Editing Bonanza (section)

== Themes ==
[[File:Philip Ahn.gif|thumb|[[Philip Ahn]] in "The Fear Merchants"]]
[[File:Bonanza - (02-07) Day of Reckoning.ogv|thumb|The season two episode "Day of Reckoning" shows the native population with nuance, as individuals have distinct motives and discuss ethical issues involved in working with or resisting white colonialism, at a time when racial subtleties like this were not common on broadcast television. The protagonist is Mexican actor [[Ricardo Montalbán]].]]
Episodes ranged from high drama<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite episode |title=Bushwhacked |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=October 3, 1971|season=13|number=3}}|{{Cite episode |title=Shanklin |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=February 13, 1972|season=13 |number=20}}}}</ref> to broad comedy<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite episode |title=Hoss and the Leprechauns|series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=December 22, 1963|season=5|number=12}}|{{Cite episode |title=Mrs. Wharton and the Lesser Breeds|series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=January 19, 1969|season=10|number=17}}|{{Cite episode |title=Caution, Easter Bunny Crossing|series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=March 29, 1970|season=11 |number=25}}}}</ref> and addressed issues such as the environment,<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Different Pines, Same Wind |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=September 15, 1968|season=10|number=1}}</ref> [[substance abuse]],<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Hidden Enemy |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=November 28, 1972|season=14|number=10}}</ref> [[domestic violence]],<ref>{{Cite episode |title=First Love |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=December 26, 1972|season=14|number=13}}</ref> anti-war sentiment,<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Weary Willies |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=September 27, 1970 |season=12|number=3}}</ref> and [[illegitimate birth]]s.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite episode |title=Love Child |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=November 8, 1970 |season=12|number=9}}|{{Cite episode |title=Rock-A-Bye Hoss |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=October 10, 1971|season=13|number=4}}}}</ref> The series sought to illustrate the cruelty of bigotry against Asians,<ref name=e20/><ref name=e404/> [[African Americans]],<ref name=e164/><ref name=e326/><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Child |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=September 22, 1968|season=10|number=2}}</ref> [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]],<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite episode |title=The Underdog |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=December 13, 1964|season=6|number=12}}|{{Cite episode |title=Terror at 2:00 |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=March 7, 1971|season=12|number=23}}}}</ref> [[Jews]],<ref name=e92>{{Cite episode |title=Look to the Stars |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=March 18, 1962|season=3|number=26}}</ref> [[Mormons]],<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Pursued |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=October 2–9, 1966|season=8|number=4–5}}</ref> the [[disabled]],<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Tommy |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=December 18, 1966|season=8|number=14}}</ref> and [[dwarfism|little people]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=It's a Small World |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=January 1, 1970|season=11|number=14}}</ref>

''Bonanza'' is uniquely known for having addressed [[racism]], not typically covered on [[American television]] during the time period, from a [[compassionate]], [[humanitarian]] point-of-view.

[[Bigotry]], including [[antisemitism]], was the subject of the episode "Look to the Stars". A bigoted school teacher Mr. Norton (oblivious to his prejudice) routinely expels minority students. When he expels the brilliant Jewish student [[Albert A. Michelson|Albert Michelson]], a [[Genius|scientific genius]] whose experiments on the streets of Virginia City often cause commotion, Ben Cartwright steps in and confronts Norton on his bigotry. Ashamed, the schoolteacher vows to reform. A coda to the episode reveals that Michelson went on to win the [[Nobel Prize for Physics]].<ref name=e92/>

In the episode "Enter Thomas Bowers", the Cartwright family helps the opera singer [[Thomas Bowers (singer)|Thomas Bowers]], an [[African-American]] [[freedman]], after he encounters prejudice while in Virginia City to perform. Bowers winds up arrested as a fugitive slave. At the beginning of the episode, Adam is shown to be outraged at the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]'s ''[[Dred Scott v. Sandford]]'' decision (placing the time as 1857), which he discusses with his father.<ref name=e164>{{Cite episode |title=Enter Tom Bowers |series=Bonanza |series-link=Bonanza |network=[[NBC]] |date=April 26, 1964 |season=5 |number=30}}</ref> According to David Dortort, sponsor [[General Motors]] was anxious about the episode. As producer, Dortort ensured that the episode re-aired during the summer rerun seasons, though two TV stations in the South refused to air it.

In the episode "The Wish", directed by [[Michael Landon]], Hoss protects an African-American former slave's family when confronted with racism after the [[American Civil War]].<ref name=e326>{{Cite episode |title=The Wish |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=March 9, 1969|season=10|number=23}}</ref> In "The Fear Merchants", discrimination against [[Chinese immigrant]]s who attempt to assimilate in American society is addressed.<ref name=e20>{{Cite episode |title=The Fear Merchants |series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=January 30, 1960|season=1|number=20}}</ref> "The Lonely Man" presents the controversial [[interracial marriage]] between the Cartwrights' longtime Chinese chef (Hop Sing) and a white woman (Missy).<ref name=e404>{{Cite episode |title=The Lonely Man|series= Bonanza |network= [[NBC]] |date=January 2, 1972|season=13|number=15}}</ref>