Episode Discussions

I'm watching "the Julia Bulette Story" right now. For me, seasons 1-3 are far superior to all the rest. I like the family focus and comradery among the Cartwrights...even with Hop Sing. OK, most of all, Adam was at his finest. Woof!!!

Several episodes featured Joe teaching someone something. What's your favorite? Discuss and/or post a screencap.

We all know how much Joe loved Cochise...and Michael did, too. In September 1964, an intruder broke into the Fat Jones Stables in North Hollywood, where the show's horses were boarded and savagely maimed a number of them some of which had to be put down, including Cochise. Michael offered a $5,000 reward (=$52,250 today) but the culprit was never found. Post your favorite Joe/horse pic (any horse) and tell us why you chose it and/or discuss the episode.

I watched this episode last night, and had so many thoughts I decided to ramble it all into a thread... So this is a tough, very heavy episode, about an old friend of Ben's who has a psychotic break related to war-time PTSD. I'd remembered that basic premise from previous viewings but I'd forgotten some of the details. First, it really struck me how disturbing it is when Rowan has his initial break and starts randomly shooting at people on the street (including hitting Ben). It's quite a violent moment and shocking in its suddenness and randomness. Including a woman and her child on the street (who I don't think are shot - we don't see them again) adds an …

With so many new members, we though to bring back the Episode Discussions. As the forum description indicates, we've all watched the Network Cuts, the original airings and/ or the "modified to fit in the time allowed" versions. The Brandsters are giving our member the chance to discuss the episodes as if you were the writer or maybe even sat in the director's chair. What is your take on the episodes? We'll start with where Bonanza first began: A Rose for Lotta Note: The earlier discussions have been archived. They are available for viewing, but commenting has been turned off in favor of new discussions when t…

For those in the United States who are missing Bonanza and other classic westerns, there is a new frontier coming to town... I mean the airwaves. WEST channel (Western Entertainment Series Television - check your local TV substations, a sister station to MeTV) will officially launch on September 29th. I've already re-scanned my TV and found it. I don't know what cable/satellite stations will choose to broadcast it. Right now, it is airing a continuous loop (think commercial) announcing it is coming. WEST <- check out the link for a partial listing of programs and how they will be broadcast. I've not been able to find schedule but presume one will be publi…

I was watching Clarissa this morning (Season 8, episode 32) and caught a rare rebuke of someone other than Joe putting his foot on the table! I laughed because, as we know, it's such an infrequent thing that anyone besides poor Joe gets told off. Naturally, I had to rush over here and post about it You can even see Ben gesturing at Hoss's foot in the scene and a somewhat weary expression ("those boys and their feet!"). Too fun.

I came across this video - a historian (and Bonanza fan) wishing to keep the history of Bonanza alive. Hope you enjoy it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk4FR4GV4TY

I just finished Part Two of "The Pursed" last night and was going to put it in the "What Episode Did You Watch" thread...but then realized I had a LOT of thoughts! This is such an interesting and unexpected episode, centering on the Cartwrights' friendship with a Mormon family, and the intolerance that family faces. Spoilers below if you haven't seen it! I remember that the first time I saw this episode (relatively recently because it wasn't on syndication), I was quite surprised to see Ben Cartwright speak out favorably about polygamy - although on this rewatch, I think he's speaking much more strongly on tolerance, which is a bit of a distinction and actua…

After watching so many episodes it strikes me that of all the many unmarried women who’ve traversed the Ponderosa, almost none have (Living) mothers. The only ladies that come to mind are Abigail Jones and the Baltimore lady. Two others are the mother/daughter pair in Abner Willoughby and the lovely Regina Rossi of Big Shadow on the Land, although neither were central female figures in the episodes. Almost all the others are in the company of often domineering and/or overly protective male relatives (fathers, brothers, uncles). I suppose the struggle for independence of these women creates a tension necessary for the plot line, but would a benign maternal figure h…

What episodes are the best for a good time. Nothing too dramatic. I was thinking of watching "Bank Run" or "The Frenchman"

Hey Adam Gals and Bonanza Fans, I'm an Adam Gal and like very few of the episodes post-1965, but there are a few I really like. My favorite is "The Medal". I think it really portrays issues experienced by veterans coming home. Dean Stockwell was excellent.

This was originally posted under What Episode Did You Watch, but I wanted to add it here. I was stunned, to say the least, to here what Joe told Claire. Tonight I'm watching Her Brother's Keeper. I'm about half way through it and still trying to figure out the brother's plans for his sister, Claire. However, I just discovered an odd statement by Joe that throws a big monkey wrench into his memories of Marie (and canon/fanon) and how old he was when she died. The sister who's at the Ponderosa with Ben asks about Marie after seeing her picture. Joe says, "She died right after I was born. I never knew her." When she says she's sorry about that, Joe replies, "Oh…

There's no right or wrong answers here. They're just curious as to which Cartwright we like the best, which season we like, etc. My answers were 93% similar https://www.metv.com/quiz/bonanza-fans-saddle-up-tell-us-your-bonanza-opinions

I'm losing my mind... In what episode does Joe walk in on Hoss building a house of cards and (little devil!) does he deliberately breathe hard enough to knock it down??

Ok. Here's the question about this scene. Did Pernell, Dan, and Mike conspire to sit like this, without telling anyone they were going to do it? Or was it in the script that they do this? It would be just like one, two, or all three to do it on their own. I've seen clips from outtakes, from other TV shows and movies, where the bloopers and mistakes flowed with the scene, that they were left in.

In Riot, we meet Griff when Ben is inspecting the prison and there's a riot of prisoners due to poor living conditions and even poorer food. In my research about prisons in Nevada, I found these pieces of history that could loosely match what happened in Riot. Early Wardens: John Crossman served as the first warden in 1865. The position was later tied to the Lieutenant Governor's office, with the governor, secretary of state, and attorney general forming the board of prison commissioners. …

I don't think it's controversial to say that "The Hunter" is a strange final episode for the series. I know they were canceled too abruptly to have time for any dedicated wrap-up, and intentional "finale episodes" weren't common on television at the time anyway - but it's still an odd episode to close on, with the overall dark tone and the very grim final shots. So! It got me thinking - which Bonanza episode WOULD make a good finale for the series? That's not to say that I would have wanted the show to end at some earlier point - only that if it had, a particular episode would have been a satisfying conclusion. I think "Death at Dawn," the final episode of…

Is this why only one son was finally able to marry? In case you're wondering which group is singing, it's the Irish Rovers. They're the ones who recorded The Unicorn. https://youtu.be/IGRR0tmDXLM?si=HO1t2fVDWG97YVBN

Currently watching Return Engagement on MeTV. Where Lotta returns to Virginia City. It seems strange that Lotta knew Ben and that he had to introduce her to his sons, especially to Joe. Did all of them, Lorne, Dan, Mike, and everyone else, forget about the pilot episode A Rose For Lotta?

The theme of the episode The Love Child, S12 E9, was also used in Highway To Heaven episode Child Of God, S1 E18. We know that Mike copied the theme of some of Bonanza's episodes for Little House On The Prairie. I didn't know that he used one of Bonanza's episodes for a Highway To Heaven episode.

I just watched this clip from Bonanza and can't remember which episode it's from. https://youtube.com/shorts/QxJXY-HRAls?si=GjQx4gf4piAMxo3K

Anyone else get the feeling that Adam pulled a fast one on his gullible brothers? That he sent a fake gem to Ben, knowing what might happen to it if Hoss and Joe got hold of it, and kept the real one in his possession? It's that smirk of Adam's that makes you wonder.

This clip, as to why Bonanza was cancelled, is, as we all know, a lie. We all know the real reason why Bonanza couldn't continue. https://m.youtube.com/shorts/ABKSRjlh8h8

Just watched this one last night, and I'm left with a question I want to throw out to the group - do we think Joe was into Lucy at all or not? He's usually not subtle about this sort of thing but I'm genuinely unsure how to read this episode. He notices she's pretty and he competes with Tuck for time...but that may just be him messing with Tuck. He's definitely exasperated by her in most of their interactions, and he seems genuinely shocked by the idea at the end that he might be in love with her. But would you say there was at least a flirtation there, or nothing at all? This is the only time I can think of that I haven't quite been able to read Joe's intentions! …