Gunsmoke: Season 2, Vol. 2

This show keeps getting better. I now have the complete set for season two and although I am not happy about the pricing, I refuse to protest the business practices of the company that packaged the best drama/adventure series ever created.This season continues to depict the dark side of human nature and the unpredictability of life in the most honest manner I have ever seen on television. Matt Dillon, Chester Goode, Kitty Russell, and Doc Adams form a tight circle of friendship and battle against those who refuse to obey the laws of Dodge and not adhere to basic laws of decency. The brutality and depravity of human nature is on full display. Many of the episodes do not contain the traditional "feel good" endings, which I like because I think it adds to the shows intensity. Most importantly, Marshall Dillon, who is portrayed as a larger then life character, also exhibits weaknesses, doubts, and emotions like all of us. He is not perfect but you know he is doing his best to perform the almost impossible task of trying to maintain law and order on the wild frontier.Season 2 climbed in the TV ratings to number 8. James Arness was nominated for Best Continuing Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Series. This series is the best TV show I own and I thoroughly enjoy watching it with my kids. My biggest problem is that my 13 year old son and 11 year old daughter want to watch all the episodes right away. I need to limit the viewing so that we can get at least a months worth of enjoyment out of it.If you don't like paying the high price for half a season, you can wait until season 3 arrives because like other companies, I think eventually they will package season 2 Vol 1 and Vol 2 into one set and reduce the price to around $[...]. This is what other companies are doing. The risk you run is not having the set available because it is sold out. My final recommendation: Buy it, buy it, buy it.

First let me say that the shipping containers (padded envelopes) were very inferior. One of the DVD cases was smashed to smithereens and the DVD's inside damaged. I also have to say however that the exchange for the damaged items went smoothly and quickly. I had a new DVD inside of a week before I even sent back the damaged one. Amazon (or whoever sends these out) should ship them in boxes instead of envelopes!I also have a complaint about the prices. I bought all six DVD's of season one for twenty something dollars. The second season however came in two volumes. One and two at a cost of twenty something dollars each. So while you pay twenty something for all of season one I paid fifty something dollars for season two. What kind of rip off is THAT? What makes season two worth so much more than season one?Now that I've gotten my complaints out of the way I'll tell you that the DVD's were of the best quality and I immensely enjoyed season one and two. I used to watch Gunsmoke with my dad back in the 50's and 60's when he was still alive. These DVD's brought back some good memories that I had long forgotten.Thanks Amazon,James Berchem

Gun smoke is the longest running TV series beating Law and Order by having more episodes, both of them being on 20 years.This is the second season, when the show was establishing itself as the best TV western.This is still the half hour, black & white, small screen TV show of the 50s.These are excellent stories, fast paced and well acted. Watch the faces, many of them become famous.Starting with season two, the seasons are released in two parts and this is the reason for a number of the lower star reviews.There is no decrease in quality.Make sure you watch the commercials, included as a special feature.

I wasn't born when these were broadcast, so it's fun seeing this show before it was an institution. A few extras are here--sponsor spots--snd that's always a nice touch. Some of the scripts are almost verbatim repeats of the Gunsmoke radio show, which I've also been listening to. Good, tight (30 min) stories, and production that's a marvel. These people turned out 39 episodes a year. No time for divas.

Gunsmoke is in the 30 minute format for its first six seasons. Basically what this means to a viewer like me is these episodes get right to the point, and as a general rule, stay right to the point. There is a lot less of the "filler" scenes. For example, a 1 hour episode might show Matt Dillon mounting his horse; riding across several different locations; stopping to eat a can of beans beside a little fire he has started to keep him warm that night; and finally he enters Hays City or some other destination. In an episode that is in the 30 minute format the scene would probably just start with Matt entering Hays City. Personally, I find myself in the mood for both types of shows at one time or another, but most of the time I prefer the 30 minute episodes.

The lead actors have all found their characters by the second half of Season 2. They seem to wear their TV personas like comfortable old coats. For those of you who are not familiar with the radio series that gave rise to the TV encarnation, give special attention to the episode entitled "Skid Row". It will give you an idea of the kind of adult approach to the western for which it was famous. It was writing like this that set Gunsmoke apart from all other 50's westerns. I can't wait for the release of Season 3. I wish they would go back to the full season sets. I don't object to the increase in price, just to having the season broken up and the series' release delayed.

My family loves these movies

I love "Gunsmoke", the early episodes!

This is outstanding entertainment and I think proves that Gunsmoke works best in a 25 minute format. There is a fabulous episode where Dillon quits after killing 3 outlaws, and has to return to Dodge to confront and kill a baddie who has come looking for revenge. You catch a glimpse of how Dillon doesn't like his job, and is really going against his own nature in continuing, but his sense of duty over rides these feelings. " A man's gotta do what he's got to do." At this point Gunsmoke was high quality drama: thought provoking and insightful. More importantly it shows that people can have moral and ethical dilemmas, and that we are defined by the way we cope with these.

Great tv series from years gone bye , still holds up today.half hour episodes .

I would also greatly recommend this item. The acting on the part of all characters (Amanda Blake, James Arness, Dennis Weaver) is very good. Every story is great. I can see why this western series lasted so long. In fact, it could have gone on longer. Probably the best western series of that era....

Good quality picture, arrived in good condition.

We like the series. We are western fans.We are missing the last 3-4 season's of Bonanza can't get them anywhere. We would love to have them ,hope you can help.