The very dependable actor Robert F Simon plays the title character, who's entire life and career is tied up in the vast land acreage that he acquired back in the days before Dodge City was even built. So there's an element of the "legendary" past (sort of) that is symbolized by a painting that hangs in the Long Branch saloon...and Jonah is definitely still living in that past.
Well-written relationship between the tough old guy (who's also prone to violence, unfortunately), his practical, "real-world" son, played by the always excellent Richard Anderson, and HIS three sons (no...that's a different show...), who are "conflicted" in their sense of family duty; do they follow Gramps in his domineering, aggressive ways, or obey their much more passive dad?
And, as always, Big Matt Dillon is hovering over all of this, dispensing his wise advice in an attempt to avoid what threatens to become a disastrous, violent situation between Jonah and his fellow homesteaders.
The show lags in its opening scenes, but ultimately regains its pace.
Again, it's an unusual story..mostly low-key and rather introspective.. that centers around the personal relationship of 3 generations of the Hutchinson guys. Nice (but brief) speech by Matt at the very end. LR.
PS--- What's with the make-up on Robert Simon in his first scene (arriving in Dodge)? Looks like the make-up dept did some sort of "age" thing on his face, highlighting the temples, cheekbones, etc, presumably to make his eyes and cheeks look more sunken. It's definitely there, but the next time we see him...on the way to his ranch driving the wagon...the weird make-up is GONE, thankfully. Somebody probably looked at the early rushes and said "what the hell is THAT supposed to be?" Cancel it!
