Episodes

Gunmen, The While in Texas, Joe and Hoss are mistaken for the Slade brothers who are involved in a feud between two families. Consequently, Joe and Hoss are thrown in jail and are rescued by one of the members of the feuding families. They turn to the women of the two families to stop the fighting.
Fear Merchants, The The Cartwright’s come to the aid of a Chinese-American stable hand who finds himself accused of murder. Opposing them is a manipulative mayoral candidate Andrew Fulmer, a bigoted, hateful man who wants all “foreigners” to leave Virginia City.
Spanish Grant, The The Cartwright’s find themselves in a battle to disprove the validity of a Spanish land grant in order to stop the De La Cuesta family from seizing part of the Ponderosa along with all of the Carson Valley settlers’ homestead lands.
Blood on the Land A vile and murderous sheep herder, Jeb Drummond, contrives a plan to have Adam Cartwright taken hostage in an attempt to blackmail Ben and force him to sign over a large section of Ponderosa land.
Desert Justice When a brutal U.S. Marshal arrests one of the Ponderosa’s workers for murder and transports him to Los Angeles for trial, a doubtful Hoss and Adam come along in the stagecoach, along with a Dr. and his beautiful daughter, to make sure the Marshal doesn’t kill the accused before they get there.
Stranger, The An inspector comes from New Orleans to Virginia City intending to arrest Ben Cartwright for a murder committed 20 years ago.  Ben now must travel to New Orleans to stand trial and considers withdrawing from the Governor’s race.
Escape to Ponderosa Three deserters escape from an Army stockade and hide at the Ponderosa. When a Captain comes looking for them, Ben soon realizes how the prisoners are being treated and resolves to confront his good friend in charge.
Avenger, The Hoss and Joe desperately look for a way to prevent brothers Adam and Ben from being hanged for a crime.  A stranger, Lassiter, comes to town in an attempt to find the truth and prove Adam and Ben’s innocence.
Last Trophy, The A wealthy British couple visits the Ponderosa.  The wife soon finds herself attracted to the toughness of the Cartwright men.  She begins to think her husband is a coward and sets her sights on attracting Adam.
San Francisco Ben, Hoss and Joe decide to visit San Francisco with some of their ranch hands. The hands vanish into the crowds and while searching for them, Ben finds himself shanghaied and on a ship destined for Hong Kong.
Bitter Water When miner Lem Keith plans to buy land next to the Ponderosa, he goes to the owner’s son Todd to help him. Todd is more than willing to help Lem because he is in love with Lem’s daughter and because he and Todd share a common hatred of the Cartwright’s.
Feet of Clay Little Billy Allen’s mother has died and he waits for his father at the Cartwrights. Unbeknownst to Billy, his father is a prisoner who has broken out of jail. When the father commits robbery and murder, Hoss is forced to kill him.
Dark Star A gypsy girl named Tirza has come to stay at the Ponderosa. She has been disowned by her people because they believe she is a witch. While staying with the Cartwrights, Joe falls in love with her and tries to prove her people wrong.
Death at Dawn When a member of a powerful gang of outlaws murders a local shopkeeper, the killer is sentenced to be hanged.  The leader of the gang kidnaps Ben and holds him hostage in an attempt to gain his freedom.
Showdown Sam Kriby, a young bank robber, decides to get a job at the Ponderosa ranch with the Cartwrights in an attempt to prevent the local Sheriff from learning the whereabouts of his accomplices—known as the feared Pardo gang.
Mission, The Captain Pender is looking for a scout and Hoss suggests former scout Charlie Trent.  Charlie is less than dependable.  Because he feels responsible for a massacre from the past, he spends most of his time with a bottle.
Badge Without Honor Gerald Eskith comes to town claiming to be a Deputy Marshall. He wants to take the Cartwrights’ friend Jason Blaine to San Francisco to testify against the Murdock gang.  Adam has his suspicions and decides to go along with them.
Mill, The Tom Edwards spends his days in a wheelchair and holds Ben Cartwright personally responsible for his condition. When Tom turns to drinking to ease his pain, the Cartwrights all work together to help him find purpose in his life once again.
Hopefuls, The Jacob Darien is leading his family of Quakers through Virginia City when he is accosted by town roughnecks. Adam Cartwright steps in with the help of his new traveling companion, Sam Bord. Adam offers to escort the wagon train across the Ponderosa, unaware that Sam is planning a robbery.
Denver McKee While celebrating the return of his daughter Connie, former lawman McKee is asked to assist in the capture of an outlaw gang. While Joe is courting Connie, no one realizes that McKee is actually involved with the outlaws.
Day of Reckoning Ben’s life is saved by Matsou, an outcast Indian and his wife. In gratitude, Ben gives Matsou some land and a new start in life, much to the horror of neighbor Ike Dagget who hates Indians. When his wife is killed in a nighttime raid, Dagget blames Matsou and seeks revenge.
Abduction, The Little Joe and Hoss spend an unforgettable and almost tragic evening at the carnival when Little Joe’s date, pretty Jennifer Beale, disappears. The carnival owner has an eye for pretty girls and Jennifer is intrigued by him.   She soon learns that the attraction could prove fatal.
Breed of Violence Little Joe’s friend Dolly Kincaid, daughter of the town Sheriff, is always falling in with the wrong kind. She becomes involved with Vince Dagen and soon finds out he is a dangerous outlaw.  Now, it’s up to Joe to try and save her from her troubles.
Last Viking, The Gunnar Borgstrom stops to visit his relatives the Cartwrights on his way to Canada. Gunnar is hiding a dark secret and when little Joe’s life is put in danger the only way to save him is for Gunnar to come clean.
Trail Gang, The Ben hires a young drifter named Sam Jackson to help on a cattle drive. Jackson is really outlaw Johnny Logan, who signed on to the drive because he knew it was going to pass near the town of Waycross.   Logan is determined to kill the Waycross sheriff–who is his father.
Savage, The On his way to Nevada, Adam rides up on some Indians wanting to harm a white woman they believed was a mountain spirit. He and the woman escape the Indians but not before they wound him. The woman nurses Adam back to health but the tribe is on their trail.
Silent Thunder Guest Star Stella Stevens – Angry with the way a beautiful deaf girl is treated by her father, Little Joe takes it upon himself to teach her sign language so they can communicate better. His plan backfires when the young woman falls in love with him and the girl’s jealous neighbor resents her spending her time with the youngest Cartwright.
Ape, The Guest Star Leonard Nimoy – Hoss becomes friends with a man named Arnie. Arnie doesn’t realize his own strength and has never learned to control his temper.  When a local saloon girl toys with his affections, Arnie becomes dangerous.
Blood Line, The When 16-year-old Todd Grayson arrives from Boston to Virginia City, he is told that his father has been killed by Ben Cartwright. All know Ben shot Luke Grayson in self-defense, but Todd won’t accept the truth. The boy has only one thing in his head – to avenge his father by killing Ben Cartwright.
Courtship, The When  Joe and Hoss travel to Sacramento to visit the widow of Ben’s friend Josh Layton, Hoss falls in love with Helen Layton and brings her home, intending to marry her. All are thrilled about the news except Adam, who has reason to believe the girl is using Hoss.
Spitfire, The Joe finds a stranger burning Ponderosa land and must shoot him in self-defense. He finds himself left with the responsibility of the man’s daughter and brings her home to the Ponderosa, unaware that her outlaw kin are searching for her.