TV.com

In addition to returning to the original Livingston-Evans Bonanza theme – once again rescored to be faster, we have yet again new opening scene shots. This time (after the familiar burning map), we see Lorne Greene ride his horse across the meadow before a close-up; Michael Landon rearing his steed before a side close-up shot; David Canary riding and managing to stop an out-of-control buckboard; and Mitch Vogel riding along a river before briefing stopping to say hello like all the others. Starting with the episode, "Riot" (which aired a few weeks later), the fifth credit goes to Tim Matheson; he is shown briefly looking into the camera before scurrying to mount his horse and ride off. The guest star credits are shown over stock footage of a stagecoach riding along a dirt road at Solitude Canyon, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Also, for the first time in series history, the opening theme comes before the opening act. After the first commercial break, the show's title (along with the creator, producer, writer and director credits) are superimposed over live action; the familiar watercolorings previously used for the episode titles and production credits were finally abandoned altogether.