Gunsmoke: Season 18
Season 18 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Gunsmoke Season 17.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 18 Progress Shield
The River (1)
Sep 11, 1972 · 45 min
Matt is tracked, with bad intent, along a river gorge by a gang of villains while in custody of one of the gang and $24,000 of their money. Escaping the gang by jumping into the ri
The River (2)
Sep 18, 1972 · 45 min
Matt is tracked, with bad intent, along a river gorge by a gang of villains while in custody of one of the gang and $24,000 of their money. Escaping the gang by jumping into the ri
The Judgement
Oct 2, 1972 · 45 min
A guy comes to Dodge for revenge on a guy who might just deserve it.
The Drummer
Oct 9, 1972 · 45 min
Daniel Shay comes to Dodge City as a drummer who peddles rat traps as a way of making money. While Daniel continues to look for buyers of his rat traps, he sees a Cheyenne boy stea
Sarah
Oct 16, 1972 · 45 min
While trying to catch an outlaw (by riding to the outlaw's hideout) Matt runs into Sarah where she wonders if Matt ever wed. We find that Matt was a deputy in San Antonio. Sarah la
The Fugitives
Oct 23, 1972 · 45 min
Doc Adams comes into The Long Branch just in time to stop Festus from telling one of his long stories, Doc tells of how his day began and then rest before a baby has to be delivere
Eleven Dollars
Oct 30, 1972 · 45 min
Festus heads to Abilene to bring a woman $11 left over from the sale of her things after her father's death, and finds time to teach two little boys a lesson along the way.
Milligan
Nov 6, 1972 · 45 min
When a family man lawfully kills a murderous outlaw by shooting him in the back, some people in town start to physically abuse him.
Tatum
Nov 13, 1972 · 45 min
An ex-gunfighter is dying. He must reconcile with the daughters he abandoned, and wants to be buried next to his wife, who is buried in a town that hates him
The Sodbusters
Nov 20, 1972 · 45 min
Matt seen in Doc's office as he tries to asks a farmer how he was shot, the farmer can't say how he was hurt. Lamoor Underwood wants the water on the dead farmer's ground to run f
The Brothers
Nov 27, 1972 · 45 min
One psychotic brother is after Kitty to avenge his brother's death.
Hostage!
Dec 11, 1972 · 45 min
The greatest bad-guy character actor of our time, William Smith, plays Jude Bonner, a bad guy who kidnaps, brutalizes, and shoots Miss Kitty in retaliation for his brother having b
Jubilee
Dec 18, 1972 · 45 min
A man neglects his family in favor of raising his prize possession: a race horse
Arizona Midnight
Jan 1, 1973 · 45 min
A midget arrives in Dodge City claiming he will turn into an elephant at the stroke of midnight. Arizona begins asking for someone to care for him along with three bales of hay. E
Homecoming
Jan 8, 1973 · 45 min
Two outlaws head back to Dodge City to visit their mother who doesn't trust her son's. Who claim to want to work the farm and take care of their mother. They intend to take their
Shadler
Jan 15, 1973 · 45 min
Boone Shadler kills a guard and comes to a stricken town as a priest to keep from been caught by the law. Newly rides into town to try an help take care of sick people. Newly helps
Patricia
Jan 22, 1973 · 45 min
Newly falls in love with a woman he met while tending the injured after a tornado. It doesn't take him long to decide to ask to marry her. Doc notes an odd bruise on her arm and
A Quiet Day in Dodge
Jan 29, 1973 · 45 min
Matt comes back to Dodge City after capturing a prisoner he has been following for two days straight. Kitty is upset with Matt for not attending a lunch. To make up for the mistak
Whelan's Men
Feb 5, 1973 · 45 min
A former lawman that Dillon put out of business years earlier comes back with a group of men to gun him down. Since Dillon is out of town, they settle in at the Long Branch to pla
Kimbro
Feb 12, 1973 · 45 min
Matt runs into his former mentor Adam Kimbro and decides to build his self-confidence by deputizing him as a Deputy Marshal.
Jesse
Feb 19, 1973 · 45 min
Festus runs into Jesse Dillard who is wanted for shooting a black man. Festus wants to find out more and take his friend to prison.
Talbot
Feb 26, 1973 · 45 min
Talbot falls in love Katherine after shooting her husband in self-defense. Katherine wants to learn more about Talbot. Katherine learns of Talbot's plans to rob the bank, she puts
This Golden Land
Mar 5, 1973 · 45 min
Matt asks a Russian family to identify three men who dragged their son away. Matt tries to convince Moshe Gorofsky to give his testimony as to how his son died, he isn't sure Ameri