Post by California gal on Jul 20, 2013 22:00:36 GMT -5
The Night of the Pistoleros. I love this episode despite itsflaws. The episode contains many plot gaps, and unexplained actions (some of
which I tried to clarify in my fan fiction, TNOT Pistoleros—Artie’s POV). For instance, why did Sanchos, with his dying breath, tell Jim he killed Artemus so that the colonel would come across the border? Obviously, Sanchos thought he was assassinating the real Artemus Gordon, not the doppelganger. Galiano didn’t tell him everything. He was serious when he told Artie that a little knowledge was a dangerous thing.
A small quibble, which I was unable to explain in my writing, was the fact that Jim was wearing his gun belt and pistol when he and
Artie arrived at the barn or whatever it was to expose the duplicates. How did he have time to go back to the fort to retrieve it before going to the barn? The time points mentioned do not seem to allow this.
No matter.
What I like:
The opening scene with the two agents riding down an open hill, blue sky behind them, pausing to share the canteen and discuss their upcoming job briefly.
The great fight with the Pistoleros at the homestead. Very well staged, and won by our heroes, naturally, against great odds.
I like how Jim tosses the unconscious Pistolero on his shoulders. Easy-peasy.
I like how, when Jim is on the sidewalk in town at night, obviously looking for his partner, he sighs in relief when he hears “Artie” call his name. Then nonchalantly makes a comment about not being sure about Artie after mentioning the others who had died.
I like how, when the first shot rings out and Artie goes down, Jim dives over the railing to take care of business first. (Ever notice the man by the desk that ducks for cover?)
Then when the last bad guy is downed, Jim immediately goes to the still form he believes is his friend, and frantically searches for a sign of life before lifting his agonized gaze to the colonel.
The funeral, with Jim stiff and stoic, saluting his partner, brother, and friend for the last time, as he believes, then slowly, steadily, making that long, lonely walk out of the cemetery, leaving Artie behind.
Listening to the colonel explain how important it was for Jim to visit Colonel Vega in Sonora, and Jim’s dispassionate response. He was
not too interested in formal governmental relations and protocol at that moment.
The way he rides full bore into Sonora, then dismounts and apologizes to his horse with a gentle pat. In the cantina, not even a pretty
senorita can distract him from his purpose. (In the script, a fight occurs here, but we never see it; apparently, it happened, at least according to the conversation with Colonel Vega who seems to indicate news of the brawl tore him away from his dinner.)
The way Jim speaks so coldly to Sanchos: “Take a look at the man who’s going to kill you.” (Quote might not be exactly right.) He gets a little careless and allows Sanchos to disarm him, but then Sanchos dies on his own knife, probably a good thing because Jim would have eventually realized that the gunman did not actually kill Artie.
In the fake colonel’s office, when Jim loses his cool—falling into the bogus Roper’s trap.
The great fight in Galiano’s home—even with the split pants.
And then the best moments of all, when Artemus appears on the landing above the room and Jim see’s him. My guess is that Jim doesn’t know whether he’s seeing the real thing, another doppelganger, or a ghost… until Artie speaks so sarcastically about being risen like Lazarus. But even so, all Jim can do is repeat “Thanks, Artie.” He is, as the saying goes, gob-smacked.
A great moment between two friends. Which would have been truly ruined if the original script had been followed!
I like the scene in the barn when the fake officers are exposed, and the expression on Jim’s face after Artie winks at him.
The tag is something of a disappointment and obviously filmed long after the rest of the episode, after Ross returned from suffering
the heart attack. One would wish they would have made some other reference to the entire incident beyond simply inquiring about the results of the trial. However, Pistoleros was a rather serious episode compared to most of the others. A lighthearted ending was required.
I mustn’t forget Artie altogether. He did not have very many scenes, as himself anyway, but he was fine as usual. I always wonder why he pulls his pistol in the photography shop. Why didn’t he just display his badge? And of course, he arrived at the right moment, as usual, to save Jim’s bacon!
No problem for me to give Pistoleros 10 out of 10; even 15 out of 10!
which I tried to clarify in my fan fiction, TNOT Pistoleros—Artie’s POV). For instance, why did Sanchos, with his dying breath, tell Jim he killed Artemus so that the colonel would come across the border? Obviously, Sanchos thought he was assassinating the real Artemus Gordon, not the doppelganger. Galiano didn’t tell him everything. He was serious when he told Artie that a little knowledge was a dangerous thing.
A small quibble, which I was unable to explain in my writing, was the fact that Jim was wearing his gun belt and pistol when he and
Artie arrived at the barn or whatever it was to expose the duplicates. How did he have time to go back to the fort to retrieve it before going to the barn? The time points mentioned do not seem to allow this.
No matter.
What I like:
The opening scene with the two agents riding down an open hill, blue sky behind them, pausing to share the canteen and discuss their upcoming job briefly.
The great fight with the Pistoleros at the homestead. Very well staged, and won by our heroes, naturally, against great odds.
I like how Jim tosses the unconscious Pistolero on his shoulders. Easy-peasy.
I like how, when Jim is on the sidewalk in town at night, obviously looking for his partner, he sighs in relief when he hears “Artie” call his name. Then nonchalantly makes a comment about not being sure about Artie after mentioning the others who had died.
I like how, when the first shot rings out and Artie goes down, Jim dives over the railing to take care of business first. (Ever notice the man by the desk that ducks for cover?)
Then when the last bad guy is downed, Jim immediately goes to the still form he believes is his friend, and frantically searches for a sign of life before lifting his agonized gaze to the colonel.
The funeral, with Jim stiff and stoic, saluting his partner, brother, and friend for the last time, as he believes, then slowly, steadily, making that long, lonely walk out of the cemetery, leaving Artie behind.
Listening to the colonel explain how important it was for Jim to visit Colonel Vega in Sonora, and Jim’s dispassionate response. He was
not too interested in formal governmental relations and protocol at that moment.
The way he rides full bore into Sonora, then dismounts and apologizes to his horse with a gentle pat. In the cantina, not even a pretty
senorita can distract him from his purpose. (In the script, a fight occurs here, but we never see it; apparently, it happened, at least according to the conversation with Colonel Vega who seems to indicate news of the brawl tore him away from his dinner.)
The way Jim speaks so coldly to Sanchos: “Take a look at the man who’s going to kill you.” (Quote might not be exactly right.) He gets a little careless and allows Sanchos to disarm him, but then Sanchos dies on his own knife, probably a good thing because Jim would have eventually realized that the gunman did not actually kill Artie.
In the fake colonel’s office, when Jim loses his cool—falling into the bogus Roper’s trap.
The great fight in Galiano’s home—even with the split pants.
And then the best moments of all, when Artemus appears on the landing above the room and Jim see’s him. My guess is that Jim doesn’t know whether he’s seeing the real thing, another doppelganger, or a ghost… until Artie speaks so sarcastically about being risen like Lazarus. But even so, all Jim can do is repeat “Thanks, Artie.” He is, as the saying goes, gob-smacked.
A great moment between two friends. Which would have been truly ruined if the original script had been followed!
I like the scene in the barn when the fake officers are exposed, and the expression on Jim’s face after Artie winks at him.
The tag is something of a disappointment and obviously filmed long after the rest of the episode, after Ross returned from suffering
the heart attack. One would wish they would have made some other reference to the entire incident beyond simply inquiring about the results of the trial. However, Pistoleros was a rather serious episode compared to most of the others. A lighthearted ending was required.
I mustn’t forget Artie altogether. He did not have very many scenes, as himself anyway, but he was fine as usual. I always wonder why he pulls his pistol in the photography shop. Why didn’t he just display his badge? And of course, he arrived at the right moment, as usual, to save Jim’s bacon!
No problem for me to give Pistoleros 10 out of 10; even 15 out of 10!