Bonanza (TV Series) The Passing of a King (1968) User Reviews

Some prodigal sons have no redemption

[talonjensen · 8/10 · 16 July 2018]

Ben sells a prize bull, King Henry, to an old friend, Denver Pyle as Claude Roman, who has paid $2,000 down and will pay $2,000 on delivery. Jeremy Slate does a great job as the greedy, hateful, spiteful son, Jeremy, who wants the ranch now and has a judge rule his father, Claude, as non compos mentis. Diana Muldaur plays Mary Roman, the kind, loving daughter who does not agree with her brother's actions, but is told by the judge that she doesn't have legal standing as the brother has precedence.

Jeremy tries to pay Ben less than what was promised and Ben isn't happy. Claude tries to make Jeremy pay, but he won't listen to his father and tells him that he is in charge now. Jeremy justifies his actions by saying he just did what Ben and his father did. Ben took his ranch from the Indians and Claude took his ranch from the Mexicans. Unable to reach a deal Ben seeks legal action and eventually comes to get the bull and take it back.

SPOILER: Jeremy is so spiteful he has killed the bull and cut it up. Upon learning this Claude realizes he has to pay Ben in full and has his daughter get $2,000 to pay Ben but Jeremy tries to stop the payment. Claude then pulls a gun on his son, but then as he becomes distracted Jeremy is drawing on his father when Little Joe jumps him and they fight. Little Joe thinks the fight is over and turns his back but Jeremy picks up an ax to use on LIttle Joe when Claude uses his gun and kills Jeremy. Claude then suffers a heart attack and dies. The ranch is thus left to Mary.

Overall a good episode with good actors, but the story wasn't original enough to be great.

Don't be a dick!!

[birdgoog · 8/10 · 24 July 2020]

Ok well first, i'm not the details kinda person. If you want to know the story immediately, perhaps check out the prior review. But i'm NOT endorsing it. Said Claude and Ben were "old friends" yet upon first meeting Claude said "you must be Ben!?" Also, the bull cost a total of $5000, not $4000. Plus, what ab this story is so UN-ORIGINAL? It's the old "bull bait and switch scheme"? Well it was new to ME, aka "ORIGINAL". So you see i can't endorse that but if yinz don't mind the errors, overall it was a good review. See i can't do that. imho if Claude aka Denver Pyle irl had made the ONLY correct decision, this whole episode could have been unnecessary. Claude had this weird kinda empathy for his son that the boy never deserved. Mr Roman felt guilty that his son was so spoiled and EVIL. Soo embarrassing! If Claude would've left his ranch to the only person who was ready and capable of running the ranch: PROBLEM SOLVED! Of course i'm speaking of Mary aka Diana Muldaur irl. She'd have done the right thing, brother Jeremy aka Jeremy Slate irl would've slunk away and Claude wouldn't need to murder his son, causing his own demise via heart attack. lol i just completely ruined the episode by doing things MY way! Listen. Great episode, exciting ending, bonus points for 'lil Joe shirtless! Moral of story: DON'T BE A DICK! lol karma's gonna getcha!!

Meta review

[johnfaysr · 8/10 · 16 February 2024]

First reviewer missed a couple of details, but, that's all they are - details. The synopsis is mostly right on.

However, the second reviewer has missed the most important piece of information about the inheritance laws of this state (as we learn eventually, it is Texas). It is impossible for Papa to leave even a share of the RR ranch to his daughter. We learn this fairly early in the program when Papa laments to the daughter that 'the law in this state will not allow him to leave a rightful share to her.' Whether this is actually true of Texas in the post Civil War era, I cannot say. But, it is explicitly mentioned in the dialogue.