Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (2024)

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (1)
  • Reply

zimmerman
Field Agent
Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (5)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (6)
The Wild Wild West Chronicler

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (7)


The Forum Gentleman

Posts: 1,452Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (8)


Worst Episode Ever? You DecideAug 31, 2013 16:29:19 GMT -5Lone Rider and Sky like this

Post by zimmerman on Aug 31, 2013 16:29:19 GMT -5

"Separately, we can accomplish only our own deaths. Together, we can share a million dollars."--Colonel Francisco Vazquez

James (as "Frank Slade"): You haven't changed your scent
LINDA MEDFORD: Niether have you, you polecat.

For many Wild Wild West fans, The Night of the Fatal Trap is widely considered to be the worst episode of the entire series. Yes there are problems, and it is nowhere near the caliber of such well-written third season episodes such as TNOT Death Masks and TNOT Bubbling Death. Plus, there is hardly any great and nifty gadgets, yet it still does have a lot going for it.

One of the problems in this episode is the pacing and direction. Right from the beginning, it seemed like it was going to head into silly territory, then midway into the program,it changes direction and goes into the excellent dramatic pacing that this series is best known for.

Another problem in this episode involves the lawmen of Cane Fork. Why would a sheriff hire a deputy who never catches anyone? Even the voice and delivery spell out intllectually challenged! Still the sheriff is very good, and the actor playing him reminds me a little bit of Neville Brand, veteran villian actor and the somewhat funny Texas RangerReese Bennett on Laredo. The sheriff also has a couple of great lines in this episode in the opening scene: "Washington says once they cross that river border, it's ally ally oxen free." plus his letter to Washington: Dear Washington, What are you going to do with the Vazquez Gang? Sincerely, Sheriff Cantrell."

The episodes plot revolves around the recovery of half a million dollars from Colonel Vazquez and his ragtag group of men, which includes Viper, Plank, Matt, Luke, and Mark Dawson. This is yet another one of the Season One episodes wherein our fair James West goes undercover again, this time as "Frank Slade", one of the most wanted lawmen, yet was captured in Missouri. For most of the episode, he goes around wearing a moustache, trying to give his disguise somewhat of a cross between Clark Gable's Rhett Butler and Gene Barry's Bat Masterson. "Slade" is a criminal who always likes to keep them gussing, yet does not arrange the untimely demises of people. Plus, he likes to light his cigars with a candle from the candelabra, and is somewhat of a gentleman, being that he cleans off his plate before he serves any food on it.

As for the episodes main heavy, Colonel Vazquez "Is responsible for half the robberies in the border countries," yet the law cannot reach him if he remains in Mexico. His band of merry men are the self-proclaimed very best in the area, yet his main weakness is pretty girls and his conquest into turning pretty girls into women, yet according to his current squeeze, Linda Medford, he makes gals "Seem like a queen and a fool at the same time." I also like the somewhat shiny silver shirt he is wearing when he is talking to Linda Medford.

As for Linda Medford, she is a lady who wants to leave Vazquez because it seems like she is rotting in the hellhole that Vazquez has her in, after giving him "The Best years of his life." Just like Suzanne Pleshette's character in TNOT Inferno, Linda Medford is yet another bad girl that James West has tangled with before, during a counterfeit operation in another city. She is an okay lady, middle-of-the-road for the gourgeous ladies that frequently appeared on the series, and, like most of the bad girls in Season One, gets to go off scot-free thanks to a $2,000 reward for Viper and gets to start anew. She also has some great scenes together with James, including the scene wherein she takes off his moustache!

Artie's one disguise as Mojave Mike, the ever-present rogue desert rat, is one of the funniest and best disguises that Artie donned during the entire series, plus he would slightly modify it two years later as the old-timer in TNOT Montezuma's Hordes. I really like the music-related joke he tells to the bartender, and the slightly veiled relationship between him and "Slade." Plus, toward the end of the episode, he has one of bis best fight scenes in the entire series. Also his interaction with James, especially on the Wanderer, kind of borders on silly at times, yet they work great together in character.

This is Charles Davis' last appearance on WWW as Tennyson, and unlike his previous two appearances, it is the one episode where he has the most screentime and plays an important part in the shows plot, fooling Colonel Vazquez with the Sheriff and appearing as the wagon driver. His best line of dialouge appears in the beginning of the episode: "Whatever you two brave gentleman of the Secret Service are discussing, I don't want to know about it...for that I would need hazerdous duty pay in addition to the combat pay."

Overall, a good but not great episode of WWW that could have been better in places, but still, a great episode to watch.

6 out of 10 from me.

Assistant Deputy of Kentonville, Illinois
Great friend of Artemus Gordon and James West
and also known as the Music Man...

niecie
Global Moderator
Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (9)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (10)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (11)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (12)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (13)

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (14)


Posts: 3,412Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (15)


Worst Episode Ever? You DecideAug 31, 2013 16:52:43 GMT -5zimmerman likes this

Post by niecie on Aug 31, 2013 16:52:43 GMT -5

Well, I like it! Not every bit of it, but I do like Linda. And Artie's corny disguise character. And Jim's boorish disguise character.

Jim: By the way, Artie, how do you plan to escape?
Artie: Oh, the usual way: guile, cunning, trickery.

California gal
Elite Agent
Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (16)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (17)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (18)
Wild Wild West Photographer

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (19)


Posts: 10,092Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (20)


Worst Episode Ever? You DecideSept 1, 2013 12:54:49 GMT -5

Post by California gal on Sept 1, 2013 12:54:49 GMT -5

Fatal Trap is not my "worst episode." That dubious honor goes to a season 2 episode. Fatal Trap doesn't come anywhere near the top of my list, but it is a fun, often very silly, episode to watch from time to time.I like Mohave Mike, and Jim's boorish behavior as Slade. I always did like Ron Randell, and Joanna Moore as Linda is a riot. My Pennsylvania roots are in Franklin County, PA, where Chambersburg is located. Always fun to hear it mentioned.The fate of Vasquez, going over the cliff in the coach, always reminds me of the old chapter plays, the serials, where quite often a chapter ended with a similar scene. Have to wonder if that particular cliff wasn't swiped from one of them. I should watch a few again to see if i can spot it.The tag is particularly amusing, though I'm not sure why Jim and Artemus felt the need to keep their true vocations hidden from Linda at that point. Season 1 in particular is very uneven in regards to that. Sometimes they are very well known, other times it seems they were never heard of. Such as in Red-Eyed Madman when Jim went into the fort using his own name, yet he changed it in other instances.7.5 of 10

Last Edit: Sept 1, 2013 12:57:44 GMT -5 by California gal

James: Thanks, Artie.
Artemus: "Thanks Artie"! Is that all you can say to me? I've just come back from the grave, risen like Lazarus, and that's what you say? "Thanks, Artie"?
James: Thanks, Artie.
Artemus: It's a pleasure.

zimmerman
Field Agent
Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (21)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (22)
The Wild Wild West Chronicler

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (23)


The Forum Gentleman

Posts: 1,452Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (24)


Worst Episode Ever? You DecideSept 3, 2013 19:41:24 GMT -5

Post by zimmerman on Sept 3, 2013 19:41:24 GMT -5

I also neglected to mention in my previous review that Linda Medford looks a lot like Jo Stafford, one of my all-time favorite traditional pop singers.

Last Edit: Aug 2, 2016 16:25:38 GMT -5 by zimmerman

Assistant Deputy of Kentonville, Illinois
Great friend of Artemus Gordon and James West
and also known as the Music Man...

zimmerman
Field Agent
Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (25)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (26)
The Wild Wild West Chronicler

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (27)


The Forum Gentleman

Posts: 1,452Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (28)


Worst Episode Ever? You DecideSept 7, 2013 16:42:42 GMT -5

Post by zimmerman on Sept 7, 2013 16:42:42 GMT -5

When I watched the fate of Vazquez, I was thinking of the many modern-day shows where some killer decides to eliminate someone by causing the driver to fall off a cliff, causing their car to blow up in flames!!

Assistant Deputy of Kentonville, Illinois
Great friend of Artemus Gordon and James West
and also known as the Music Man...

California gal
Elite Agent
Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (29)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (30)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (31)
Wild Wild West Photographer

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (32)


Posts: 10,092Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (33)


Worst Episode Ever? You DecideSept 16, 2013 17:20:51 GMT -5

Post by California gal on Sept 16, 2013 17:20:51 GMT -5

Did you know that Joanna Moore (Linda Medford) was once married to Ryan O'Neal and was the mother of Tatum O'Neal as well as Griffin O'Neal? I didn't until today.

James: Thanks, Artie.
Artemus: "Thanks Artie"! Is that all you can say to me? I've just come back from the grave, risen like Lazarus, and that's what you say? "Thanks, Artie"?
James: Thanks, Artie.
Artemus: It's a pleasure.

niecie
Global Moderator
Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (34)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (35)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (36)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (37)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (38)

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (39)


Posts: 3,412Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (40)


Worst Episode Ever? You DecideSept 17, 2013 12:47:29 GMT -5

Post by niecie on Sept 17, 2013 12:47:29 GMT -5

That's just stunning, Cal Gal! No, I didn't know that.

Apparently Joanna Moore grew up in Georgia. That probably explains why her accent as Linda Medford sounds Southern to me at times.

Last Edit: Mar 5, 2014 12:41:22 GMT -5 by niecie: All this time, and I just now realized I wrote 'at' instead of 'as.'

Jim: By the way, Artie, how do you plan to escape?
Artie: Oh, the usual way: guile, cunning, trickery.

1jameswestfan
recruit
Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (41)

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (42)


Posts: 147Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (43)


A kind word maybe the rainbow in somebodies cloud.

zimmerman
Field Agent
Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (44)Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (45)
The Wild Wild West Chronicler

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (46)


The Forum Gentleman

Posts: 1,452Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (47)


Worst Episode Ever? You DecideMar 4, 2014 16:20:44 GMT -5

Post by zimmerman on Mar 4, 2014 16:20:44 GMT -5

Short sweet to the point, 1JamesWestfan.

Good mini-review.

Artie as Mojave Mike makes this episode worth watching once in a while.

Assistant Deputy of Kentonville, Illinois
Great friend of Artemus Gordon and James West
and also known as the Music Man...

Reply

Shoutbox

Two Cents Saloon

niecie: And I'm told today is the Revenge of the Sixth.May 6, 2024 17:09:13 GMT -5

niecie: Seen any auroras lately?May 11, 2024 13:03:14 GMT -5

niecie: Happy Mother's Day!May 12, 2024 8:36:32 GMT -5

niecie: It's Towel Day! Also the Glorious 25th of May!May 25, 2024 8:41:07 GMT -5

niecie: And also George Floyd Day. Lest we forget.May 25, 2024 8:41:42 GMT -5

niecie: Have a good Memorial Day. Again, lest we forget.May 27, 2024 18:19:24 GMT -5

vwhassenfeffer: We must never forget - thank you, niecieMay 28, 2024 6:58:07 GMT -5

niecie: 80th anniversary of D-Day. Another remembrance that must never fade!Jun 6, 2024 15:17:51 GMT -5

niecie: It's Flag Day!Jun 14, 2024 14:50:22 GMT -5

niecie: Happy Father's Day!Jun 16, 2024 18:51:10 GMT -5

niecie: It's Juneteenth!Jun 19, 2024 15:01:02 GMT -5

niecie: Happy Solstice!Jun 20, 2024 19:15:04 GMT -5

niecie: Happy Fourth of July!Jul 4, 2024 12:25:54 GMT -5

niecie: Happy Moon Landing Day! (What were you doing on this date in 1969?)Jul 20, 2024 17:00:10 GMT -5

jeff: My favorite Wild, Wild West character is Dr. Loveless who strikes me as a brilliant man capable of doing much good especially in the medical field and a first rate surgeon. The Night Terror talked The Town is an excellent example of Dr. Lovess surgeon.Jul 28, 2024 14:46:01 GMT -5

niecie: Hello, jeff! I'm afraid we don't talk much anymore, but a lot of us would agree whole-heartedly with your assessment of the "good" doctor! Welcome aboard!Jul 28, 2024 16:33:32 GMT -5

California gal: Hi Jeff. Welcome. Sorry the place isn't as fun and busy as it used to be. We all still love the show but just don't visit here to talk about it. It's sad that Loveless turned to evil instead of good. He could have gone down in history for his skills.Jul 31, 2024 10:59:27 GMT -5

California gal: ...Then again, we would not have had the wonderful adventures of Jim and Artie dealing with Miguelito!Jul 31, 2024 11:00:01 GMT -5

niecie: 👍🏽Jul 31, 2024 12:41:46 GMT -5

Elsordo: Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (48)Aug 4, 2024 6:23:09 GMT -5

Worst Episode Ever? You Decide | The Night of the Wild Wild West (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Rubie Ullrich

Last Updated:

Views: 5449

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rubie Ullrich

Birthday: 1998-02-02

Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119

Phone: +2202978377583

Job: Administration Engineer

Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.