Matt and Chester are tricked into riding out to a squalid homestead where they encounter a half-crazed family intent on robbing Dodge's bank.
An interesting episode for both its highs and lows, and for what the story implies. The idea and title clearly come from the backwoods movie of 1941, Tobacco Road. However, instead of a humorous tale of an eccentric family of Southern rubes, the Grilk family are desperate and murderous, nothing amusing at all. The trouble is, it's spread on so thickly the portrayals come close to unfunny parody that undercuts the entry's serious intent. On the other hand, is the entry's powerful ending. Now, what distinguishes Gunsmoke from other series of the time is its occasional refusal to come up with a happy ending. And that's certainly the case here, with a desolation that speaks volumes about homesteading on the frontier.
All of which brings up two of writer Meston's favorite themes— namely, the psychological and physical toll of homesteading, especially on women. In the script, Pa Grilk (Simon) takes out his frustrations on Ma (Nolan) by beating her regularly, and being isolated on the prairie, she has no defense. Now, being isolated like that is a powerful theme and I wish Meston had developed it more than he does since it would more fully explain the family's half-crazed behavior. Besides, that ramshackle dugout of a house or whatever it might be is like nothing I've seen from the time, and speaks volumes in itself.
Anyway, it's an interesting episode as much for what it doesn't say as for what it does.