User Reviews

Jo Van Fleet guest stars in this most moving Bonanza story about Little Joe Cartwright going blind after an explosion in a mine tunnel. Like Anne Sullivan Macy, Van Fleet is a blind teacher of the blind.

Michael Landon may regain his sight in a matter of days or weeks or maybe never. Faced with that open end diagnosis Lorne Greene sends for a teacher to have Landon learn the skills he will need to cope.

Landon's scenes with Van Fleet are some of the best he did in that long run on Bonanza. He and Van Fleet should have had some Emmy consideration.

Really fine story, shades of The Miracle Worker.

Contrary to Thomas' scathing remarks (jealous much?) this is a brilliant episode in which Michael Landon shows what an amazing actor AND director he was. Considering he went on to produce, write, direct AND star in TWO more successful programs following this, I'd say he knew what he was doing & was pretty good at it. Every episode of Bonanza featured a story about one of the boys or Ben or one of the hands, etc. It was never centered entirely on ML. The acting in this episode is fantastic, not only on the part of Michael Landon but also Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker & the lady who plays the teacher.

Thanks in no small part to Academy Award Winner (East of Eden) Jo Van Fleet, Michael Landon demonstrates some genuine acting ability in this episode. The final ironic scene is probably the only time that I've ever witnessed Landon transcend his own caricature. Landon truly rose to the occasion of playing opposite Ms. Van Fleet...his performance was very moving!

First off, he was just Hoss's little brother, and although he did not grow an inch in height (let's not count the 2 inch heels), his ego grew a mile. Now he is even directing the very show in which he is the main star! Not surprising, most of the show revolved about Michael Landon pounding his own chest, either as a character, or actor, or Mr. Big Shot director. I felt sorry for the supporting cast and the production people, who had to endure it.

Here are the highlights - right in the beginning Joe and Hoss are trotting into a store room, each one carrying a quart of nitroglycerin, side-by-side, and they casually set it, side-by-side, on the very top shelf. A cat casually knocks one of the quart-sized bottle of nitroglycerin off that top shelf (cats do that, right?), and what does quick thinking Little Joe do? No, he does not jump out, he jumps inside, to cushion the bottle's fall! Like many others recently, this show is packed with social engineering, but it was tolerable. The highlight was the very ending and that's why I rate it 6 instead of 2. But I can't spoil it, you've got to see it..