Shane

Shane is an American Western television series which aired on ABC in 1966. It was based on the 1949 book of the same name by Jack Schaefer and the 1953 classic film starring Alan Ladd. David Carradine portrayed the titular character in the television series, a former gunfighter and sometimes outlaw who takes a job as a hired hand at the ranch of a widowed woman, her son, and her father-in-law. Premise The series follows the 1953 film in its general premise, even in the lead character's buckskin shirt and concho gun belt, but departs from it in several important aspects: The Shane, Marian, and Joey characters are much younger; Marian is a widow who lives with her father-in-law Tom, and Shane has lived with them for a while already when the story starts. That is the basis for a romance subplot that constitutes the arch of the whole series; nearly every person who meets them supposes Shane and Marian are a couple. Her father-in-law approves it, and the boy Joey idolizes Shane. However, as she doesn't dare to give the first step (even less when Shane is a man who gives no hint of any romantic interest), and he sees himself as the least desirable suitor Marian could ever have, their mutual feelings aren't expressed. Despite his wish to leave that part of his life behind, Shane resorts to his gun often, which prompts Tom Starett's comment that he is as addicted to it as Tom himself is addicted to alcohol. That also means that the homesteaders tend to see him as a defender as much as a danger. The action happens around a settlement called Crossroads, which has no law officer, judge, or physician. For that reason Sam Grafton is a more important character, functioning as everybody's counselor, and even as an emergency surgeon. His helper Ben is also a more defined and comical character than in the movie.