Secrets Of TV’s The Rifleman: More Than Just Guns And Good Times

Dark Themes

The Rifleman wasn’t exactly a happy show; in fact, it was rather dark. The townspeople were cowardly and not very smart dirt farmers who would eagerly form a mob when necessary but were unwilling to individually take on a stranger who suddenly entered town. McCain’s son Mark struggled as an adolescent growing up in such a violent environment. McCain often instructed Mark to do his chores or homework — something the young man had very little interest in doing. Mark was perfectly aware that one day he would inherit his father’s famous rifle, so why would he bother with doing math or English assignments?