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 Season 1, would have made a good ending - good screentime for all four Cartwrights, and the themes center around Cartwright family dynamics and the future for Virginia City.  It ends hopeful on both those ideas, and finishes with the four Cartwrights walking off down the street together.  "Prime of Life" in mid-season 5 would have been a good finale too - again, all four Cartwrights featured, and the story centers around Ben's role in the family and on the Ponderosa, concluding with status quo restored and the four Cartwrights riding off together.

 

What episode would you pick for a finale?  What do you think would make an episode a better conclusion to the series?  Anyone care to defend "The Hunter"? 

 

Death at Dawn

Gift of Water was another good one with all four :-). Helping their neighbors and everyone’s strengths explored.

If the series had ended in Season 13, I think the finale episode should have been A Home for Jamie. Hoss would still be around and Joe would remain single. Unfortunately no Adam since he left in Season 6, but perhaps PR would have been willing to return for a series finale. 
 

Personally, as a fanfic writer, I prefer no neat and tidy series finale. There’s far more freedom without loose ends tied up. 

@patina Love the insights - ending with Jamie's adoption would have been a nice close (and that's my favorite Jamie-centered episode).  I definitely wish Hoss had still been alive at the end of the series, but I also agree it opens up far more opportunities when the finale doesn't tie everything together!

It is so difficult for me to think of any single episode as the finale, because it would, for me, always be tainted by sadness. A couple of other shows that I was enamored with (though not nearly to the extent of Bonanza) were Supernatural and Friends. These shows, coming from a more modern way of thinking, had carefully orchestrated finales, and they were well done but so bittersweet because they were the END, and I almost dreaded seeing them. To me, there's no way of wrapping up a beloved show in an entirely satisfying way. 

 

I suppose if I was in the position to be able to decide on an episode that would be Bonanza's send-off, it would be with either a 2-hour special where all the brothers are carving out their own homes on their own pieces of the Ponderosa. The entire family together again, with its future bright and shining.

 

If not that, then a big retrospective production that showcased favorite scenes plucked from all the seasons.

 

All this said, it's a real shame the show's unexpected ending came after the airing of The Hunter. It had a dark flavor that somehow did not mesh with the traditional flavor of the show. Unadulterated Joe girl that I am, even I would have chosen a different episode as the final one.

38 minutes ago, southplains said:

It is so difficult for me to think of any single episode as the finale, because it would, for me, always be tainted by sadness. A couple of other shows that I was enamored with (though not nearly to the extent of Bonanza) were Supernatural and Friends. These shows, coming from a more modern way of thinking, had carefully orchestrated finales, and they were well done but so bittersweet because they were the END, and I almost dreaded seeing them. To me, there's no way of wrapping up a beloved show in an entirely satisfying way. 

 

I suppose if I was in the position to be able to decide on an episode that would be Bonanza's send-off, it would be with either a 2-hour special where all the brothers are carving out their own homes on their own pieces of the Ponderosa. The entire family together again, with its future bright and shining.

 

If not that, then a big retrospective production that showcased favorite scenes plucked from all the seasons.

 

All this said, it's a real shame the show's unexpected ending came after the airing of The Hunter. It had a dark flavor that somehow did not mesh with the traditional flavor of the show. Unadulterated Joe girl that I am, even I would have chosen a different episode as the final one.

 

I agree, @southplains, The Hunter was not typical at all of the 'Bonanza' we all loved, and I love your idea of a 2-hour show where the brothers have their own places... and I think Ben should have married again. The retrospective is also a good idea, with better writing and casting (in some cases... I've always loved just about anything Jack Elam or Robert Fuller did...) than the 'movies' had.  

Also loved Supernatural, and I have to say that you've now got me percolating a cross-over fanfic... Dean and Little Joe, that's starting to tickle my funny bone...

 

40 minutes ago, Pat D in PA said:

 

Also loved Supernatural, and I have to say that you've now got me percolating a cross-over fanfic... Dean and Little Joe, that's starting to tickle my funny bone...

 

 

I too have often considered a cross-over between those shows! I've turned a few ideas over in my mind but have yet to make the attempt. I wonder if there are any SN/Bonanza stories already out there? 

 

(Way off topic, but for anyone reading who hasn't seen Supernatural . . . if you are like me, you may be thinking, "Ick. Monsters, vampires, werewolves, demons are not my thing at ALL." It was a big Bonanza fan here at Brand who convinced me to try it, despite my aversion to the whole monster premise. She promised me that the very things that draw me to Bonanza---brotherly bonds, family love, ahem . . . hot guys---would also make me a fan of Supernatural. I didn't really think she was right, but she eventually convinced me to give it a shot. And I'll be darned, she was right. After 3 episodes, I was well and truly hooked.)

1 hour ago, southplains said:

She promised me that the very things that draw me to Bonanza---brotherly bonds, family love, ahem . . . hot guys---would also make me a fan of Supernatural. I didn't really think she was right, but she eventually convinced me to give it a shot. And I'll be darned, she was right. After 3 episodes, I was well and truly hooked.)

a little bit of Hot Pa moments in the form of Jeffrey Dean Morgan wasn’t off kilter for me, either… 

 

(wink!)

1 hour ago, southplains said:

Unadulterated Joe girl that I am, even I would have chosen a different episode as the final one.

I actually think it's BECAUSE I'm a Joe fan that I find "The Hunter" such a troubling ending - I don't want the series to end with Joe shell-shocked in the wilderness somewhere! Even though I truly believe that, if there had been another episode, he would have been fine (and somehow found another green jacket in his closet after losing it in this episode), we didn't get to see that.  That makes for a rough ending!

 

I think I often like best a finale that feels like the characters are going on - we're not going to see them anymore, but their lives continue in a good way.  That's why I'd vote for episodes that showed possible disruption to the family or the Ponderosa but ultimately have the Cartwrights all well and together at the end as the best way to end things.

@Tavia42 What a great topic! I think Prime of Life would be a good choice as it hints at a future time when Ben would turn the running of the ranch over to his sons (but not quite yet and not for the reason he 'quit' in the episode). 

 

@patina I too thought A Home for Jamie would make a good finale, especially if Adam could be there somehow to help celebrate. It would definitely give the happy thought that the family would continue for years/generations to come. 

 

@southplains Your idea of a montage of great scenes and stories is excellent, to give viewers a chance to reflect on all the wonderful moments with this family. What a party that could be on TV. 

 

I have to agree with everyone that The Hunter was not a good finale episode at all. Another reason to add to that is it was just Joe and the madman for about 90%. I see the episode as Joe's Crucible. Adam surely fared the same as Joe but The Hunter 'showed' a lot of the angst and mental torture. 

 

I would be willing to see Forever as it was meant to be, with Hoss getting married, Adam returning for the wedding, and thus showing the Family continuing into the sunset. 

8 minutes ago, AC1830 said:

I have to agree with everyone that The Hunter was not a good finale episode at all. Another reason to add to that is it was just Joe and the madman for about 90%. I see the episode as Joe's Crucible. Adam surely fared the same as Joe but The Hunter 'showed' a lot of the angst and mental torture. 

I definitely see the parallel between "The Hunter" and "The Crucible" (which also would have been a terrible place to end the series!)  I wonder if the difference in tone and how they show the angst is a sign of television changing over the ten years in between?  Bonanza had darker episodes in the later seasons, and dealt with some topics (or dealt with them in a particular manner) that I don't think you would have seen in the early seasons.  Every so often watching the later seasons I've thought, "oh, we're not in 1959 anymore..."

 

8 minutes ago, AC1830 said:

I would be willing to see Forever as it was meant to be, with Hoss getting married, Adam returning for the wedding, and thus showing the Family continuing into the sunset. 

I have toyed with writing a story along those lines...but I haven't quite decided if it would be really satisfying (Hoss lives!) or sort of jarring...   Guess we'll find out if I ever get it written!

10 minutes ago, Tavia42 said:

I definitely see the parallel between "The Hunter" and "The Crucible" (which also would have been a terrible place to end the series!)  I wonder if the difference in tone and how they show the angst is a sign of television changing over the ten years in between?  Bonanza had darker episodes in the later seasons, and dealt with some topics (or dealt with them in a particular manner) that I don't think you would have seen in the early seasons.  Every so often watching the later seasons I've thought, "oh, we're not in 1959 anymore..."

 

I have toyed with writing a story along those lines...but I haven't quite decided if it would be really satisfying (Hoss lives!) or sort of jarring...   Guess we'll find out if I ever get it written!

I would like to see it. I have some post Bonanza stories I've written along those lines (one works to 'fix' some of the situations in Forever) [they need some major editing]. Basically, a What Happens Instead. So I say go for it if you wish. Afterall, that's what Fanfiction is all about, right - what we would like to see happen? 

11 minutes ago, Tavia42 said:

I definitely see the parallel between "The Hunter" and "The Crucible" (which also would have been a terrible place to end the series!)  I wonder if the difference in tone and how they show the angst is a sign of television changing over the ten years in between?  Bonanza had darker episodes in the later seasons, and dealt with some topics (or dealt with them in a particular manner) that I don't think you would have seen in the early seasons.  Every so often watching the later seasons I've thought, "oh, we're not in 1959 anymore..."

 

I have toyed with writing a story along those lines...but I haven't quite decided if it would be really satisfying (Hoss lives!) or sort of jarring...   Guess we'll find out if I ever get it written!

 

Tavia, I'd love to see it. :-)

@Pat D in PA That’s really nice to hear! I feel like I can so clearly see a Hoss-shaped hole in parts of Season 14 and I want to write something putting him back in - and I swear there are scenes of Forever where we’re practically seeing “Hoss as played by Michael Landon!” So I’m thinking on it, but I have some other stories in line first…

You go, girl!

Okay, I LOVE THIS TOPIC. Also so excited to find my people in other shows as well, because I am a hugeeee fan of Supernatural. I'm not sure what it is, maybe it's just shows with that deep family bond I absolutely love. That last episode of Supernatural really got me. I won't go into it, but I wasn't the most satisfied with it. However, as was previously stated, when are we ever? Look at the Soprano's ending, LOL.

 

The Hunter was a good episode, don't get me wrong. I think the episode context was really thrilling and the plot was intriguing. I also wish it wouldn't have been the very last episode. I'm all for loose ends because as @patina stated, it is what really gives us that little piece of bread to nibble on for fuel. HAHA.

 

For me I think it would have just been so nice to see even a tiny tribute to the family that was the Cartwrights. I'm not sure how they could have, but I think even a cutaway to something like the family ranch or picture or something would have been even nice. Ideally, my ideal episode would have a ton of emotional depth and something to percolate on. This sounds terrible but I would have loved to cry. I definitely wanted to knowing that it was the last episode of the series, but The Hunter really didn't supply me with that soul wrenching feeling. It definitely didn't need to have the whole family physically together for me but I don't know...maybe (as you guys have said too) just a little bit truer to the nature of the show would have been nice. 

36 minutes ago, KayP said:

For me I think it would have just been so nice to see even a tiny tribute to the family that was the Cartwrights. I'm not sure how they could have, but I think even a cutaway to something like the family ranch or picture or something would have been even nice.

It even would have been better if they'd managed to edit "The Hunter" enough to throw in a final scene of Joe walking in the door of the ranch house, big hug from Pa, maybe Jamie and Candy look on, and then a final shot of the house and the lake...  Something to acknowledge the family and ranch at the core of the show.

7 minutes ago, Tavia42 said:

It even would have been better if they'd managed to edit "The Hunter" enough to throw in a final scene of Joe walking in the door of the ranch house, big hug from Pa, maybe Jamie and Candy look on, and then a final shot of the house and the lake...  Something to acknowledge the family and ranch at the core of the show.

GIRL PLEASEEE. That would have been a dream. Yes, I agree. If they would have just showed the ending where at least they're back together for like a minute, the episode would have hit so much harder. Just a second of relief after all that suffering and show that as long as they're together, they can get through it! The same as it has been all along. 

Watched "To Own the World" last night - another one that would have made a really good series finale.  The last episode with all four Cartwrights, before Adam leaves (even though there are five later episodes in Season 6), and the themes and premise are big ones about protecting the Ponderosa, what it really means, and who the Cartwrights are.  Also some beautiful views!  I would have liked to see all four Cartwrights in the final scene, instead of just Ben and Joe, if it really was a finale - but otherwise, it would have been a solid one!

5 hours ago, Tavia42 said:

Watched "To Own the World" last night - another one that would have made a really good series finale.  The last episode with all four Cartwrights, before Adam leaves (even though there are five later episodes in Season 6), and the themes and premise are big ones about protecting the Ponderosa, what it really means, and who the Cartwrights are.  Also some beautiful views!  I would have liked to see all four Cartwrights in the final scene, instead of just Ben and Joe, if it really was a finale - but otherwise, it would have been a solid one!

Excellent choice. This one leaves things open for future generational stories. 

Well. If you give me to choose a finale episode from season 14 i would pick "The marriage of Theodora Duffy". I know that this episode was a Griff's centered one but i think its last scene resembles to the pilot episode "A Rose for Lotta" because in the last scene Adam and Lotta shared a "kiss-moment", the same as Griff with Duffy. 

 

What i would add to this "finale" scene is:

-Duffy smiling while Griff departs.

-A small scene between him and the rest of "team ponderosa" lol (Ben, Joe, Jamie and Candy) chatting about love and then riding (and of course, screaming "yeehaw") back to the Ponderosa, on that way the credits are shown and ... the end. 

 

@ClemMaster9000 I would LOVE a series finale that ended with the Cartwrights riding off to cries of “yee-haw!” 

1 hour ago, ClemMaster9000 said:

Well. If you give me to choose a finale episode from season 14 i would pick "The marriage of Theodora Duffy". I know that this episode was a Griff's centered one but i think its last scene resembles to the pilot episode "A Rose for Lotta" because in the last scene Adam and Lotta shared a "kiss-moment", the same as Griff with Duffy. 

 

What i would add to this "finale" scene is:

-Duffy smiling while Griff departs.

-A small scene between him and the rest of "team ponderosa" lol (Ben, Joe, Jamie and Candy) chatting about love and then riding (and of course, screaming "yeehaw") back to the Ponderosa, on that way the credits are shown and ... the end. 

 

Wow! That would be a great finish. Bookending the Pilot. 

Were final episodes common in the 1960's or early 1970's? As far as I know, The Fugitive was the first show to have a planned final episode ending. Later , The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Newhart had one.

7 hours ago, Dana said:

Were final episodes common in the 1960's or early 1970's? As far as I know, The Fugitive was the first show to have a planned final episode ending. Later , The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Newhart had one.

No, they weren’t common at all, so it’s not surprising they didn’t have a dedicated ending show, and probably wouldn’t have even if they hadn’t been canceled suddenly. But The Hunter still feels like a very jarring one to end on!