’s memorable, single season run in the television series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. In 1984 he’d step into the other role most remember him for: Ralphie’s father in A Christmas Story.

McGavin is, however, not the only interesting guest star here. I spent the entire episode looking at “The Utah Kid” trying to figure out where I knew him from. Something about him looked so familiar. Watching the credits, it turns out this was David Carradine in a super early role. For those who might not know the name, Carradine is Bill, of Kill Bill fame. Carradine would go on to star in Kung Fu beginning in 1972.

In a slightly meta moment, the episode also casts another perennial Kim favorite Hugh Marlowe as Clay, a government agent with an interesting tale to tell. Marlowe was a solid role player in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s, often stepping into “other man” and light villain roles before he moved into television towards the middle of the 1950s. Many classic film fans will recognize Marlowe from his work in movies like All About Eve and The Day the Earth Stood Still… among others.

The nerd that I am, I received immense joy from the fact that Richard Carlson and Hugh Marlowe were in adjacent episodes. While I’m biased to both, I am also not unaware that there’s a lot of confusion telling these two apart. Just Google this somewhat obscure film in joke if you’re curious.

Macklin’s return, meanwhile took me by surprise. While Eddie was a character that admittedly, didn’t stand out for me, his was a well timed addition. It gives a perfect opportunity to play Macklin and Randy Boone off each other for Betsy’s favor and Boone meets the opportunity head on. Randy continues proving himself a delightful third point in the love triangle opposite the Disney tinged adorableness of Shore and Macklin.

Looking at these three working together, I hate to say it, but Betsy really sneaks up and steals this Judge Garth episode. There’s a sensitive emotionality as she juggles being a young woman with a certain amount of freedom in a rough and wild world with the fact she’s at an age where she wants attention from boys. She wants Eddie to like her.

The episode builds a sweet push and pull. Betsy holds all the power in this relationship. She’s comfortable in this world. She’s familiar with the land, the customs and knows how to survive. Eddie isn’t so lucky.

In truth, he’s struggling royally. He feels emasculated, insecure and terrified the girl he likes is seeing him like this. Every time these two try to come together, something gets in the way. Meanwhile, Randy is standing right there… symbolizing everything Eddie struggles to find.

Friends, I ate up the tension in this episode. It’s a small, tight narrative, but I absolutely loved the rich blending of the characters. There’s so much going on here. This ensemble piece disguised as a Judge Garth episode kept me locked in right up until the end. Betsy continues to find her voice the deeper we get into season two, and I’m excited to see where it goes from here. My only qualm? There wasn’t enough of The Virginian and a lot of the he was there, he was unconscious. No spoilers, sweetie.