The Last Viking

This particular episode of Bonanza answers the question for at least one of the Cartwright kids. That is, are there any uncles and aunts for some or any of them and where are they? The Last Viking refers to Dan Blocker's Uncle Gunnar played by Neville Brand who comes for a visit after an over 20 year absence. He's been gone so long that he doesn't know that Ben's married a third time and has Michael Landon around as the result.

Since Joe has no childhood memories of him, he can see him more clearly and he doesn't like it. He's got good reason not to like Uncle Gunnar as it turns out because Neville Brand runs with a gang of outlaws who hear what a rich brother-in-law he has and would like to rob the Ponderosa.

Neville Brand gives a memorable performance as the overage man who just won't settle down. He's tired though and maybe would like to. His character is seen in a later flashback episode about how Lorne Greene teamed up with Hoss's mother who is played in that episode by Inga Swenson, a two parter. The Gunnar character is played by Jeremy Slate in that and he's quite the lout as the younger version of Brand.

A background episode of Bonanza and a good one.

If I had to pick out the Cartwright this episode focuses on, I'd have to say Hoss, though Little Joe is heavily involved as well.

Hoss's uncle, a man like a viking, comes for a visit - well, that's his pretense, anyhow. He has a fun night with the family before he goes out and shows his true colors.

Things get pretty bad when he and his men attack a ranch that Joe's working at, shoots her uncle, kills his hands, and kidnaps her and Little Joe. Things go from bad to worse when Little Joe and the girl try to escape. It's really dramatic, but would be more so if we knew Little Joe wouldn't be okay in the end. (I'm not giving anything away - Little Joe was the only Cartwright to make it to the end of the fifteen- season show).

I guess this episode shows that there's good in everyone - even somebody as evil as Hoss's uncle...