When viewing this episode, due to the low rating, I felt that this show could be dull. However I was actually impressed with the script and felt the story was interesting watch. Perhaps the low rating lower my expectations but overall I felt good about this story.
The episode begins as Jeff Newcom is on a buggy ride with the beautiful Millie Smith. Millie asked Jeff to marry her even plants an all out wet kiss on Jeff (I would have folded at that time) but Jeff makes up excuses on why he cannot marry at this time. The next day Millie, in order to make Jeff upset, asks Colley Carter to the dance.
Jeff's mother wants him to move to Chicago to learn business. She is dead set against him staying around Dodge mainly because her life did not go as plan. So she is now trying to control her son's life saying she wants him to visit the 'far places'.
Later after a run in with the law, Jeff finally decides to marry Millie. But when his mother finds out she is upset saying that she is a man-grabber and wants nothing to do with her.
Then one days she asks Millie to stop by her house. She tells Millie that she is ruining Jeff's life and offers her $2000 to leave. When Millie refuses Ma Newcom pulls a gun and fires.
This was not one of the best shows of Season eight but one that I found interesting. I loved the story and the reference to the mother wanting her son to visit 'far-places'. The only negative items in the episode was the suspicious acting. The actor that played Jeff Newcom appeared stiff and unemotional and could have been more interesting if played by a different actor. At the end of the show I was not sure if he was aware that this was a real 'take' or he thought it was dress rehearsal. He appeared to be reading lines rather than also acting the part. But with that said it was a pleasant watch.