In real life: "The Tall Man" was the nickname of Sheriff Pat Garrett. Hence, the title for this TV show. At one point, in 1870's New Mexico, Pat Garrett and William Bonney were acquaintances, possibly friends. But as "Billy the Kid" digressed into more and more criminal activity, they became adversaries. When Billy the Kid escaped from jail, he killed two deputies. Sheriff Pat Garrett tracked Billy down, and killed him.
But in this fictionalized TV show, Billy goes straight... sort of. He and Pat Garrett are friends, often allies in this series. The relationship / chemistry between actors Barry Sullivan (Pat Garrett) and Clu Gulager (Billy the Kid) is natural and realistic.
Like all TV series, there are a few flop episodes, including one or two that are downright silly ("The McBeans"). But the majority of the 75 Tall Man shows are entertaining, with lots of action, drama, history, and great Western scenery (the show was filmed in California, not New Mexico).
There are at least two problems with this show (and most Western TV shows of the 1950's and 1960's) that modern-day viewers might find distracting:
1. Everyone is always clean, nobody gets dirty. The men can ride in the saddle for days without wrinkling their clothes or needing a shave. The ladies don't change outfits over the two or three day time frame of the episode, but they always look like they just walked out of the wardrobe and make-up room of the film studio.
2. There are several episodes that portray the harsh reality of gunfights, stagecoach robberies, Indian attacks, and cold-blooded murder. But there is never any blood and gore. And many of the gunshot victims don't appear injured at all.
When shot, they say things like, "I'm okay, the bullet went clear through". In real life, when a person is shot with a .45 caliber bullet, even in the leg or the shoulder, they are seriously wounded, and they are in extreme pain.
If you can overlook those two flaws, you will find "The Tall Man" to be a very entertaining TV show.
Most of the stories end with justice being served, and everyone (except the bad guy or the bad girl) lives happily ever after.
I rate "The Tall Man" 10 stars.
