Post
by littlejoenice » Tue Jul 04, 2017 11:35 am
I rather enjoyed this episode. I can understand the pressure Ben felt to make good on that contract in time to meet the deadline. Heck, I've felt the same way about school assignments, stories, etc...
Barney Fuller, however, rather irritated me. I didn't mind Jay C. Flippen, but he wasn't among my favorites, either. I guess you could say he was the kind you love to hate, that sort of man.
I found this episode to be enjoyable, while at the same time, a little bit sorrowful. Ben pushing his men so hard, that no matter how much Hoss warned him about that pulley, he wouldn't listen. His best friend dies as a result, and then he's filled with self-pity.
But to practically throw the Ponderosa at his sons and not care what happens to it-- that was totally out of character for Ben.
In earlier seasons, Ben was shouting at Joe for saying that he was "sick of the Ponderosa" (Season Three's Springtime) and then he literally gives Joe a lecture on how important the Ponderosa is not to just to him, but to Hoss and Adam as well. (Season 4's The Quest). So, for him to just say, "The Ponderosa's yours now; you can do what you want with it; I want no part of it," it may have come from Ben's mouth, but I didn't think it was his feelings at all.
My most favorite part is at the end, when Hoss and Little Joe ask about that long rest they were promised.
"That depends," is Ben's reply.
"On what?" Joe asks, a little worriedly.
Ben, nodding to Adam, says, "The bull of the woods."
Seeing his brothers looking at him expectantly, Adam faces the camera and says casually, "Moo."
Joe, laughing, remarks, "He says yes, Pa."
That, I think is the no. 1 highlight of this episode. I liked it-- a lot-- but couldn't stand Ben's attitude at times in this one, or Barney Fuller's "speeches" either.
Wait a minute, wait a minute. What you're saying is that at your age, you don't know the difference between a girl and a horse?
Ben to Little Joe in "Day of the Dragon."