One of the BEST shows on air from the late 50s, early 60s. I grew up pretty rebellious as a child in the 60s yet so fortunate to have been growing up in a time of amazing movies and shows like 'The Rifleman.' I never cared for Chuck Connors looks, it was some the shape of his eyes, yet as I got older I learned to realize just how ignorant that I was to judge someone from their looks and the shape of their eyes or facial features. So here I am a progressive yet a woman with strong values and morals and a heart that still enjoys watching 'The Rifleman' everyday when home. I find comfort in the story lines that more kids these days should learn from. The acting was wonderful by Chuck Connors showed more acting in this show than he did in any other, and seems to have been made for the part. The series reflected an Emphasis on character building and morals to the stories. I realized later in life that it was this exact same style of strong, silent type walk which Clint Eastwood in making his trademark that was lead by Chuck Connors yet Lucas McCain was a FAMIY MAN and always showed a great fathers love for his son. He was what any child would want as a father. A father that was raising a child alone without a mother or any families help. Instead he was a man what was respected by the town, a man with integrity yet would also admit when he was wrong.My favorite child actor wasn't Shirley Temple yet Johnny Crawford in the late 60's because he played is character Mark McCain so real and genuine and showed great respect for his father. And as a female I grew up a "Tomboy" and wished I had a brother like Mark McCain.They just don't make shows like those these days. The shows I adore as a MODERN VEGAN WOMAN that also grew up on Rock & Roll. I still also watch Bonanza and Gunsmoke too. I'm even friends with the wife of Michaal Landon, Cindy Landon, and we talk about the making of Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie and the VALUES that are so important to be taught to children. To be truthful, honest and spiritual. Odd that a thin progressive woman that doesn't eat animals could love these old time series yet that tough the heart and spirit of man and in the end it's just a life of peace that we long to have in this world. Peace for animals and all humans. Love this classic "The Rifleman."

BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG! The Rifleman! *Lucas McCain Does some fancy movements with his gun.* Starring Chuck Connors! Is there anything else that is needed to make this intro want you to watch the show that proceeds it? Absolutely not. Just seeing those few seconds of Connors firing off a rifle is enough to suck you into this classic western.In The Rifleman, Chuck Connors portrays Widowed Settler Lucas McCain, a Cowboy living the basic old-style life and by raising his son, mark. throughout the series, Lucas deals with many different hombres and criminals, but yet always brings them to justice, and at the same time teaching his young son morals and lessons that viewers could learn a thing or two from.It's amazing how politicians and Conservative TV nuts will slam video games and modern TV for the violence in our world. But really, where did that inspiration come from? You guessed it, Classic violence in TV like the Rifleman. The only difference is that modern TV won't teach you a lesson or give the protagonist a fair reason to be violent.Overall, I give Rifleman a 10/10

Two things in this episode are worth mentioning. First, as Mark is sent away from the ranch by Lucas, due to the possibility of his catching Yellow Fever, Mark says something to the effect of: "See you tomorrow night, dad!" This is the only time in the entire run of the show that he ever addresses his father as "Dad". Usually he calls him Pa ("Paw").The other thing in this episode is a distant shot of what appears to be an automobile driving across a field far behind the outdoor location of the McCain Ranch. As Luoas says goodbye to Mark as he prepares to go into town with the doctor, behind them far in the hills you can see what appears to be a vehicle driving along. It happens quickly, but is very noticeable.As usual, a great episode, but a remarkable one due to these two things.

As a kid growing up in the 70s, "The Rifleman" was one the only other western besides "Wild, Wild, West" that I really liked--I envied Mark McCain and the great father he had on the show (played by Connors). Yes, each show was a morality play but so were many other shows of the 50s & 60s (including "Star Trek"). They made their point at a time when there was still some innocence in America, and even taught tolerance for people from other countries/cultures (for example, in the episode of "Rifleman" where a Japanese man gets insulted & pushed into a fight with one of the locals & uses Judo to defend himself). Lucas McCain taught his son by example NEVER to use a gun or fight unless it was self-defense. It sounds silly now, but when I was a kid I wished my dad had explained things to me the same way Chuck Connors did to his son in the show--ah well, thank goodness for TV writers! :)