One Ranger Against a Conman Named Trump

 

Pump the brakes, this is not a political post.

It is a review of a single episode of a western television series, but…

Depending on your relationship with facts, it either strikes one as prophetic, or grand coincidence, or, at the very least a mighty odd curiosity.

May 9, 1958, CBS airs an episode of Trackdown titled “The End of the World.”

Trackdown followed the exploits of Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman as he righted wrongs in the West of the 1870s.

Gilman was portrayed with cool conviction by the redoubtable Robert Culp.

The episode in question tells the tale of a conman visiting the town of Talpa where he claims that he [and only He] can save them from threats that only exist in his own prognostications.

The name of this doom slinging conman? Trump. [Nope, I ain’t even kidding—the name is Trump.]

The town seems to swallow his venom hook, line and sinker.

The newly arrived Hoby Gilman takes in Trump’s spiel and shakes his head in mute wonder at such utter preposterousness.

His incredulousness is magnified when he looks around him assuming that all see through the transparent clothes of this “emperor”, but his jaw is left hanging open as he realizes those that surround him are hanging on the words of the conman.

Our conman Trump even utters these lines “I’ll build a wall and protect you.”

Our Texas Ranger’s arguments to “Pay attention, use your minds” falls on mute ears.

We move from this fascinating set-up and second act where Hoby Gilman tries to urge folks with reason—to no avail and we end the episode with some standard “Let’s wrap this episode up neatly 1950s”-style shenanigans.

All in all, a slight episode.

In a world where there was no echoed comparison, I’d say the episode’s premise is so preposterous that it seems more like kiddie fare than something programmed for the usually adult themed Trackdown episodes.

But now, well, now the episode strikes one as remarkably prescient, on-point concerning the herd mentality of human nature.

What in most circumstances is a C episode becomes an A+ fascinating curiosity at the coincidences of life.

Politically this episode and review are neuter.

But…like our Texas Ranger, I stand on the side of reason over obeisant swallowing of the palavering of hucksters.