This story begins with the arrival of another member of Festus Haggen's family in Dodge City. "Hard Luck" Henry Haggen has come to Dodge to seek the wisdom of his cousin, Festus with a "showin' problem," as opposed to a "tellin' problem." Henry Haggen has earned the nickname Hard Luck Henry because everyone he likes meets with some measure of disaster.
Festus reluctantly agrees to go with Hard Luck Henry to help resolve the problem. (The Haggens consider Festus the Haggen with the greatest intellect and wisdom.) We soon learn that a group of Haggens -- including Homer, Harper, and Heathcliff, along with Henry -- have found a box of Confederate gold coins.
Festus manages to convince the others to transport the gold to Dodge City so Matt Dillon can advise them as to the proper disposition of the treasure. The situation is complicated by the fact another family known as the Dooleys -- Jefferson, Reb, and Truly -- consider themselves enemies of the Haggens and take a great interest in what the Haggens are doing.
The primary focus of this episode is on the challenges the Haggens face in their ultimate goal of taking the gold to Dodge.
This is supposed to be a comedy episode, and it certainly has its moments. The opening scenes in the Long Branch Saloon as Hard Luck Henry meets Doc Adams, Kitty Russell, and Matt Dillon are fun as Henry introduces himself and reveals some of his personal knowledge of Festus and his closest friends. There are reference to the Season 10 episode "Eliab's Aim," where Eliab Haggen makes his way to Dodge to shoot off "the hangy-down part" of Festus's ear. Apparently Doc Adams earned legendary status among the Haggen clan by treating Eliab's injured foot. We also learn the Haggens think "Matthew" is Festus's deputy.
Unfortunately, much of the rest of the story is tedious. The Haggens and the Dooleys are as annoying as they are funny. Most of the story consists of a series of silly incidents that mostly serve to fill time until we get to the head-scratchingly ridiculous conclusion. (Without giving too much away, I will only say quicksand and, in this case, "bogs" do not operate as they are often portrayed in classic movies and television.)
John Astin's portrayal of Hard Luck Henry Haggen comes across more as an actor portraying a backwoods person than an authentic person. Contrast Astin's performance with James Hampton's Eliab Haggen, Lauri Peters's Mayblossom Haggen, or Denver Pyle's Black Jack Haggen. There was authenticity to those performances, but it is missing with Astin. Furthermore, the other Haggens portrayed here -- Heathcliff, Homer, and Harper -- are more like cartoon characters played for yucks than real people. Even Festus prefers to keep his distance from this group of Haggens.
Festus reluctantly agrees to go with Hard Luck Henry to help resolve the problem. (The Haggens consider Festus the Haggen with the greatest intellect and wisdom.) We soon learn that a group of Haggens -- including Homer, Harper, and Heathcliff, along with Henry -- have found a box of Confederate gold coins.
Festus manages to convince the others to transport the gold to Dodge City so Matt Dillon can advise them as to the proper disposition of the treasure. The situation is complicated by the fact another family known as the Dooleys -- Jefferson, Reb, and Truly -- consider themselves enemies of the Haggens and take a great interest in what the Haggens are doing.
The primary focus of this episode is on the challenges the Haggens face in their ultimate goal of taking the gold to Dodge.
This is supposed to be a comedy episode, and it certainly has its moments. The opening scenes in the Long Branch Saloon as Hard Luck Henry meets Doc Adams, Kitty Russell, and Matt Dillon are fun as Henry introduces himself and reveals some of his personal knowledge of Festus and his closest friends. There are reference to the Season 10 episode "Eliab's Aim," where Eliab Haggen makes his way to Dodge to shoot off "the hangy-down part" of Festus's ear. Apparently Doc Adams earned legendary status among the Haggen clan by treating Eliab's injured foot. We also learn the Haggens think "Matthew" is Festus's deputy.
Unfortunately, much of the rest of the story is tedious. The Haggens and the Dooleys are as annoying as they are funny. Most of the story consists of a series of silly incidents that mostly serve to fill time until we get to the head-scratchingly ridiculous conclusion. (Without giving too much away, I will only say quicksand and, in this case, "bogs" do not operate as they are often portrayed in classic movies and television.)
John Astin's portrayal of Hard Luck Henry Haggen comes across more as an actor portraying a backwoods person than an authentic person. Contrast Astin's performance with James Hampton's Eliab Haggen, Lauri Peters's Mayblossom Haggen, or Denver Pyle's Black Jack Haggen. There was authenticity to those performances, but it is missing with Astin. Furthermore, the other Haggens portrayed here -- Heathcliff, Homer, and Harper -- are more like cartoon characters played for yucks than real people. Even Festus prefers to keep his distance from this group of Haggens.
