Bonanza

Season 5

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 5

34 Episodes

She Walks in Beauty
E1
Episode 1She Walks in BeautyHoss wants to marry mysterious Regan Miller, a woman with less than a pristine past. When he thinks Adam is trying to steal her away, he loses control and beats Adam up.
A Passion for Justice
E2
Episode 2A Passion for JusticeRenowned English novelist Charles Dickens comes to Virginia City. In short order, he is accused of a crime he didn't commit. The problem then becomes how to convince the stubborn author to defend himself.
Rain from Heaven
E3
Episode 3Rain from HeavenA destitute rainmaker and his family arrive in drought-stricken Virginia City. While Ben tries to help him make rain, Hoss tends to the man's seriously ill little girl.
Twilight Town
E4
Episode 4Twilight TownJoe is bushwhacked in the desert and awakens to find himself in Martinville, a town that may or may not be populated by ghosts. An errie, surrealistic and well-produced episode.
The Toy Soldier
E5
Episode 5The Toy SoldierAdam encounters drunken artist James Callan, branded a "squaw man" because he is married to an Indian, and whose talent is going to waste in the town of Sheep Head.
A Question of Strength
E6
Episode 6A Question of StrengthHoss and a pair of nuns, the younger one having a difficult time training for the order, are robbed and stranded at a way station.
Calamity over the Comstock
E7
Episode 7Calamity over the ComstockJoe has a run-in with Calamity Jane, and takes her home with him after promising her dying father to take care of her. At first the Cartwrights (besides Joe) think ""Cal"" is a boy, but they soon find out differently. Cal begins to fall in love with Joe, but Joe finds her attentions unwanted...especially when Cal's boyfriend, Doc Holliday, has it in for Joe.
Journey Remembered
E8
Episode 8Journey RememberedBen finds an old journal that he kept while in a wagon train travelling from St. Joseph, Missouri to Ash Hollow. As he is reading it Ben remembers the journey he undertook with his wife Inger and a young Adam. During the trip Hoss is born and they have trouble with some Indians.
The Quality of Mercy
E9
Episode 9The Quality of MercyLittle Joe struggles with his conscience, trying to believe that his friend, Seth Pruitt, did the right thing after Seth admits to the mercy-killing of his fiancée's father when the man was in agony from a broken back and begging for death.
The Waiting Game
E10
Episode 10The Waiting GameWhen Frank Dayton is thrown from his horse and killed, his wife Laura tells their daughter, Peggy, that he went on a long trip, preferring to let the little girl hold onto the hope that her daddy would come home again someday. But Laura's plan to shelter Peggy from her father's death is soon challenged when Adam Cartwright comes to call and the pretty widow finds herself falling in love.
The Legacy
E11
Episode 11The LegacyAdam, Hoss and Joe mistakenly believe their father was murdered. They split into 3 different directions to confront the supposed killers. In his heart, Ben knows his sons will not act outside the law; but he is not 100% sure that Joe will behave correctly.
Hoss and the Leprechauns
E12
Episode 12Hoss and the LeprechaunsHoss scares a bear that has treed a green-clad little man, subsequently finds a buried strongbox filled with bags of gold dust and, when both the treasure and its owner disappear, unsuccessfully tries to convince his skeptical family that he'd discovered a leprechaun's hoard. But the whole town goes searching for the mythical men after a newly arrived Irish professor confirms the presence of multiple leprechauns...and their gold!
The Prime of Life
E13
Episode 13The Prime of LifeBen becomes irritable and reckless when the completion of an important timber contract is hindered by an old rival.
The Lila Conrad Story
E14
Episode 14The Lila Conrad StoryJoe and Adam protect a saloon girl, who has killed in self-defense, from an angry lynch mob. The accompanying Judge, along with his wife, takes a liking to Lila, and before it is all over, he and Lila discover much more about themselves.
Ponderosa Matador
E15
Episode 15Ponderosa MatadorAdam, Hoss, and Joe vie for the attention of a pretty young lady named Dolores. Hoss talks Joe into entering a bull fight, but it doesn't work out quite as planned.
My Son, My Son
E16
Episode 16My Son, My SonBen's plans to marry Katherine Saunders are upset when her son Eden is accused of killing his former girlfriend.
Alias Joe Cartwright
E17
Episode 17Alias Joe CartwrightA stubborn, career army sergeant appears to be his only hope when Little Joe is arrested after being robbed and knocked unconscious by a look-a-like escaped army prisoner and is unable to convince the fort commander that he isn't the man who has been sentenced to face the firing squad.
The Gentleman from New Orleans
E18
Episode 18The Gentleman from New OrleansThe new stranger in town claims to be the famous pirate Jean Lafitte, and Hoss believes him.
The Cheating Game
E19
Episode 19The Cheating GameIn this sequel to "The Waiting Game", Laura resents Adam's advice on how she ought to be running her ranch. A newcomer, Ward Bannister, comes to her aid, but is actually part of a scheme to steal her ranch.
Bullet for a Bride
E20
Episode 20Bullet for a BrideWhile out hunting for a mountain lion, Joe accidently shots Tessa Caldwell causing her to go blind. As a result of his guilt, Joe ends up proposing to the girl. However, other circumstances arise that cause Tessa to make a rash decision - one that both her and Joe may regret in the future.
King of the Mountain
E21
Episode 21King of the MountainWhen mountain man Jim Leyton decides to marry, he chooses Hoss as his best man. Julie's father, Grizzly, does not agree and Hoss must come to the rescue.
Love Me Not
E22
Episode 22Love Me NotWhile talking with an Indian, Ben is given an unexpected present...a woman. She is a young white woman named Joan who has lived with the Indians since she was a little girl. Through a humorous learning experience, Ben tries to teach Joan how to behave like a white woman. In the process, Ben finds himself in an awkward situation.
The Pure Truth
E23
Episode 23The Pure TruthHoss is suffering from spring fever, goes to the wrong town and is accused of bank robbery.
No Less a Man
E24
Episode 24No Less a ManThe town council feels Roy Coffee can no longer do his job, and with the notorious Wagner gang on their way to rob the bank, everyone is in a panic. Ben and Adam disagree with the town council and do what they can to help Roy out.
Return to Honor
E25
Episode 25Return to HonorBen must travel to pay his respects after he learns of the death of his nephew Will. When he visits the grave, he finds his nephew barely alive with a bullet wound. He takes him to a doctor and Will insists that he leave, but Ben refuses. Will explains that the men after him must believe that he is dead. Ben decides his best bet is to take Will home. He and Will are followed by the same men who are interested in some valuables Will is carrying.
The Saga of Muley Jones
E26
Episode 26The Saga of Muley JonesThe Cartwrights are visited by their second cousin, Muley Jones of Weedville, Missouri who sings with a window-shattering voice and stirs up trouble with Indian negotiations that Ben is trying to ensure.
The Roper
E27
Episode 27The RoperWill is having second thoughts about staying on at the Ponderosa, and outlaws hit the ranch and take him with them. The leader, Lee Hewitt, is a young killer and plans on robbing the Ponderosa, so Will must take action to save himself, Hewitt's wife, the doctor, and his newfound relatives, the Cartwrights.
A Pink Cloud Comes from Old Cathay
E28
Episode 28A Pink Cloud Comes from Old CathayA mix-up in his request for mail-order Chinese fireworks brings Hoss instead a feisty mail-order bride whose militant ideas ignite a workers' rebellion and threaten the completion of a Virginia City railroad project.
The Companeros
E29
Episode 29The CompanerosMateo Ibara and his wife Carla visit the Ponderosa. Ibara asks Will to return to Mexico with him. Ibara and Will fought together for Juarez's cause and Ibara saved Will's life. For this reason, Will feels obligated to Ibara, but Ben is suspicious of the man's motives.
Enter Thomas Bowers
E30
Episode 30Enter Thomas BowersA famous Italian opera singer is invited to sing at the local Virginia City opera house. One snag: he may resemble on paper a runaway slave they were just notified about; and some of the townspeople want him arrested or worse.
The Dark Past
E31
Episode 31The Dark PastDev Farnum's horse goes lame. He's near the Ponderosa and stops for some help. He gets another horse from the Cartwrights but hasn't enough money to pay them. He offers to work for it but when he develops a lot of blisters, they find out he's not just a preacher's son. He's also a bounty hunter.
The Pressure Game
E32
Episode 32The Pressure GameLaura Dayton's Aunt Lil comes to visit and quickly decides it's time she help the hesitant Adam propose to her favorite niece. Her plan is to make Adam jealous by using his cousin Will but it doesn't go exactly as planned.
Triangle
E33
Episode 33TriangleAdam and Laura are finally engaged. Adam is secretly building a house and planning for the future. Laura realizes that it's Will she is in love with. Adam is then confined to a wheelchair after falling from a ladder and out of guilt, Laura and Will deny their feelings.
Walter and the Outlaws
E34
Episode 34Walter and the OutlawsHilarious sequel to "Any Friend Of Walter's" in which Obie leaves Walter in Hoss' care. The three outlaws, Macy, Teague, and Willard, kidnap Walter and hold him for ransom, leaving Hoss and the returning Obie to rescue him, but matters turn out the other way.