Ep 3. The Visitor

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is a Western drama series set in the late 1800s in Colorado Springs. The show follows Dr. Michaela Quinn (Jane Seymour), a talented doctor who moves from Boston to Colorado Springs after the death of her father. In the town, she faces resistance from the locals who are not used to a female doctor, but she gradually gains their trust and respect as she helps them with their medical needs.

Season 1 episode 3, titled "The Visitor", follows Dr. Quinn as she deals with a mysterious patient who arrives in town and refuses to disclose his true identity. The man is injured and unconscious, and Dr. Quinn takes him in to treat him. She discovers that he has a bullet wound, but he is reluctant to explain how he was shot or where he came from.

Dr. Quinn becomes increasingly fascinated with the man, who she discovers has a keen interest in medicine and a wealth of medical knowledge. She suspects that he may be a doctor himself, possibly from Europe, and she is determined to find out more about him. As she treats his wounds, she engages him in conversations about medicine, and he reveals that he has had a colorful past and has traveled extensively.

Meanwhile, the town's mayor, Jake Slicker (Jim Knobeloch), is suspicious of the stranger and believes he may be a criminal. Jake enlists the help of the town's sheriff, who investigates the man's background and discovers that he has a criminal record and is wanted in several states for robbery and murder.

Dr. Quinn is torn between her duty as a doctor and her sense of justice. She believes that the man deserves a fair trial and should be treated with respect and compassion, regardless of his past. She becomes increasingly frustrated with the town's prejudice and narrow-mindedness, and she decides to take matters into her own hands.

In the end, Dr. Quinn manages to convince the town's people and the sheriff that the man deserves a fair trial. She testifies on his behalf, citing his knowledge of medicine and his genuine concern for others. The man is eventually cleared of all charges, and Dr. Quinn helps him start a new life in a neighboring town.

"The Visitor" is a compelling episode that showcases Dr. Quinn's unwavering commitment to her patients and her strong sense of justice. The episode highlights the challenges that women pioneers faced in the West, as well as the prevailing prejudice and fear that often led to injustice and cruelty. It also features strong supporting performances from the show's cast, including Seymour, Knobeloch, and Joe Lando, who plays Byron Sully, a friend of Dr. Quinn's and a local mountain man. Overall, "The Visitor" is a well-crafted and engaging episode that exemplifies the best of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.