Review of "The Blood Line," season 2 episode 15 of Bonanza

Review of

The Blood Line, season 2 episode 15 of Bonanza


Four out of five stars

Even a justified killing can be problematic

 When a man goes berserk in the local store and tries to kill Ben Cartwright, he draws and kills the man. Even though he knows that he had no choice, Ben feels deep remorse and wishes that there were something else he could have done.

Shortly after the shooting, 16-year-old Todd Grayson arrives by stage from Boston in order to be reunited with his dead father. Anguished and full of hero worship for his father, Todd can think of nothing but killing Ben in revenge. Ben takes responsibility for Todd, even taking him to the Ponderosa and giving him room and board.

 A gunman traveled the stage with Todd and befriended him. Seeing an opportunity to be paid well for killing Ben, the gunman talks the girlfriend of Todd’s father into paying him. It is only when the girlfriend finally comes clean with Todd that he realizes that his father was not the man he thought he was. It is at this point that Todd drops his vendetta.

 The essential goodness of Ben Cartwright is on display here. Even though he knows Todd is determined to kill him, be reaches out to Todd and does everything he can to try to make amends for an act not his fault.