Until the late mid-’60s, Hollywood was governed by the infamous Hays code, which limited writers from exploring more grey figures in the mainstream landscape. But this isn’t to say there were no exceptions to the mold, and long before the likes of Tony Soprano and Walter White dominated the TV screens, we had Paladin.
While Gene Roddenberry is synonymous with revolutionizing sci-fi with Star Trek, long before his breakout TV hit, the writer used Have Gun – Will Travel as a vessel for more nuanced social commentary.
The timeless appeal of Gene Roddenberry’s Have Gun – Will Travel
At a time when traditional Westerns were losing steam, Richard Boone’s Have Gun became a major hit, and it’s easy to see why. In contrast to many Westerns at the time, the show didn’t resort to the most notable cliches to garner viewers and starred an educated, refined gunslinger in the lead, played by Richard Moore.
Although Gene Roddenberry‘s stint as a writer on the show was only limited to 24 episodes, his early work in the series, especially The Great Mojave Chase, defined the tone for the rest of its run. From tackling ethical dilemmas and other social structures, Have Gun set itself apart by having an anti-hero protagonist, who had a code of honor of his own.
Given his departure from a more traditional gunslinger lead, followed by some sharp writing that featured literary and philosophical references, it certainly earns the title of being ahead of time. In retrospect, Roddenberry even took note of the show’s sci-fi elements, which makes his feats in the realm of sci-fi all the more fascinating (via Trek Comic).
Yes, that was a fun show to do. Paladin, the main character, was something of a science-fiction character. I didn’t realize it at the time, but he did science-fiction things.
What followed was his venture into the sci-fi genre, which eventually led to the creation of Star Trek and the rest is history.
Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek was meant to be a celebration of humanity
For a show whose main selling point was the sci-fi backdrop, Gene Roddenberry ensured that the themes explored in the show were rooted in reality similar to Have Gun. But apart from its rich commentary on philosophy, ideology, and morality, at its heart, Star Trek, to Roddenberry, was always about the celebration of humanity and our abilities as a species, as the creator once noted (via Big Think)), “that there is a tomorrow”.
Star Trek speaks to some basic human needs: that there is a tomorrow — it’s not all going to be over with a big flash and a bomb; that the human race is improving; that we have things to be proud of as humans. No, ancient astronauts did not build the pyramids — human beings built them, because they’re clever and they work hard. And Star Trek is about those things.
Considering how anti-hero-driven the modern TV landscape has been, especially since the rise of prestige dramas, it’s easy to see why Have Gun – Will Travel continues to have a timeless appeal even decades after its closure.
Have Gun – Will Travel is available to stream on Pluto TV.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
