Daniel and Yadkin are out trapping when they encounter a family of Welsh settlers occupying a half-built cabin in the midst if Shawnee country, but the group is headed by a widow. They are persuaded with winter coming on to relocate to Boonesborough, but they are also on the run from past entanglements.
The series turns to a human-interest hour that makes much use of the Boone family and the fort's denizens. The story is lead by two veterans of the guest star trail; Bethel Leslie, who would go on to extended soap runs and writing, is a very believable Celtic matriarch. One wonders how she might have done in
the Rebecca Boone role. Harold J. Stone of "Spartacus" is a gruff barrel-smith who might be a candidate to complete the family unit. And one of Leslie's daughters is portrayed by future 1980's "Dallas" vixen Morgan Brittany.
The pacing, music and black-and-white photography give off the vibe of a 1930's movie, and allows the viewer to retreat heavily into the world of the teleplay. One just cannot experience that with most color presentations. Stone goes beyond the stock limitations of his character to paint a portrait of late-life regret, and though the human-interest approach will be greatly overused in later seasons, at this point the setting is new enough to make a Boonesborough-centered episode work well.
Daniel is mentioned in this hour as "magistrate" of Boonesborough. Not sure if the real 1770's settlement was that organized yet, but the real Boone did tend collect offices and titles wherever he set down. Also period-correct is a discussion of debt imprisonment, and the Shawnee make an early designated-villain appearance - there will be many more of those to come. Finally, chronology problems - reference is made to "wards of the crown," but Boone states clearly he is a magistrate of the "Territory of Kentucky." "Territory" is a U. S. legal designation, but to complicate matters further Kentucky was never a territory - it went straight from Virginia county status to statehood in 1792.
An engaging around-the-fort episode, given an extra shine by the cast's early series enthusiasm.