With over 600 episodes of this classic Western television program, it’s hard to nail down one episode that changed everything for Gunsmoke . After all, so many of these Western adventures are one-and-done stories that have little to no bearing on the rest of the program, especially the further into the series you get. However, there is one episode that comes to mind as a true game-changer for the show, both in terms of the show's overarching narrative and the way Gunsmoke was presented to audiences: Season 12's "Snap Decision."

"Snap Decision" Forced Matt Dillon To Re-evaluate His Time as 'Gunsmoke's Marshal

Credit: Image via CBS

The Season 12 premiere "Snap Decision" explores what happens when Marshal Matt Dillon ( James Arness ) hunts down an outlaw friend of his named Ray

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