Maverick~Prey of the Cat
I believe this was the first solo Bart episode I watched and I think this episode (and stuff I read Online) lead my to believe that Bart was the more "serious brother". To tell you the truth the more I watch of the show the more I disagree with that. Although Bart definitely had more of the serious episodes he had his fair share of the comic ones too (and Bret had a few serious ones as well).
That being said I would argue that Prey of the Cat is the most dramatic episode of the series. I also don't think it is a very Maverick like episode and I probably wouldn't use it to introduce someone to the series but personally it is one of my top favorites.. Maverick did occasionally do a more "pure Western" ep but I wouldn't say Prey of the Cat is that either. I think if anything it can be said to be a Western Noir. Actually if anything except the setting I think it's more noirish than western. And perhaps because I am actually more of a Noir than Western fan (overall) I really liked this one. I also think Kelly did a great job in this episode showing a whole range of emotions.
Early on the episode does have some light moments with Bart making jokes (and watching I wonder if Kelly adlibbed these because they aren't the typical jokes you hear on Maverick and from everything I read Kelly actually was a jokester, apparently even more than Garner in RL). Bart breaks his leg and is forced to stay on at a ranch. But even this isn't all that dramatic because he is welcomed into the community and treated like one of their own and becomes good friends with the rancher who takes him in.
It is only when the wife of his benefactor falls for him that things turn deadly. Needless to say her husband (that the entire community loves) is killed and suspicion obviously falls on Bart the stranger, especially since he is caught with the wife (although all on her side not his but again no one wants to believe that). And later on another murder happens and things look even worse for Bart.
The episode makes an interesting comment calling Bart a drifter with no friends. Personally I really don't agree with this sentiment. Besides having a family, Bret, Beau, and Pappy. It is shown through the series that Bart has plenty of good relations in the towns he goes through. However the sentiment DOES work for this episode in particular because Bart has to be the outsider and loner for the story and atmosphere to work.
The last 10 minutes are especially harsh with Bart about to be lynched by a mob. There were a few other almost lynching scenes in the series but they were also mixed with humor. This is anything but and is really well filmed in its intensity (and you can see Bart's fear and struggle to survive despite the fact he has no chance. ).
The reason why I feel this is the most dramatic episode because most episodes (even the most dramatic ones) end on a somewhat positive note this one did not. Bart's innocence is of course proved at the last minute but the townspeople who tried to lynch him obviously lost something. Not only did they lose a man they admired they basically turned into "animals" who threw away all reason. I think the story does a good job of showing how mob mentality can effect good people (and despite what they almost did to Bart they were good people that is the tragedy of the situation). In the end Bart rides off again friendless, alone, and a drifter fitting with the Noir themes of the episode.
That being said I would argue that Prey of the Cat is the most dramatic episode of the series. I also don't think it is a very Maverick like episode and I probably wouldn't use it to introduce someone to the series but personally it is one of my top favorites.. Maverick did occasionally do a more "pure Western" ep but I wouldn't say Prey of the Cat is that either. I think if anything it can be said to be a Western Noir. Actually if anything except the setting I think it's more noirish than western. And perhaps because I am actually more of a Noir than Western fan (overall) I really liked this one. I also think Kelly did a great job in this episode showing a whole range of emotions.
Early on the episode does have some light moments with Bart making jokes (and watching I wonder if Kelly adlibbed these because they aren't the typical jokes you hear on Maverick and from everything I read Kelly actually was a jokester, apparently even more than Garner in RL). Bart breaks his leg and is forced to stay on at a ranch. But even this isn't all that dramatic because he is welcomed into the community and treated like one of their own and becomes good friends with the rancher who takes him in.
It is only when the wife of his benefactor falls for him that things turn deadly. Needless to say her husband (that the entire community loves) is killed and suspicion obviously falls on Bart the stranger, especially since he is caught with the wife (although all on her side not his but again no one wants to believe that). And later on another murder happens and things look even worse for Bart.
The episode makes an interesting comment calling Bart a drifter with no friends. Personally I really don't agree with this sentiment. Besides having a family, Bret, Beau, and Pappy. It is shown through the series that Bart has plenty of good relations in the towns he goes through. However the sentiment DOES work for this episode in particular because Bart has to be the outsider and loner for the story and atmosphere to work.
The last 10 minutes are especially harsh with Bart about to be lynched by a mob. There were a few other almost lynching scenes in the series but they were also mixed with humor. This is anything but and is really well filmed in its intensity (and you can see Bart's fear and struggle to survive despite the fact he has no chance. ).
The reason why I feel this is the most dramatic episode because most episodes (even the most dramatic ones) end on a somewhat positive note this one did not. Bart's innocence is of course proved at the last minute but the townspeople who tried to lynch him obviously lost something. Not only did they lose a man they admired they basically turned into "animals" who threw away all reason. I think the story does a good job of showing how mob mentality can effect good people (and despite what they almost did to Bart they were good people that is the tragedy of the situation). In the end Bart rides off again friendless, alone, and a drifter fitting with the Noir themes of the episode.