Ponderosa

Although it is a remake of the legendary TV classic BONANZA, PONDEROSA more than holds its own showing greater depth and much more realism.

The Cartwright clan is younger in this new version, less rich, less sure about right & wrong -- specially in terms of the taking of the Nevada lands from its previous owners and the aftermath this produces. The Cartwright's and the local townfolk are often confronted with displaced and disgruntled Mexicans.

In line with real life, the Cartwright's and their western settler neighbors own only assorted hunting rifles, not slick 6-shooters at the hip. Whenever an odd gun-slinger gallops in from the badlands, he is wearing a monsterous mid-1800's side-arm and not the compact modern revolvers often seen in cheaper Westerns.

Dan Blocker, Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Michael Landon -- these are larger than TV-life shoes to fill. An impossible task. Fortunately, the producers of PONDEROSA smartly chose have the characters be younger than in the original BONANZA series. As the settlers explored the new world of the real American West, we see the youthful Cartwright boys explore living on the rugged PONDEROSA ranch as well as learning about life in general.

Ben Cartwright is ever thoughtful as he leads his family without a wife to help (think Steve Douglas of MY THREE SONS). PONDEROSA benefits from above average direction, plot lines, set realism and acting.

An excellent Western. A hidden gem.

I am truly amazed after reading all the postings, on alot of different boards, how one show has brought people together, and helped other people. Look how many friendships have been created. I want to thank the writer's for the love, compassion and understanding the came through in the scripts, and thank the cast for perfectly performing the scenes. It's like dropping a stone in the water and watching the concentric circles continuously touch shore. I can't believe how excited all of us get to hear from Matt and Drew, or hear that another episode of The Ponderosa will air, or find labels that have pictures of the TP on them, or tell each other what Danny did and said in each scene, and how it affected us, the list goes on..... I personally, am a much happier person today, because I watched The Ponderosa....WOW!!! Thanks! Another aspect of 'The Ponderosa Magic', that also amazes me, is how so many people tell me 'why' they watch the show. The Ponderosa came on the TV, just when we NEEDED it. Let me explain. It appeared after the 9-11 tragedy. We needed a show that was kinda like our family...we grew up with them. Who doesn't know the Cartwrights? Everyone wants/needs Ben Cartwright as our father....kind but strong, dependable and understanding, yet doing the 'right thing' for everyone alike. Practicing being 'just', trying to live by the law. Sometimes, there is nothing 'fair' in our lives (like 9-11), but when Danny appeared on the screen, we felt SAFE. We knew that he would make sense of everything, he gave us hope. THANKS DANNY! Also, who wouldn't want MATT or DREW as our brothers..they couldn't have demonstrated any more love than what they did in every show. THANKS MATT & DREW! Yesterday, when I went home for lunch, I turned on the TV to watch the news....IRAQ...WAR...WEAPONS...IT'S NOT FAIR...SCARED...NO MORE KILLING...PLEASE STOP IT.... I needed Danny, Matt and Drew to escape from reality and feel safe again. Maybe it's like acting, the actors escape from reality to play someone else.

WE NEED 'THE PONDEROSA'.

This movie brought back our beloved Cartwrights. It brought anticipation and excitement for what the future would hold for Ben Cartwright as he brought up his three sons and attempted to build what we all knew would eventually become the famous Ponderosa. The characters had many qualities the older Cartwrights had, and I felt by watching this younger version of each (Ben, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe) we could watch them as they learned the ways of the west and see them as they struggled to survive and become the family we knew. The actors were well chosen for the parts. Diehard Bonanza fans, such as myself, knew Hoss immediately as protrayed by Drew. There was just no question that it was perfect casting. Little Joe (Jared) was a puzzle in the beginning but as he watched his mother die, the beginnings of the rebellious side of his character (which we all expect) appeared and Jared carried the part well. Pa was strict, yet loving, and Daniel was excellent. I had never seen him in previous roles yet I knew of him and some of the parts he had played and was a little concerned he wouldn't be right to play Ben Cartwright. But watching him as Pa interacted with his sons, I knew he was perfect. The mystery was who would portray Adam - my favorite Bonanza character. Matt totally exceeded my expectations for Adam. He portrays a sensitive, thoughtful, exciting, quick to anger when necessary Adam and those are all of the traits I expect to see in the eldest son. I'm sure as he delves further into the character and the history of Adam's life is brought out in later episodes, people are going to see what type of versatile actor he appears to be.

My children often joke I stopped watching televison when the Waltons went off the air. Not quite but have turned my televison off for the past five years. Finally a show a family can enjoy together then its pulled. I really hope the Ponderosa is returned to the airs! The cast was warm and real which is hard to find. Thanks

I have watched every episode of this wonderful family show and I love them all! The Ponderosa is a show the whole family can watch and not worry about content.

The actors are superb and considering the size of shoes they must fill, have done an excellent job!