Ep 5. Obie Tater

Obie Tater, the fifth episode of Gunsmoke's first season, takes place in the fictional town of Dodge City, Kansas, during the late 1800s.

The episode begins with Obie Tater (played by actor Claude Akins), a well-known troublemaker, arriving in town. He quickly starts causing problems by picking fights and generally being a menace. This behavior catches the attention of Marshal Matt Dillon (played by James Arness), who warns Obie to behave or face the consequences.

Despite the warning, Obie doesn't back down and continues to cause trouble. He even goes as far as to steal a horse from the local blacksmith (played by Will Wright) and causes a scene in the saloon. It's clear to everyone that Obie is a danger to the town and something needs to be done about him.

Matt decides to take matters into his own hands and confronts Obie. The two men engage in a tense standoff where Matt tries to reason with Obie, but the troublemaker won't hear any of it. He pulls out a gun and aims it at Matt, but before he can pull the trigger, he's shot by a bystander who had witnessed Obie causing trouble earlier in the day.

As Obie lays on the ground dying, Matt tries to get him to give up the name of his accomplices in hopes of stopping any future trouble they may cause. Obie refuses, showing his loyalty to his friends until the very end.

The episode ends with Matt burying Obie and reflecting on the troublemaker's life. Despite being a criminal, Matt feels a sense of sadness for Obie, recognizing that life in the Old West was hard and sometimes people had to do bad things to survive.

Overall, Obie Tater is a thrilling episode that showcases the harsh realities of life in the Old West. With its standout performances and intense action, it's no wonder why Gunsmoke became such a beloved TV show that would go on to last for 20 seasons.