The Virginian: Season 4
Season 4 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 The Virginian Season 3.
- 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 4 Progress Shield
The Brothers
Sep 15, 1965
Matt Denning (Robert Lansing), a good friend of Emmett Ryker's, believes his younger brother Will (Andrew Prine) innocent of a crime and breaks him out of a military jail where he
Day of the Scorpion
Sep 22, 1965
An Australian, Adam Tercell (John Anderson), has bought a local ranch and plans to graze sheep on open range, a strategy which would destroy it as grazing land for cattle, so the l
A Little Learning
Sep 29, 1965
After release from prison, Bert Kramer (Bruce Dern) comes to Medicine Bow to find his estranged wife who is the new school teacher, Martha Perry (Susan Oliver). A Shiloh hand, Raf
The Claim
Oct 6, 1965
Trampas becomes discouraged with being a ranch hand and sets off with an old friend, Luke Milford (William Shatner), to Deadwood City in the Dakotas where gold strikes are reported
The Awakening
Oct 13, 1965
A destitute former Minister, David Henderson (Glenn Corbett), who has had a crisis of faith, comes to Medicine Bow just as a dispute breaks out at a local mine over safety issues.
Ring of Silence
Oct 27, 1965
Emmett Ryker is amongst a group of stagecoach passengers and crew waylaid by and trapped in an isolated cabin by a group of Mexicans from a small cross-border town. The Mexicans wa
Jennifer
Nov 3, 1965
Judge Garth's niece Jennifer comes to live with him at Shiloh after her parents are killed in an accident. However, she is uncomfortable with her uncle who disapproved of her fathe
Nobility of Kings
Nov 10, 1965
Ben Justin takes over a ranch next to Shiloh. He has had a string of bad luck including the death of his first wife. His son wants to help him but Ben keeps him and his wife Mary a
Show Me a Hero
Nov 17, 1965
While returning to Shiloh Trampas injures his horse saving a man with a runaway team. He is forced to stay a few days in a small town with the man as an old friend arrives to force
Beyond the Border
Nov 24, 1965
On a trip to Mexico with Trampas to pick up six palominos The Virginian becomes sick. He is forced to stay at a lonely saloon and inn tended by the girl friend of a local outlaw. A
The Dream of Stavros Karas
Dec 1, 1965
Widower Stavros Karas has agreed with a friend in Greece to marry his daughter. He told his friend he had a nice place but in reality he has little and needs water from his neighbo
The Laramie Road
Dec 8, 1965
Two tramps kill the wife of Ev Clinchy provoking the ire of Ev and his friend Hezekiah who want to lynch them. The sheriff keeps them at bay but when he is killed it is up to Ryker
The Horse Fighter
Dec 15, 1965
A renown bronc buster is hired to break a group of rough mustangs at Shiloh. He picks Randy who is green to help him and Randy comes to idolize him as they break a black stallion.
Letter of the Law
Dec 22, 1965
A dying man clears a man sent to prison but the Governor and the railroad still believe he is guilty. He is paroled but still hounded by a railroad agent. When he is suspected of a
Blaze of Glory
Dec 29, 1965
A respected but retired Medicine Bow lawman is trying to make a living for him and his daughter on a farm but the bank is about to foreclose. A man involved in robbing a gold shipm
Nobody Said Hello
Jan 5, 1966
A notorious Civil War criminal defended by Garth arrives in Medicine Bow to join his family. He expects payment from Garth who he believes profited from his case but Garth wants no
Men with Guns
Jan 12, 1966
Trampas and Randy are sent to pickup horses from a rich man illegally evicting people from their property who don't believe in fighting back. Trampas stays as he takes an interest
Long Ride to Wind River
Jan 19, 1966
The Virginian's friend Benjy is convicted of a murder he swears he didn't commit. A mountain man may be able to clear him but a search doesn't find him. The Virginian decides to fo
Chaff in the Wind
Jan 26, 1966
A man and his two adult kids broke and hungry end up at Shiloh when their wagon breaks down. They are grifters but the old man decides to stay at Shiloh. The kids soon like it but
The Inchworm's Got No Wings at All
Feb 2, 1966
Jennifer learns by accident a hand has a learning challenged sister who is near adulthood but hidden from society. She convinces the parents to let her help the girl but the girl's
Morgan Starr
Feb 9, 1966
Morgan Starr takes over for Judge Garth running Shiloh. His hardnosed demeanor doesn't sit well with anyone on or off the ranch. His introduction is made harder by a locust plague
Harvest of Strangers
Feb 16, 1966
As Ryker leaves town for a few days, a group of men known as Metis arrive in Medicine Bow. They are a rough group but want no trouble. However, the people are afraid of trouble whi
Ride a Cock-Horse to Laramie Cross
Feb 23, 1966
Trampas becomes knight errant when he takes on two children trying to reach their mother in Laramie. They are being chased by a group of outlaws who want to return them to Mexico.
One Spring Like Long Ago
Mar 2, 1966
Morgan Starr and Randy Benton travel to sell a herd of cattle to an Indian agent to feed the Dakota, but find themselves on a journey of loss and finding, resulting in a change for
The Return of Golden Tom
Mar 9, 1966
After 35 years in prison Tom Brant returns to Medicine Bow. A newspaper reporter's story about him stirs the interest of people who had various connections to him. People swarm to
The Wolves Up Front, the Jackals Behind
Mar 23, 1966
Randy goes to Montana to pick up a mare and see his childhood friend Georgie Sam with whom he plans to start a horse ranch. Randy is introduced to a rancher's daughter who he falls
That Saunders Woman
Mar 30, 1966
The Virginian attempt to recover money Shiloh spent on diseased cattle becomes embroiled in a blackmail attempt and finally murder. A pretty woman is involved who was just released
No Drums, No Trumpets
Apr 6, 1966
Starr with Trampas agrees to go to Mexico to check the security of a town where A US Senator and a Mexican Governor plan to sign a treat. All looks okay so Trampas leaves but Starr
A Bald-Faced Boy
Apr 13, 1966
Randy's family visits from the hills of Bald Knob to protect him from a Claiborne who has been released from prison. Randy's testimony helped send him to prison. His daughter a chi
The Mark of a Man
Apr 20, 1966
The Virginian takes responsibility for a young man he injured when the man vandalized Medicine Bow. The man is intelligent but from a poor background. His girlfriend's wealthy fath