Ep 3. The Honor of Cochise

The Honor of Cochise is an episode from the third season of the classic western TV series Bonanza. The episode follows the Cartwright family, led by patriarch Ben Cartwright, as they try to salvage a fragile peace between two warring Native American tribes.

The episode begins with the arrival of Cochise, the leader of the Chiricahua Apache tribe, at the Ponderosa Ranch. Cochise has traveled to the Cartwrights seeking their help in securing the release of his people, who have been taken prisoner by a rival tribe known as the Hekawi. The Hekawi have demanded a ransom of horses in exchange for the release of the prisoners, but Cochise refuses to comply with their demands, fearing that it would lead to further violence and bloodshed.

The Cartwrights are hesitant to get involved, as they do not want to take sides in the conflict between the two tribes. However, they soon realize that their neutrality may not be enough to prevent a war from breaking out. The Hekawi, led by a ruthless warrior named Geronimo, are determined to take matters into their own hands and launch a raid on the Cartwrights' ranch in order to steal their horses. The Cartwrights defend their homestead and repel the attack, but they realize that they need to take decisive action in order to prevent further hostilities.

Ben Cartwright decides to go to the Hekawi camp and negotiate with Geronimo directly. He manages to convince Geronimo to release the Apache prisoners, but Geronimo demands a price in return. He wants the Cartwrights to hand over a young Native American woman named Learning Deer, who has been living on the Ponderosa with the family for several years. The Cartwrights are shocked and appalled by Geronimo's request, as they consider Learning Deer to be a member of their own family.

The situation becomes even more complicated when Learning Deer reveals that she is Geronimo's daughter. She had been kidnapped as a child by the rival Apache tribe, and had been raised by the Cartwrights as one of their own. Learning Deer is torn between her allegiance to her birth father and her love for the Cartwrights, who have given her a home and a family.

The Cartwrights are faced with a difficult decision. They must choose between honoring their commitment to Cochise and risking an all-out war with the Hekawi, or betraying Learning Deer and handing her over to Geronimo. Ben Cartwright ultimately decides to stand by his principles and honor his commitment to Cochise, even though it means defying Geronimo and risking further violence.

The Honor of Cochise is a thought-provoking episode that explores themes of loyalty, honor, and cultural identity. The conflict between the two tribes reflects the tensions and prejudices that existed between Native American nations and European settlers during the 19th century. The episode also touches on the complex and often tragic history of Native American children who were taken from their families and raised in white households as part of government-sponsored assimilation programs.

Overall, The Honor of Cochise is a well-written and compelling episode that showcases the strengths of the Bonanza series. The episode features strong performances from the main cast, especially Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright and Michael Ansara as Cochise. The episode also features some impressive action sequences, as the Cartwrights defend their ranch from the Hekawi raiders.