While many episodes focus on one of the two Maverick brothers, there are quite a few really good ones where the pair share the story. These are great for showing their odd relationship. After all, as Bret says in one episode, the one thing they won't do is kill each other. One good example of the pair competing with each other has them racing across Indian country in order to get to a small town. They each have certified certificates for $10,000, but when the bank that certified the money goes under, they learn of one town that hasn't heard the news yet. The problem is, that last bank only has enough cash on hand for one of the brothers. Each brother will do practically anything to keep ahead of the other, and what results is a very amusing race episode.
Probably my favorite episode of the season doesn't just have Bret and Bart teaming up, but many of the guest characters from past episodes return. Bret makes a late night deposit at a bank only to be turned away the next day when the banker that took his cash claims he doesn't know what Bret is talking about. Bret promises that by the time he leaves the town in two weeks, he will leave with his money. Naturally, the townspeople are confused when all he does is sit on the hotel's porch and whittle. What they don't realize is that another newcomer looking to buy up an old mill is actually his brother in disguise. Bart works a pretty complicated con against the dirty-banker and with the help of fellow scoundrels like Samantha Crawford (Diane Brewster), Dandy Jim Buckley (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.), Gentleman Jack Darby (Richard Long), Big Mike McComb (Leo Gordon) and Cindy Lou Brown (Arlene Howell), Bret gets his money back and the banker gets exactly what he deserves.
In another good episode, Bret tries to get into an expensive hotel for the high-stakes poker game that is played there, but in order to do so, he and a fellow train passenger switch identities. Bret, posing as the rich John Vandergelt (played by a very young Roger Moore, who funnily enough takes on the role of Beau Maverick later in the series) easily gets into the hotel, but the real Vandergelt posing as Maverick needs some help. Vandergelt decides to hire Maverick and keep their identities switched. The richer man starts to use his new identity to woo a high society lady that seems to believe that anyone with money is boring and doesn't have any real character. She and the fake Maverick start to fall in love, but everything starts to crumble when Vandergelt's father comes into town to arrange a marriage between his son and the lady he is unofficially courting. Obviously the ruse can't continue, but Maverick (the real Maverick) has to find a way of getting Vandergelt and the love interest together while staying out of a duel and hopefully get some poker time in as well.
Other good episodes include one where Bart suffers a broken leg and stays at a small town. When his keeper's wife starts to come on to Maverick, his desire to get healed up and out of town increases. There's just one problem, his host gets killed in a hunting accident and the town seems to believe he is involved. Another episode has Bret going to Hollow Rock, WY to put money down on a big horse race. As he researches the racers, he finds that the two top contenders are not only close, but it seems a lady's hand in marriage is on the line as well (informally, of course). When Bret has a run-in with the local law, he finds himself a poorer man and has to come up with a way to get his money back from the crooked Sheriff and maybe even get the young lady and her love together.
Like before, Maverick: The Complete Second Season is full of clever writing and very solid hero characters. Sure they aren't white knights in shining armor, but they know the right thing to do and they are clever enough to not only punish the bad, but also make a profit from it. Season Two is highly recommended.
