Ep 15. Born Bad
- March 26, 1957
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8.1 (89)
Cheyenne (1955) was a Western television series that ran for seven seasons on ABC. The show starred Clint Walker as Cheyenne Bodie, a former army scout who travelled the American frontier, often finding himself caught up in local troubles and conflicts.
Season 2 episode 15, titled "Born Bad," follows Cheyenne as he arrives in the small town of Sundown, which is ruled by a corrupt sheriff named Judd Haney (played by James Best). Haney's reign of terror over the town has gone on unchecked for years, with many of the townspeople too scared to speak out or resist him.
Cheyenne is initially reluctant to get involved and instead tries to keep a low profile. However, he is soon dragged into the conflict when he witnesses the aftermath of Haney's latest act of violence: the brutal beating of a young man named Bobby (played by Darryl Hickman). Bobby is the son of a local rancher, Tom (played by Douglas Kennedy), who used to be one of Haney's closest allies but has since turned against him.
Cheyenne agrees to help Tom and Bobby by taking them to a nearby town to get medical help for Bobby's injuries. However, along the way, they are ambushed by Haney and his men, who set out to capture the three men and bring them back to Sundown to face Haney's twisted sense of justice.
The rest of the episode follows Cheyenne as he tries to outsmart Haney and his men, all while protecting Tom and Bobby and trying to bring justice to the people of Sundown. Along the way, he also finds himself drawn to a local woman named Sally (played by Karen Steele), who becomes instrumental in helping him bring Haney to justice.
"Born Bad" is a classic Western episode, filled with all the drama, action, and suspense that fans of the genre have come to love. Clint Walker shines as the stoic, noble hero who fights for what is right, while James Best is delightfully evil and over-the-top as the villainous sheriff. The supporting cast is also strong, with standout performances from Douglas Kennedy and Darryl Hickman, as well as Karen Steele as the feisty love interest.
Overall, "Born Bad" is a great episode of Cheyenne that showcases the best of what the series had to offer. Fans of Westerns and classic television will undoubtedly enjoy watching Cheyenne stand up against corruption and oppression in the Wild West.