Bonanza backdrop
Western•Action & Adventure•Drama

The Best Episodes of Bonanza Season 3

Every episode of Bonanza Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Bonanza Season 3!

Binge this in 20h 25m•Peaking at 8.0/10

The High-Sierra adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their ranch while helping the surrounding community.

Airs on
NBC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons14

All1234567891011121314

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Bonanza Season 3 Episode 1 - The Smiler
    7.2/10(162 votes)

    #1 - The Smiler

    S3:E1

    A drunk is killed in a saloon brawl with Hoss, and though the man's brother insists there are no hard feelings, he is actually a silver-tongued devil bent on revenge.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 2 - Springtime
    8.0/10(178 votes)

    #2 - Springtime

    S3:E2

    A friend of Ben's (Mr. Milbank) arrives at the Ponderosa at a bad time...when the Cartwright boys are fighting in the mud. Mr. Milbank, who is injured by a flying log during the fight, gives an assignment to each of the three boys. Can they fulfill the assignments, or has Springtime gotten to them all?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 3 - The Honor of Cochise
    8.0/10(189 votes)

    #3 - The Honor of Cochise

    S3:E3

    The Cartwrights and a bigoted army captain are pinned down by Cochise and his braves, who claim the officer poisoned 30 of their people.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 4 - The Lonely House
    7.3/10(160 votes)

    #4 - The Lonely House

    S3:E4

    Little Joe pays a visit to the widow Lee Bolden, and brings her a bank draft for her husband's investments with Ben. Actually, the investments were losing propositions. Ben just wanted to help out his friend. During his visit, a wounded man stumbles into the house, and Joe recognizes him as Trock, who had just robbed the local bank. Lee Bolden was a nurse to her husband physician, and removes the bullet from Trock. Joe soon learns that Lee is in love with Trock, and that is the only thing standing between him and an early grave.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 5 - The Burma Rarity
    7.1/10(156 votes)

    #5 - The Burma Rarity

    S3:E5

    In this comic episode involving a precious emerald and the sweet widow, Clemantine Hawkins who is attracted to Ben, turns the tables on a pair of land swindlers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 6 - Broken Ballad
    7.4/10(161 votes)

    #6 - Broken Ballad

    S3:E6

    Adam tries to help a reformed gunman who wants only to live peacefully near Virginia City. Good story without a tidy ending. Pernell's first chance to sing on the series.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Bonanza

    READ
  7. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 7 - The Many Faces of Gideon Flinch
    7.3/10(174 votes)

    #7 - The Many Faces of Gideon Flinch

    S3:E7

    Hoss and Joe become involved when "Bullethead" Burke vows revenge on an old man he claims cheated him in an investment deal.

    Director:Robert Altman
    Writer:Robert Vincent Wright

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 8 - The Friendship
    7.7/10(159 votes)

    #8 - The Friendship

    S3:E8

    Joe befriends and takes responsibility for an ex-convict named Danny. Danny loves horses and is not used to people's ways on the outside of jail. Will his rough jailhouse upbringing mar any hopes of friendship?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 9 - The Countess
    7.1/10(144 votes)

    #9 - The Countess

    S3:E9

    A woman Ben once loved, Lady Chadwick, returns and attempts to trick him into marrying her by ruining his business. Ben says almost losing the Ponderosa will make him and his sons appreciate it more.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 10 - The Horse Breaker
    7.3/10(146 votes)

    #10 - The Horse Breaker

    S3:E10

    A professional wrangler working for the Cartwrights is paralyzed when thrown by a particularly mean bronco. The woman nursing him was once engaged to the late son of a neighboring rancher out to get Ben.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 11 - Day of the Dragon
    7.7/10(172 votes)

    #11 - Day of the Dragon

    S3:E11

    Joe wins a card game and an unexpected prize...a young lady. She goes to the Ponderosa and serves them, not wanting to be set free. Meanwhile, an army is looking for her and the Cartwrights.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 12 - The Frenchman
    6.0/10(152 votes)

    #12 - The Frenchman

    S3:E12

    An irritating man who boasts of being the reincarnation of French poet Francois Villion shows up causing trouble for the Cartwrights.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 13 - The Tin Badge
    7.3/10(150 votes)

    #13 - The Tin Badge

    S3:E13

    Joe accepts the job of temporary sheriff in the town of Rubicon, unaware he is being used to facilitate a scheme involving murder.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 14 - Gabrielle
    7.5/10(204 votes)

    #14 - Gabrielle

    S3:E14

    In this Christmas story, inspired by Johanna Spyri's "Heidi", Hoss and Joe come across a blind girl whose family has been killed in a wagon wreck, learning later that her grandfather is a bitter hermit who spent 21 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 15 - Land Grab
    7.1/10(154 votes)

    #15 - Land Grab

    S3:E15

    The Ponderosa is overrun with settlers bearing phony property deeds, and one of Ben's oldest friends is responsible.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 16 - The Tall Stranger
    7.1/10(151 votes)

    #16 - The Tall Stranger

    S3:E16

    Hoss plans to marry Margie, a pretty blonde, but Margie becomes fascinated with a tall, traveling stranger named Mark Connors. Margie marries Mark but soon finds it was far from a match made in heaven.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 17 - The Lady from Baltimore
    7.1/10(167 votes)

    #17 - The Lady from Baltimore

    S3:E17

    An overbearing friend of the family tries to force her daughter into marrying Joe, though she does not love him. The situation grows more complex when Adam stumbles onto the scheme.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 18 - The Ride
    8.0/10(171 votes)

    #18 - The Ride

    S3:E18

    Adam races against the clock to prove a man who was once his friend is guilty of robbery and murder and Adam is convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt he is guilty.

    Director:Don McDougall
    Writer:Ward Hawkins

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 19 - The Storm
    7.4/10(162 votes)

    #19 - The Storm

    S3:E19

    Joe plans to marry Laura White, daughter of a man Ben once sailed with, but she is fatally ill. Ben consoles him with words spoken years before, by the father of Adam's mother.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 20 - The Auld Sod
    7.0/10(149 votes)

    #20 - The Auld Sod

    S3:E20

    The Cartwrights pretend the Ponderosa belongs to the town lush, when his aging mother from Ireland arrives.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 21 - Gift of Water
    7.5/10(163 votes)

    #21 - Gift of Water

    S3:E21

    The Cartwrights dig a well, build a rig and a windmill for a drought-stricken farm family.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 22 - The Jackknife
    7.5/10(156 votes)

    #22 - The Jackknife

    S3:E22

    Adam gives a second chance to a family man he suspects is one of the rustlers who has been hitting the Ponderosa herds.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 23 - The Guilty
    7.1/10(139 votes)

    #23 - The Guilty

    S3:E23

    When Ben fails to prevent the death of a friend's son, Adam and Joe, concerned by their father's depression, attempt to prove there was nothing he could have done.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 24 - The Wooing of Abigail Jones
    7.4/10(172 votes)

    #24 - The Wooing of Abigail Jones

    S3:E24

    In order to keep peace on the ranch, Hoss and Joe try to help ranch hand, Hank Meyers woo the the plain-looking schoolteacher, Abigail Jones. When their first plan backfires, they convince Adam (who doesn't want to get involved) to help and this makes things worse because Abigail believes it is Adam who is wooing her and Hank Meyers believes Adam wants to steal her away.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Bonanza Season 3 Episode 25 - The Lawmaker
    7.4/10(152 votes)

    #25 - The Lawmaker

    S3:E25

    Ben supports the appointment of Asa Moran as Virginia City's temporary sheriff, but Moran goes overboard with his authority, jailing Adam in the process and pistol-whipping a Ponderosa hand.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 3 Ratings Summary

"The Smiler" is the best rated episode of "Bonanza" season 3. It scored 7.2/10 based on 162 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/24/1961. This episode is rated 0.8 points higher than the second-best, "Springtime".