Gunsmoke

10 Best Episodes of Gunsmoke - Season 18

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television.

Written by Sophie and last updated on jan 10, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Gunsmoke - S18E17

#15 - Shadler (Season 18 - Episode 17)

Boone Shadler kills a guard and comes to a stricken town as a priest to keep from been caught by the law. Newly rides into town to try an help take care of sick people. Newly helps take care of Cyrus Himes who is dying. Newly thinks people may have gotten sick because of drinking bad water. Newly test the water to find out what is in it, Matt gets a wire (letter) saying a sheriff released a prisoner 5 days ago. Matt wonders why Newly didn't return to Dodge with the prisoner. Newly wonders if the priest is who he says after seeing Sadler look for a Bible. Sadler tells Dallas Fair he is a convict and that Dallas should go with him.

The episode was rated 7.58 from 12 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E19

#14 - A Quiet Day in Dodge (Season 18 - Episode 19)

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Matt comes back to Dodge City after capturing a prisoner he has been following for two days straight. Kitty is upset with Matt for not attending a lunch. To make up for the mistake Matt asks her out for dinner.

The episode was rated 7.60 from 15 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E12

#13 - The Brothers (Season 18 - Episode 12)

One psychotic brother is after Kitty to avenge his brother's death.

The episode was rated 7.60 from 15 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E23

#12 - Talbot (Season 18 - Episode 23)

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Talbot falls in love Katherine after shooting her husband in self-defense. Katherine wants to learn more about Talbot. Katherine learns of Talbot's plans to rob the bank, she puts her life in danger by telling Talbot she will leave him if he robs the bank.

The episode was rated 7.62 from 13 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E9

#11 - Milligan (Season 18 - Episode 9)

The episode was rated 7.67 from 12 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E11

#10 - The Sodbusters (Season 18 - Episode 11)

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Matt seen in Doc's office as he tries to asks a farmer how he was shot, the farmer can't say how he was hurt. Lamoor Underwood wants the water on the dead farmer's ground to run free, Pete Brown sets out to make sure that happens. Clarabelle is asked to leave her land because somebody wants the water rights. Pete Brown is shot for trying to help Clarabelle and other farmers. Matt tries to get Underwood to work with the farmers over water rights. Matt arrests Pete Brown but doesn't want to leave. Matt is hit in the back of the head because he knew Pete's real name. Matt takes Pete under arrest.

The episode was rated 7.69 from 13 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E21

#9 - Kimbro (Season 18 - Episode 21)

Matt runs into his former mentor Adam Kimbro and decides to build his self-confidence by deputizing him as a Deputy Marshal.

The episode was rated 7.71 from 14 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E10

#8 - Tatum (Season 18 - Episode 10)

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An ex-gunfighter is dying. He must reconcile with the daughters he abandoned, and wants to be buried next to his wife, who is buried in a town that hates him

The episode was rated 7.80 from 10 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E6

#7 - Sarah (Season 18 - Episode 6)

While trying to catch an outlaw (by riding to the outlaw's hideout) Matt runs into Sarah where she wonders if Matt ever wed. We find that Matt was a deputy in San Antonio. Sarah later tells the group she married Charlie Jackson (Matt) days ago. Charlie Jackson was somebody Sarah knew. Charlie tries to get the outlaws to stop hurting Sarah, Charlie begins to find out of plan that may cause trouble. Sarah later tells Matt that she loves him, but learns that those feelings are not going to return. We find out Matt is after someone who gave him four days in jail. Sarah is forced to Vesco why Charlie Jackson is back in Mexico, because one of Vesco's men knows Charlie Jackson is dead. Sarah tells Matt to leave, but Matt tries to protect Sarah.

The episode was rated 7.85 from 13 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E22

#6 - Jesse (Season 18 - Episode 22)

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Festus runs into Jesse Dillard who is wanted for shooting a black man. Festus wants to find out more and take his friend to prison.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 14 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E15

#5 - Arizona Midnight (Season 18 - Episode 15)

A midget arrives in Dodge City claiming he will turn into an elephant at the stroke of midnight. Arizona begins asking for someone to care for him along with three bales of hay. Everyone finds the story a bit far fetched.

The episode was rated 8.00 from 13 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E8

#4 - Eleven Dollars (Season 18 - Episode 8)

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The episode was rated 8.00 from 11 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E13

#3 - Hostage! (Season 18 - Episode 13)

The greatest bad-guy character actor of our time, William Smith, plays Jude Bonner, a bad guy who kidnaps, brutalizes, and shoots Miss Kitty in retaliation for his brother having been caught by Matt Dillon and hung for his crimes. Probably for the first time in seventeen years of Gunsmoke, Dillon takes off his marshal's badge before going after Bonner, with the intent of killing him.

The episode was rated 8.15 from 20 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E18

#2 - Patricia (Season 18 - Episode 18)

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Newly falls in love with a woman he met while tending the injured after a tornado. It doesn't take him long to decide to ask to marry her. Doc notes an odd bruise on her arm and her lack of energy. After an exam he wars with his conscience over whether to tell Patricia that she's got a rare blood disorder. He tells Kitty, Matt, and Newly before he marries her. She dies shortly after in Newly's arms and prompts Newly to go back to studying medicine.

The episode was rated 8.33 from 12 votes.

Gunsmoke - S18E7

#1 - The Fugitives (Season 18 - Episode 7)

Doc Adams comes into The Long Branch just in time to stop Festus from telling one of his long stories, Doc tells of how his day began and then rest before a baby has to be delivered. Now Doc and Festus have to treat the outlaws younger brother. Festus goes to get Matt as Doc is now left alone to treat the victim. The outlaws are ready for their brother to ride Doc warns that if moved the brother could die. Matt gets there in time to find that Doc is fine, but Festus is bleeding bad. The outlaws brother is dead. Doc tries to get the bullet out of Festus who is weak. One of the Stalcup outlaws comes back to get his brother Danny. Festus turns out fine only to drive Doc crazy!

The episode was rated 8.38 from 13 votes.

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