Ponderosa

Bonanza is back in the guize of ""Ponderosa"". This episode is very good, telling the back story of what went on as Ben Cartwright got the deed to the Lake Tahoe property. Unfortunately, someone else also wants the property, so he can strip-mine it and turn the land into a waste-land. Bens wife and Little Joes mother is killed when the store in which Ben is working in at the time is blown up by the miner, the one who takes her death the worse is Little Joe. Shortly after this (and because of it) Ben is awarded the property. All seems to be said and done, but as Ben and the boys are building the house, in the middle of the night the miner sneaks onto the property and pours kerosene all over the house and ignites it. Little Joe takes Bens gun and goes hunting down the miner, not realizing the new trouble he could be causing because of it. Meanwhile, two other characters come into play. The first is Carlos (Fernando Carrillo), a Mexican Soldier who returns to the town after being in the

Going against Bens explicit wishes, Hauss goes up against a bare-knuckles fighter named Iron Hands Malloy (Joseph Clements). Hauss thinks hes developed a new and surprising punch that will knock the fighter off his feet. He does so -- in a test bout, whic was a means to peak everybodys interest in the fight. As things progress, Adam does some research, only to discover that the fighter went under several other names and was expelled from the official circuit for using several cheating methods, one of which is holding a rock in his hand and pounding on his opponent if his opponent gets too close to winning, and as Hauss begins to win against Iron Hands . . ..

Carlos is overjoyed and Ben and his sons are amazed when Carlos beautiful and spirited eighteen-year-old sister, Isabella, appears at what until recently had been the Rivera familys ranch. Carlos had presumed shed died in a fire in Mexico. Isabella is overjoyed at being reunited with the brother shed feared had died in the Mexican-American war, but shes also heartbroken to learn that her former home has been sold to Margaret Davis as a war reparation. Since shes now homeless, Ben takes Isabella into the already-crowded Ponderosa, but events take a dismaying turn when a sheriff from Texas arrives in town on the trail of a ""killer"" and discovers that Isabella rode in on the murdered victims horse. The sheriff threatens to arrest Isabella, but Ben takes responsibility for her custody, offering to stand trial for whatever crime, if any, the sheriff decides to try her for if she flees. Fearful for Isabellas life, Isabella and Carlos do flee, but when they learn what Ben has done, the

A man comes to Eagle Station wanting Adam, to write about the true story of the Donner Party. But the meeting causes Ben to reflect on a bad experience from his own past.

Romantic woes are caused by a ""Ladies Choice"" dance: Margaret and Shelby learn that they both want to be escorted by Ben, and Tess settles for Hoss when Isabella asks Adam.

Adam, Hoss and Carlos discover a treasure map clutched in a dead mans hand and set out to claim the gold they think it leads to, unaware they are being followed.

Ben is distrustful of a stranger who comes to Eagle Station, builds a hotel and talks about his vision to expand the young town and put it on the stagecoach route.

Isabella receives a letter from her childhood love whom she thought had died in the war. Shes torn between her old love and Adam, who is determined not to lose her.

When an abandonded baby is found, Hoss and Tess consider marrying and adopting the child.

Samuel returns after being let go from the city newspaper due to his race. The Cartwrights convience Samuel to open a newspaper in Eagle Station. A new law is inacted which makes runaway slaves even in free states to have a price on their heads which puts Samuel in jeopardy.