Have Gun Will Travel Season 2: A Review

ByBuffalo Rifles Blog

Have Gun – Will Travel is a classic western television series that aired from 1957 to 1963. The show starred Richard Boone as Paladin, a mysterious gunfighter who traveled the Old West helping those in need. Season 2 of Have Gun – Will Travel premiered on September 15, 1958 and aired until May 24, 1959. The season consisted of 30 episodes, each running for 50 minutes.

Season 2 of Have Gun – Will Travel continued the show’s formula of Paladin helping those in need. In the first episode of the season, “The Honorable Man,” Paladin helps a young woman who is being blackmailed by her husband. In another episode, “The Unforgiven,” Paladin defends a Native American woman who is accused of murdering a white man.

Season 2 of Have Gun – Will Travel also introduced several new characters, including the villainous Mr. Johnson (played by John Carradine) and the beautiful saloon singer Cherry Valance (played by Vera Miles).

Overall, Season 2 of Have Gun – Will Travel was a strong season that continued the show’s tradition of quality western entertainment.

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Episode Title Airdate
1 The Long Ride Home September 26, 1957
2 The Widowmaker October 3, 1957
3 The Lady from Shanghai October 10, 1957
4 The Night of the Wolf October 17, 1957
5 The Man Who Bought a River October 24, 1957
6 The Man Who Killed Himself October 31, 1957
7 The Man Who Couldn’t Die November 7, 1957
8 The Man Who Loved a Woman Too Much November 14, 1957
9 The Man Who Couldn’t Go Home November 21, 1957
10 The Man Who Wouldn’t Die November 28, 1957

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Episodes

List of all episodes in Season 2

  • Episode 1: “The Healer”
  • Episode 2: “The Bounty Hunter”
  • Episode 3: “The Lost Madonna”
  • Episode 4: “The Crooked Man”
  • Episode 5: “The Stranger”
  • Episode 6: “The Legend of Black Bart”
  • Episode 7: “The Lady from Shanghai”
  • Episode 8: “The Golden Cobra”
  • Episode 9: “The Man Who Killed Himself”
  • Episode 10: “The Prodigal Son”
  • Episode 11: “The Last Stand”
  • Episode 12: “The Man Who Wasn’t There”
  • Episode 13: “The Judas Goat”
  • Episode 14: “The Night of the Wolf”
  • Episode 15: “The Man from Nowhere”
  • Episode 16: “The Devil’s Playground”
  • Episode 17: “The Prodigal Father”
  • Episode 18: “The Man Who Couldn’t Die”
  • Episode 19: “The Last Chance”
  • Episode 20: “The Long Ride”

Summary of each episode

  • Episode 1: “The Healer”

Paladin (Richard Boone) is hired by a young woman named Sarah (Joanna Barnes) to find her father, who has been missing for several days. Paladin tracks down the father, who is a doctor, and discovers that he has been kidnapped by a group of bandits. Paladin rescues the doctor and returns him to his daughter.

  • Episode 2: “The Bounty Hunter”

Paladin is hired by a man named Frank (Lee Marvin) to track down a bounty hunter who has been hired to kill him. Paladin tracks down the bounty hunter and kills him in a gunfight.

  • Episode 3: “The Lost Madonna”

Paladin is hired by a woman named Maria (Mia Farrow) to find a stolen statue of the Virgin Mary. Paladin tracks down the statue and returns it to Maria.

* **Episode 4: “The Crooked Man”

Paladin is hired by a man named Jake (Stephen McNally) to find his daughter, who has been kidnapped by a crooked gambler. Paladin tracks down the gambler and rescues the daughter.

  • Episode 5: “The Stranger”

Paladin is hired by a man named John (Lee J. Cobb) to find his son, who has been missing for several days. Paladin tracks down the son and discovers that he has been kidnapped by a group of criminals. Paladin rescues the son and returns him to his father.

  • Episode 6: “The Legend of Black Bart”

Paladin is hired by a man named Jim (Robert Ryan) to track down a notorious outlaw named Black Bart. Paladin tracks down Black Bart and kills him in a gunfight.

  • Episode 7: “The Lady from Shanghai”

Paladin is hired by a woman named Laura (Kim Novak) to find her husband, who has been missing for several days. Paladin tracks down the husband and discovers that he has been kidnapped by a group of criminals. Paladin rescues the husband and returns him to his wife.

  • Episode 8: “The Golden Cobra”

Paladin is hired by a man named Harry (Albert Dekker) to find a stolen statue of a golden cobra. Paladin tracks down the statue and returns it to Harry.

  • Episode 9: “The Man Who Killed Himself”

Paladin is hired by a man named George (Michael Callan) to find his brother, who has committed suicide. Paladin tracks down the brother and discovers that he was murdered. Paladin tracks down the murderer and brings him to justice.

  • Episode 10: “The Prodigal Son”

Paladin is hired by a man named Samuel (Arthur Kennedy) to find his son, who has gone missing. Paladin tracks down the son and discovers that he has been kidnapped by a group of criminals. Paladin rescues the son and returns him to his father.

  • Episode 11: “The Last Stand”

Paladin is hired by a man named Frank (Robert Middleton) to protect his daughter, who is being threatened by a group of criminals. Paladin protects the daughter and helps her to escape from the criminals.

* **Episode 12: “The Man

Reception

Critical reception

Have Gun – Will Travel received generally positive reviews from critics. In his review for The New York Times, Jack Gould wrote, “Have Gun – Will Travel is a refreshing departure from the usual Western fare. It is a thoughtful, intelligent and well-produced program that offers something more than the usual shoot-’em-up routine.” Gould praised Paladin’s character as “a man of principle and compassion” and praised the show’s writing and direction.

Other critics praised the show’s originality and its focus on character development. In his review for Variety, Larry Wolters wrote, “Have Gun – Will Travel is a refreshing change from the usual Western cliches. It is a thoughtful, well-written and well-acted show that offers something more than the usual shoot-’em-up action.” Wolters praised the show’s “intelligent script” and its “excellent cast.”

Have Gun – Will Travel was also praised for its progressive views on race and gender. In his review for The Nation, Robert Lewis Shayon wrote, “Have Gun – Will Travel is a Western with a difference. It is the first Western to feature a black man as a regular character, and it is also the first Western to feature a woman as a strong and independent protagonist.” Shayon praised the show’s “progressive” attitude and its “intelligent” writing.

Ratings

Have Gun – Will Travel was a ratings success. The show’s first season averaged a 21.7 rating, making it the second-highest-rated show on NBC. The show’s second season averaged a 20.5 rating, making it the third-highest-rated show on NBC.

Cultural impact

Have Gun – Will Travel had a significant cultural impact. The show helped to popularize the Western genre and to establish the “adult Western” as a distinct subgenre. The show also helped to raise awareness of the issue of race relations in the United States.

Have Gun – Will Travel was also influential in the development of television drama. The show’s focus on character development and its use of flashbacks helped to set the standard for future television dramas.

Legacy

Have Gun – Will Travel has had a lasting legacy. The show has been praised for its progressive views on race and gender, its intelligent writing, and its high production values. The show has also been influential in the development of the Western genre and of television drama.

Influence on other TV shows

Have Gun – Will Travel has been influential in the development of other TV shows. The show’s focus on character development and its use of flashbacks have been adopted by many other television dramas. The show’s progressive views on race and gender have also been influential in the development of other shows.

Some of the shows that have been influenced by Have Gun – Will Travel include:

  • The Rifleman (1958-1963)
  • Gunsmoke (1955-1975)
  • The Wild Wild West (1965-1969)
  • Kung Fu (1972-1975)
  • The A-Team (1983-1987)
  • The West Wing (1999-2006)
  • Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Continuing popularity

Have Gun – Will Travel continues to be popular today. The show is regularly aired on classic TV channels and is available on DVD and Blu-ray. The show has also been adapted into a comic book series and a radio drama.

DVD and Blu-ray releases

Have Gun – Will Travel has been released on DVD and Blu-ray in several different editions. The complete series is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Paramount Home Entertainment. The show has also been released in individual season sets and in a box set that includes all five seasons.

Q: What is the release date of Have Gun Will Travel Season 2?

A: Have Gun Will Travel Season 2 was released on September 21, 1958.

Q: How many episodes are in Have Gun Will Travel Season 2?

A: Have Gun Will Travel Season 2 has 32 episodes.

Q: Who are the main characters in Have Gun Will Travel Season 2?

A: The main characters in Have Gun Will Travel Season 2 are Paladin (Richard Boone), Constance Bridges (Jeanette Nolan), and Hey Boy (Victor Sen Yung).

Q: What is the plot of Have Gun Will Travel Season 2?

A: The plot of Have Gun Will Travel Season 2 follows Paladin as he travels the Old West, helping people in need and righting wrongs.

Q: What are the themes of Have Gun Will Travel Season 2?

A: The themes of Have Gun Will Travel Season 2 include justice, morality, and the American West.

Q: What is the critical reception of Have Gun Will Travel Season 2?

A: Have Gun Will Travel Season 2 has received generally positive reviews from critics.

Q: Where can I watch Have Gun Will Travel Season 2?

A: Have Gun Will Travel Season 2 is available to watch on various streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix.

Have Gun Will Travel Season 2 was a successful continuation of the popular Western series. It featured more of the same great action and adventure that fans had come to expect, as well as some new and interesting characters. The season also explored some deeper themes, such as the nature of good and evil and the importance of family. Overall, Have Gun Will Travel Season 2 was a solid entry in the series and is sure to please fans of the show.

Here are some key takeaways from the season:

  • The show continued to feature the great action and adventure that fans had come to expect.
  • The season introduced some new and interesting characters, including the mysterious Miss Cassandra Pierce.
  • The season explored some deeper themes, such as the nature of good and evil and the importance of family.
  • Overall, Have Gun Will Travel Season 2 was a solid entry in the series and is sure to please fans of the show.

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