Episode
Bonanza: Top Hand
Overview
The Cartwrights are about to start a major cattle drive with other ranchers. It has been decided that Ben's foreman will be trail boss on the drive. Weatherby, a fellow rancher who is also with Ben, has agreed to have Kelly as trail boss, until he finds out that Kelly was previously on a cattle drive with him, and fired him for drinking. Weatherby also suggests that his younger wrangler take the job as trail boss, and a conflict is started between both Ben's foreman and Weatherby's wrangler.
Details
- Series
- Bonanza
- Season
- Season 12
- Episode
- Episode 17
- Air date
- 1971-01-17
- Runtime
- 49 min
Episode context
Top Hand is Episode 17 in Season12 of Bonanza. It aired on 1971-01-17. The runtime is 49 min.
Previous / Next
Episode 16: The Gold-Plated Rifle
An insecure Jamie is unsure of his place in the family, having trouble adjusting at his new school and keeps getting harassed by a bully. When he takes Ben's prized gold-plated rifle and breaks it, he runs away, sending Ben to go looking for him.
Episode 18: A Deck of Aces
Bradley Meredith, a Ben Cartwright look-a-like, causes trouble when he sells land to the railroad. Ben has already turned down the deal, but Meredith, acting as Ben, accepts the deal, which stirs up all kinds of trouble.
More episodes from this season
Episode 15: A Single Pilgrim
Settlers from Virginia argue over Hoss' fate after one of them accidentally shoots him.
Episode 19: The Desperado
Hoss is held prisoner by a fugitive black couple who they admit hate white people and have nothing to lose by killing them.
Episode 14: For a Young Lady
A girl's uncle and aunt want custody of her only because they believe she has the rights to her late grandfather's mine.
Episode 20: The Reluctant American
An English couple comes to Nevada to learn why a ranch owned by the British investment firm is the only company holding not showing a profit.
Episode 13: Honest John
Jamie forms a bond with a bum and his tame crow. Before long, Jamie suggests they repair an old wagon and leave the Ponderosa.
Episode 21: Shadow of a Hero
Ben is shocked to learn the Army general he is backing as governor, advocates a policy of genocide towards all Indians.
Episode 12: The Impostors
Hoss and Joe pretend to be stage robbers' partners in order to recover stolen Cartwright money. All goes well until the wife of one of the thieves shows up.
Episode 22: The Silent Killer
An epidemic of influenza hits the Ponderosa and the only person who seems sure of what to do is the wife of a doctor, whom Doc Martin says is a fraud.
Episode 11: The Luck of Pepper Shannon
Pepper Shannon is a dime novel hero and outlaw. Ben gives a job to Pepper Shannon on the condition the one-time outlaw stays away from Jamie, who happens to admire him.
Episode 23: Terror at 2:00
A racist and his henchmen steal a Gatling gun, with plans to massacre everyone - including the Cartwrights - involved in a peace treaty signing between the U.S. Army and the Paitues in Virginia City. The man's hope is that the tragedy will spark another war and eventually lead to the genocide of all Native Americans.