Bonanza (TV Series) First Love (1972) User Reviews

The Green Eyed Monster

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 10 May 2016]

Jordan Rhodes with his new bride Pamela Franklin to Nevada where he is to be the new school teacher. He's a graduate of Yale and justly proud of that. But he's got a jealous streak that puts Othello's too shame. He also is a lousy teacher, having no patience, insulting and belittling his pupils.

Everyone who shows them an act of kindness is trying to get into Franklin's pants and he thinks she's encouraging them. First it's Tim Matheson, then Michael Landon, and finally it's Mitch Vogel even after Vogel saves him from a beat down by the bigger kids.

No tragedy here except for a bit of a broken heart that Vogel suffers. Rhodes's battle with the Green Eyed Monster and Franklin's beauty are a great recommendation to watch this show. In a few years time Franklin would have been in the sack with Vogel, but Bonanza was always a family show.

Strange, misguided incoherent late series ep salvaged slightly by beauty Pamela Franklin

[bnelso-23793 · 6/10 · 24 September 2018]

This episode is one of the last 5 Bonanza eps made. It is rather incoherent in feeling if not in story as well. It concerns a new teacher of Jamie's and his beautiful appealing wife staying at the Ponderosa. Miss. Franklin is so excellent and beautiful in her wife role that it is a good idea just to catch three scenes with her in it and forget the rest of this weird entry into the usually winning Bonanza series.

Thought it was an excellent episode

[glitterrose · 10/10 · 6 December 2021]

I imagine episodes like this are pretty hard to review and it was probably hard to shoot. It had to have been strange on the Bonanza set for this 14th season since Dan Blocker passed away. My gut feeling is the rest of the cast probably didn't blink when Pernell Roberts left the series but Dan's death was probably strange for all of them. I have no idea if the series had plans to bring back the Candy character before Dan's death or if this was something that was thought of after his passing. I like Candy so it's nice to see him back for this season.

I'm glad a few of these episodes in this season focus on Jamie. I like the character and liked the actor when he went on to make a couple of guest appearances on "Little House on the Prairie" when he was playing Johnny Johnson. There's just a more serious tone to this season which I kinda find to be a relief. It's usually a case of fast forwarding to find Adam scenes if Pernell's still on the show or flat out turning the episode off if things are out and out goofy and Pernell's long gone.

I'm also relieved that they've toned down Joe. I'm used to the Cartwrights being horndogs and I realize the time period that we're in that you have your episode or two dedicated to a storyline and it's moved away from. You're not seeing Joe bringing up Alice or still crying about her but you're also not seeing him being a horndog either. It's just a storyline that's not taking up the entire season.

Anyway, I'm getting off topic from this episode. You had an excellent storyline...although one truly has to wonder how Kelly (Pamela Franklin) ended up with a husband like that. And I'm not even talking about the scene when he beats her up. It just truly makes one wonder how people are able to hide their real selves in order for somebody to fall in love with them and then they're trapped with an abusive spouse or a spouse that's suspicious of every single thing they say or do when it concerns the spouse interacting with members of the opposite sex.

I didn't think Kelly was a flirt or going after every man in the nearby area. She seemed like a very kind hearted lady. I also didn't get crush vibes off of Jamie. I think it's another case of a Cartwright being kind and helpful to another human being. Imo you didn't see Jamie getting all moony eyed thinking of Kelly. It was friendship only and the husband was just off his rocker in a lot of ways.

I was relieved at the ending. Kelly left. A lot of these shows tend to have some backwards messaging when it concerns staying or going back to a husband who is cruel or neglectful to you. When you kill somebody's love for you there's just no going back imo.

Anyway, this was a very well written and acted episode and I'd recommend it. I'd also recommend the episode before it with Jamie temporarily getting a dog named April. Both episodes were enjoyable and the pacing was even instead of looking at the clock and saying "It's only been on for 20 minutes?!"