Bonanza

Season 4

TV-PG
The Cartwrights' one-thousand-square-mile Ponderosa Ranch is located near Virginia City, Nevada, site of the Comstock Silver Lode, during and after the Civil War. Each of the three sons was born to a different wife of Ben's; none of the mothers are still alive. Adventures are typical Western ones, with lots of personal relationships/problems thrown in as well.

Where to Watch Season 4

34 Episodes

  • The First Born
    E1
    The First BornClay Stafford just arrived in Virginia City but already seems to know who Joe and the Cartwrights are. When he gets a job on their ranch as a cowhand, his past is revealed and hopes it will not affect his new relationship with them, especially Joe.
  • The Quest
    E2
    The QuestDetermined to prove he can succeed at something without the help of his Pa, Hoss, and Adam, Joe sets out on his quest and wins a timber contract for Ponderosa timber, and later discovers that having a family to rely on can definitely be an asset.
  • The Artist
    E3
    The ArtistMatthew Raine, once a world-class artist, has lost his sight due to disease. When befriended by Ben Cartwright, he realizes he has been feeling sorry for himself all this time and with his friend Ann's help, finds a way to turn his darkness into light.
  • A Hot Day for a Hanging
    E4
    A Hot Day for a HangingHoss is on his way to deliver a large sum of money for his father Ben, $12,000 to be exact, when he's arrested by the new sheriff of Dutchman's Flat, where the teller had been killed and the bank robbed of exactly $12,000. Hoss can prove his innocence with a telegraph message but the sheriff won't send it because he's trying to prove his worth to the townspeople.
  • The Deserter
    E5
    The DeserterAn Indian-hating officer, Colonel Edward J. Dunwoody, comes to the Ponderosa looking for army deserter Bill Winters, who is a good friend of the Cartwrights. Bill happens to be his son and is married to an Indian. It seemed Bill deserted when he was ordered to massacre the Shoshone, by poisoning their food and water, genocide. The Shoshone find out and abduct Bill's father.
  • The Way Station
    E6
    The Way StationWith a storm brewing, Adam takes refuge at a way station, run by cantankerous Jesse and his young grandaughter Marty, who yearns to see what exists away from the way station. The station is also visited by Luke Martin, a killer who is running from a posse. He makes Marty an empty promise to take her with him and see the world together, but Adam steps in and suggests Luke let her alone. Everybody but Marty is relieved to see him go, but he quickly returns and holds everyone hostage to protect himself from the posse.
  • The War Comes to Washoe
    E7
    The War Comes to WashoeThe violently divisive politics of the American Civil War intrude on the Cartwright home with Adam and Joe seriously disagreeing while Ben wants no part of the conflict, even as a secret agent makes his move..
  • Knight Errant
    E8
    Knight ErrantHoss volunteers to pickup an injured neighbor's mail-order bride, but by the time they return, she has fallen in love with Hoss and a price is put on Hoss' head.
  • The Beginning
    E9
    The BeginningBilly Horne is a white man who was captured by the Shoshone when he was six. He comes into Ben & Joe's campsite one night uninvited. They capture him and take him to town. Roy Coffee wants to put him in jail for safekeeping, but Ben says he'll take him to the Ponderosa. They buy Horne clothes and become friends to him. A guy named Milton Tanner says the deed to the Ponderosa is weak and tries to take a third of it. Billy goes to Tanner's ranch and warns him that he will kill him if he tries to take the land. Tanner turns his dog loose on Billy. Billy kills the dog and then Tanner, who is going for a gun. Billy pleads guilty, but breaks out. Eventually he goes back with Joe and tells what really happened.
  • The Deadly Ones
    E10
    The Deadly OnesThe Ponderosa becomes a war zone when it is invaded by a detachment of Mexican mercenaries under General Diaz. The general is furious when one of his men, Forsythe, disobeys his orders to get a hostage peacefully, and instead shoots Little Joe in the back. Diaz forces Ben to lead his men over the back roads of the Ponderosa, so they can ambush a gold train led by Emperor Maximilian's men.
  • Gallagher's Sons
    E11
    Gallagher's SonsWill and Charlie bury their father with the help of Hoss. He decides to help them get to their aunt but he finds out soon enough that he's taken on more than he bargained for when he finds out how their pa was killed.
  • The Decision
    E12
    The DecisionHoss is seriously injured internally and Ben seeks help from the only doctor within 50 miles, who happens to be in prison for murder. Ben talks to the judge, and with some convincing, talks him into letting the doctor look at Hoss. Danny, who works for the Doctor, tells Ben what he saw about the murder. Ben discovers what really happened and proves to the judge that the doctor really is innocent. The judge stops the hanging and Hoss survives.
  • The Good Samaritan
    E13
    The Good SamaritanA jilted friend of Hoss can't seem to shake the bottle. When a woman and her daughter arrive on the stage the party that was supposed to greet them has left town. Hoss tries to play matchmaker but his friend seems determined to sabotage the whole thing.
  • The Jury
    E14
    The JuryHoss faces scorn and accusations of bribery when he refuses to vote with his fellow jurors to convict a man for murder based solely on the testimony of the victim's brother who witnessed the act on a dark night.
  • The Colonel
    E15
    The ColonelFrank Medford, a figure from Ben's "wild, misspent youth", shows up in Virginia City, and though down on his luck, creates troubles for the Cartwrights by claiming to be a successful businessman.
  • Song in the Dark
    E16
    Song in the DarkIncriminating scratches on cowhand Danny Morgan's arm and his penchant for riding alone through the night strumming his guitar makes him the prime suspect when a woman is found strangled the morning after witnesses heard Danny's voice singing in the dark outside her cabin.
  • Elegy for a Hangman
    E17
    Elegy for a HangmanA stranger, Bob Jolly, arrives in Virginia City to accuse a drunken Judge Harry Whitaker of sending his innocent father, Carl, to the gallows. Adam defends the judge's honor because of his long friendship with the Cartwrights. After Adam talks with Jolly, he begins to believe his story. Upon further investigation, Adam discovers that Senator Cal Prince and Hobie Klinderman as well as the judge might have had a lot to gain from Carl Jolly's murder. In an attempt to learn what really happened, Adam organizes an informal meeting in the saloon.
  • Half a Rogue
    E18
    Half a RogueIn this entertaining episode, laced with humor, Hoss first meets mountain man Jim Leyton. Bing Russell makes his first appearance as Deputy Clem Foster.
  • The Last Haircut
    E19
    The Last HaircutA vain outlaw murders a man in front of witnesses, including Joe, but a clever lawyer is able to get him acquitted. Though enraged, Joe has to convince the dead man's son it is wrong to take the law into their own hands.
  • Marie, My Love
    E20
    Marie, My LoveWhen Cochise falls on Joe, Ben cannot help but remember that is how Marie Cartwright was killed. He thinks back to meeting her in New Orleans in a rather confusing story not quite in synch with details discussed in "The First Born".
  • The Hayburner
    E21
    The HayburnerFor a change, it is Adam rather than Joe who becomes mixed up in one of Hoss' funny exploits. Together they purchase a thoroughbred horse, and end up competing against their little brother in the big Virginia City race. This is Pernell Robert's favorite comedy episode.
  • The Actress
    E22
    The ActressJoe becomes romantically involved with a woman who considers herself a serious dramatic actress. Unfortunately, she is the only one who does.
  • A Stranger Passed This Way
    E23
    A Stranger Passed This WayHoss develops amnesia after being bushwhacked and hit over the head by two outlaws and moves in with a Dutch couple. The woman regards him as a substitute for her dead son, and unless he recovers his memory, the other Cartwrights fear he will leave them forever.
  • The Way of Aaron
    E24
    The Way of AaronAdam takes a shine to Rebecca Kaufman, the daughter of a Jewish peddler, and bandits are convinced the Kaufman wagon is worth robbing.
  • A Woman Lost
    E25
    A Woman LostBen's attempt to rehabilitate an alcoholic singer he knew in better days are complicated by her involvment with a former prize fighter.
  • Any Friend of Walter's
    E26
    Any Friend of Walter'sClassic comedy in which Hoss first meets prospector Obie and his lazy but allegedly brilliant mongrel dog, Walter.
  • Mirror of a Man
    E27
    Mirror of a ManHomer Barnes is one of a family of criminals and murderers. He has tried to leave his past behind by taking a new name, getting married, and going to work at the Ponderosa. His twin brother, Rube, kills a man and steals his horse. Homer finds himself accused of the crime. As a result, Homer finds that he must face his past. In so doing, he, and Ben, must help Homer's father to make a hard choice.
  • My Brother's Keeper
    E28
    My Brother's KeeperWhile hunting for a wolf, Joe is attacked by the wolf. Adam also hunting for the wolf, hears Joe struggling with the wolf comes to Joe's aid. He fires his rifle but the bullet hits Joe. Adam hurries over knocks the wolf off Joe, shoots, and then kills the wolf. The damage has already been done with the wolf bite and Adam's bullet in Joe. Adam has to rush his little brother back to the Ponderosa. Will he make it back to save Little Joe's life, since the wolf's bite is fatal?
  • Five into the Wind
    E29
    Five into the WindA stagecoach accident in the mountains during a severe windstorm leaves the passengers with no choice but to make their way across country as best they can. One is found stabbed to death with Little Joe's knife, and the suspicion for his murder falls on Joe. Little Joe and the other passengers must explore a complex mystery involving love, deception, money, and more murder, in order to reveal what is hidden among them.
  • Saga of Whizzer McGee
    E30
    Saga of Whizzer McGeeHoss becomes concerned for the welfare of an insecure, belligerent fellow who is as small as Hoss is large. Interesting blend of comedy and pathos that ends unpredictably.
  • Thunder Man
    E31
    Thunder ManLittle Joe's 19-year old girlfriend is killed by a good samaritan, an explosives expert who had stopped to render aid to the woman's uncle after he suffers a stroke. Unable to talk, the only clue he can offer the investigating Cartwrights is a scrawled title of the song the assailant was whistling — ""New Orleans Woman.""
  • Rich Man, Poor Man
    E32
    Rich Man, Poor ManClaude Miller, the laughingstock of Virginia City, gets even with everyone who made fun of him when he strikes it rich.
  • The Boss
    E33
    The BossBen regrets that he helped Tom Slayden start a freight hauling business when Slayden sets out to ruin all the competition, and Joe is shot in the process.
  • Little Man... Ten Feet Tall
    E34
    Little Man... Ten Feet TallWhen a Italian immigrant comes to the Ponderosa, he decides he wants to give up the guitar to become a cowboy.

Cast of Season 4

  • Lorne GreeneBen Cartwright
  • Pernell RobertsAdam Cartwright
  • Dan BlockerHoss Cartwright
  • Michael LandonJoe Cartwright

 

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