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Bonanza

Day of Reckoning

Season 2, Episode 7, Aired Oct 22, 1960

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7.3

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After being injured in a fight, Ben is nursed back to health by Matsou and his wife Hatoya. In return, Ben gives the two Indians land on the Ponderosa to settle and farm. Their new lives face dangerous resistance from Matsou's brother, who hates the white man, and a white neighbor who hates the Indian.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Ricardo Montalban

Matsou
GUEST STAR
Madlyn Rhue

Hatoya
GUEST STAR
Karl Swenson

Ike Taggart

Dan Blocker

Eric "Hoss" Cartwright (1959-1972)
Lorne Greene

Ben Cartwright
Pernell Roberts

Adam Cartwright (1959-1965)
Michael Landon

Joseph "Little Joe" Francis Cartwright

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A Ponderosa Case Study on Identity-Crisis and the Struggle of the Superego

8.8

"Great"

By millerem99, Mar 10, 2008

When Matsou, the son of an Indian chief, and his wife, Hatoya, find and care for an ambushed Ben Cartwright, the Indian sets himself at further odds with his brother and the tribe, who are set on vengeance to the White Man for overtaking their lands. The couple's peaceful new life together is further complicated by a neighbor filled with prejudice for the Red Man.

This ranks among the top episodes for Season Two of Bonanza as far as acting, storyline, and character development. Ricardo Montalban does a fine job portraying a man with a true dilemma: he has been born and raised a warrior, but his love for a woman who is devoted to Christ is melting away all that he has known and held to be true. As he takes on his wife's new faith for himself, he is confronted with scorn and rejection from his brother and native people, and suspicion and hostility from some of his white neighbors. The struggle within as this new man in him emerges is portrayed intensely, and the ending depicting his return to the tribe amidst tragedy and hope is a brilliant finish.

The downside to this episode was Karl Swenson's character, Ike. He was way too one-dimensional as your stereotypical, Injun-hatin' old man, and came across as more comedic than cold.moreless
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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (4)
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- Matsou: Look at me. I am neither Red Man, nor am I White Man.
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- Matsou: If it comes to dying...I would rather die as a warrior fighting with my people than, than as a farmer living amongst strangers.
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- Ben: Ike! If you do anything out of line...you'll answer to me.
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- Ike: Who said anything about a human skull. That's an injun skull. (laughs) Adam: Ike, I wouldn't use those words with Pa, you'll...you know how he feels on the subject.
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NOTES (4)
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- Scenes for this episode were filmed on location at the Iverson Ranch in California's Santa Susanna Mountains.
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- Director Richard Bartlett was the first director to film an episode of this series in 5-1/2 days All previous directors took 8-11 days.
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- Ricardo Montalban (Matsou) and Madlyn Rhue (Hatoya) would later appear in the original Star Trek episode, Space Seed. They played Khan Noonien Singh and Lt. Marla Givers respectively.
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- Featured Cartwright: Ben
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