The BEST episodes written by Gene L. Coon
#1 - Hills Are For Heroes (1)
Combat! - Season 4 - Episode 25
This two part Combat! episode is the story of the futility of war as viewed through the eyes of surviving infantrymen. An American division of troops is making an assault all along their lines. Lt. Hanley's platoon is ordered to take a strategic hill that overlooks a needed road, but it is protected by two concrete bunkers with machine guns. Saunders gets hit in the first assault while several other GIs are killed. Hanley finds it almost hopeless with Saunders wounded.
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#2 - Hills Are for Heroes (2)
Combat! - Season 4 - Episode 26
In part 2, things look bleak for the men of King Company, but Lt. Hanley's platoon gets the support of a tank to help take the hill. The tank is destroyed by a German bazooka. Now Hanley plans to use the tank as cover to attack the last German bunker.
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Rawhide - Season 5 - Episode 7
Rowdy,Quince and Clay help out three soldiers being attacked by Indians. They were sent to break the treaty with Broken Bow.
#4 - Death and the Favored Few
The Streets of San Francisco - Season 2 - Episode 23
Stone and Keller investigate the murder of a society publisher whose method was to coerce subscriptions from wealthy clients by blackmailing them. The investigation leads the detective to a wealthy woman and her daughter, who were among the ones being blackmailed and who still have secrets to hide.
#6 - The Fifth Man
Have Gun, Will Travel - Season 2 - Episode 36
Ben Talman, who has murdered 12 men, escaped from jail. He kills four men in Yucca Bend within one week. Paladin is hired to bring him in.
#10 - The Ringer
Combat! - Season 4 - Episode 23
A suspicious Pvt. Adams (Mart Hulswit) slaps some dirt on his clean uniform and joins Saunders' squad. He earns Saunders' wrath and distrust by repeatedly disregarding orders. He behaves erratically, endangering the lives of the squad.
#14 - The Thunderhead Swindle
Bonanza - Season 2 - Episode 30
With Virginia City on the verge of economic ruin, out of work miners put their hopes in word of a strike at a mine everbody believed was played out. Ben suspects the new owners have been stealing silver from an adjoining mine also thought dry, and resolves to prove it.
#18 - Spectre of the Gun
Star Trek - Season 3 - Episode 6
When coming to an exaphobic isolationist planet, Captain Kirk and his landing party are punished for trepassing. They are sentenced to death in a surreal recreation of the Gunfight at the OK Corral with the landing on the losing side.
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#19 - The Night of the Freebooters
The Wild Wild West - Season 1 - Episode 25
Jim and Arte go undercover to infiltrate a renegade Army led by Thorwald Wolfe, who intends to conquer part of Mexico.
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#20 - Death on Sun Mountain
Bonanza - Season 1 - Episode 2
Greedy opportunist Mark Burdette and his accomplice Early Thorne stir up trouble between the Paiute tribe and the citizens of Virginia City. Ben discovers Burdette and Thorne are selling antelope beef to the miners and finds the price too high. He offers the miners beef at a more reasonable price. Burdette and Thorne retaliate by framing the Paiute's for attacks, by dressing as them and killing ranchers. Based on a factual accounting. Lorne Greene's first voice-over narration, and no landing constructed yet for the Ponderosa stairway.
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#21 - The Paiute War
Bonanza - Season 1 - Episode 4
Trader Mike Wilson attempts to escape punishment by the Paiute Indians after mistreating two of their women, by placing the blame on Adam. A fierce war between the Paiutes and the California militia follows, and the Paiutes seize Adam as hostage. Very impressive battle scenes in the this first mini-epic of the series. This episode did all it could to stage the real thing; 50 Indians were used and 50 cavalry actors and extras were used, and the production involved three days of shooting on location. This episode encompassed both the biggest cast and most costly stunts. This episode is based on the factual accounting that occured in May and June of 1860.
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#27 - The Regimental Line
The Virginian - Season 9 - Episode 21
When an Army troop arrives looking for a group of marauding Indians who have gone on the warpath, both Colonel MacKenzie and Parker recognize one of the sergeants as a lancer from the British Army whom they believed to have been killed in India ten years ago - and who was supposed to have been leading MacKenzie's brother when he was captured and killed. The man deserts when he recognizes Parker, and MacKenzie goes out after him, with the Indians following behind.
#28 - The Showdown
The Virginian - Season 3 - Episode 29
The Virginian arrives in Monolith, Arizona to buy cattle from the Landers family but finds himself in the middle of a feud between them and the city Marshall Frome and his brother. The Fromes seem overbearing but maybe with a reason
#29 - Zorro Rides Alone
Zorro (1957) - Season 2 - Episode 2
Diego continues his investigation into Señor Verdugo's business by riding to his house, where Verdugo greets him and Bernardo with his arm in a sling. Although Verdugo claims an old injury is bothering him, Diego suspects he may be the leader of the robbers, so he sets a trap. He tells Verdugo the money is being sent via the Guadalupe Trail and should be arriving shortly, but a servant overhears him. Unfortunately, Sergeant Garcia and Corporal Reyes, who have been sent with the money along the Camino Real, decide to take a shortcut and use the Guadalupe Trail. When Zorro and Bernardo arrive at the trail, hoping to catch the robbers, they're amazed to spot the soldiers riding into a trap they have inadvertently helped set. Zorro is unable to reach them in time, for Tornado had to be left home to avoid suspicion. The robbers take the money and order the soldiers to dig their own graves, but Zorro overpowers the guards and frees Garcia and Reyes. Just then, Verdugo arrives, apparently confirming Diego's theory that he is the mastermind. In reality, Verdugo has been lured there by his servant, who plans to kill him. Zorro saves the merchant, who explains that he sent his men there to help Garcia and didn't know that his servants were the robbers.
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#30 - Hate Me a Little
My Favorite Martian - Season 3 - Episode 9
Martin's benevolence-inducing light has an unusual effect on Brennan.