Bonanza (TV Series) Forever (1972) User Reviews

Bonanza Episode "Forever"

[rab_16 · 9/10 · 15 January 2007]

This episode from Season 14 of Bonanza was shown on the Family Channel some years ago and I would love to see it come out on DVD. This episode was originally written by Michael Landon for Dan Blocker who played the character of Hoss. Sadly Mr. Blocker died shortly before the start of the new season and Michael Landon took the part in memory of his good friend. Bonnie Bedelia also does a fine job in the role of Alice. The scenery is lush and beautiful and the writing by Mr. Landon is A-1. This is the only episode where it looks as if Little Joe has at last found his one true love, marries her and they are destined to live happily ever after. One seems to sense however that ultimately the "happily ever after" ending is never quite in reach for the Cartwright men as Part 2 would reveal. Keep that box of tissues handy.

Alice Cartwright Should Have Stayed For More Episodes.

[mulroon02 · 9/10 · 22 January 2013]

Bonanza's 14th season lasted just 16 episodes, with only one episode, The Bucket Dog, being rerun on NBC, in the summer of 1973. The first half of the two hour season opener, Forever, covers Little Joe's meeting Alice, their courtship, marriage, honeymoon/life together, and Alice's pregnancy. This story should have been spread out into other stories, and might have kept the series going for a full slate of 24 episodes. The second hour of Forever, which includes murder and vengeance, could have been saved as a separate episode, telecast in 1973 (it is more traumatic than the last Bonanza, The Hunter, guest starring Tom Skeritt as a serial killer, from 1973). The problem with Forever, is that Joe is so changed after losing Alice, that the rest of the season seems unnatural, as it's back to Bonanza as usual. Unlike Adam, who left in 1965, but is mentioned as late as 1971, or Hoss, whose passing is referred to by Alice, Joe, and (three times) by Ben in 1972, Alice is never mentioned again. It's as though she never existed.

Forever a viewers response to this episode 7-30-09

[rainbow4142000 · 8/10 · 30 July 2009]

Of all the episodes of Bonanaza this is one of the most heartrending of them all and thru the years when i recall this series this still haunts me..... to lose ones true love thru a terrible circumstance such as revenge or whatever you want to call is almost unthinkable, and because Michael rewrote the script it seemed to make it even more sad, at least for me. This was back in 1972 that this episode first aired and I had just had my last child not too long before I saw it on TV. Because of the way the show ended and the way it was so well performed I tend to remember Michael with quite a bit of nostalgia. Bonnie Bedelia did a wonderful job in this performance also...... I don't see how it could possibly have had a more satisfying ending. If anyone is watching this one in reruns get out the Kleenex, i guarantee you will need them!!!

NOT FAIR sparkler-35!

[birdgoog · 7 October 2020]

Wait ... sparker-35 ... now i've seen everything! HOW can you think it's acceptable to RATE an episode that you openly admit you've NEVER SEEN?!? How does that even work exactly?? What are you basing this 1/10 rating on? How would it even be fair to give the lowest possible rating to an episode you've NEVER SEEN?! Umm ... NO. i'm calling BS ... SHENANIGANS!!!

An episode mesant for Hoss

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 13 April 2020]

The last season of Bonanza begins on a sad note. Dan Blocker passed away and an episode meant for him went to Michael Landon with a bride and a wedding ring. Unfortunately there are seeds of tragedy as well.

While saving a drunken Andrew Robinson from a possible beating after Robinson loses his shirt in a poker game, Landon meets Bonnie Bedelia and it's an instant attraction. Lorne Greene is sure happy, one of his sons is finally going where he went 3 times, to the altar.

Bonnie Bedelia makes a lovely bride she and Landon are a perfect Romeo&Juliet couple. But there's more to it in this fine two part Bonanza story.

Best episode from season 14

[michellemaxwell-10010 · 10/10 · 28 August 2021]

Forever is my favorite episode. Joe falls in love with Alice Harper and finally makes it to alter. Joe and Alice have a beautiful wedding. They are settled into married life and are excited to be expecting their first child. Unfortunately, Alice's brother owes a large sum of money to a gambling goon who threatens his life. John and along with Damian's gang shows up and demands Alice turn over her necklace. She refuses. John and Alice are both murdered. After learning his wife's death was no accident, Joe and Candy goes looking for her killers.

http://ponderosascenery.homestead.com/files/episode/season14.html

[zorob1-1 · 10/10 · 2 November 2012]

I finally saw "FOREVER" in 1988 on Family Channel.. It was too bad that DICKWAD Pat Robertson who owned the network ordered cuts because he found the show offensive... I thought it was a major tearjerker and cried each time I have viewed... MICHAEL LANDON could pull tears from a soul better than anyone... Originally the episode was written for Dan Blocker who tragically passed away before the show went into production.. I am attaching a link where you can read in great detail the behind the scenes of "FOREVER" in summary box... It is a sad read.. I was amazed to discover David Canary agreed to return to the series before Blocker's death. I had believed he was asked to return because of. During the second half when everything goes down it will literally tear your heart out. I made friends watch who were not fans of Bonanza nor knew anything about the series during it's final season view. They were all brought to tears (seriously)... Larry Golden who played the HEAVY was outstanding.. He had to be in my opinion the most unrepentant evil character in the history of Bonanza. Roy Jenson (Mr. Hanley) was quite good as the "enforcer" of the bad guy who shot John Harper (Andrew Robinson)the brother of Alice (Bonnie Bedilia)in the back before he raped and beat her to death and set the house ablaze to cover their crime. You will cry watching this episode if you don't you have no heart.

I'm not a afraid of any Pretty Maid.

[thejcowboy22 · 6/10 · 29 October 2020]

Sunday Night television was predominantly centered around the incomparable Ed Sullivan Show. Shown on the CBS network, Ed had a vast variety of acts from around the world plus contemporary comedians and musical groups which was the main attraction to this weekending showcase. The western "BONANZA" was synchronously shown on the neighboring NBC Network. Bonanza was second banana in the Nielsen ratings but they did have their loyal following which kept them on the air for over a decade. In those days the networks would start running the re-runs from the previous years shows over again during the summer months. So If you watched Ed Sullivan during the fall/ winter season you could watch Bonanza during the warmer months in re-runs. The story focuses on the Cartwright Family only consisting of Men. Stoic and wise Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) who is the patriarch and rational player in the story. The buck stop here with Ben. Ben has three sons from three different Mother's. Adam who by this point left the series and now it's basically left to the hefty muscular "Hoss", Eric Cartwright played by Dan Blocker and the younger brother "Little Joe" (Michael Landon). One of the frustrating aspects of the show was for one reason or another the sons never connected with the opposite sex. Non of the brothers ever made it to the alter. In this episode Little Joe falls in love with Alice Harper (Bonnie Badelia). Yes they connect and have a touching wedding ceremony. Yes One of the Cartwrights is actually getting married. I was moved and emotional watching Little Joe planting new roots. As Alice is pregnant with first child on the way. Things are happening as the show I was familiar with was taking a dramatic turn. On another front, Alice' s gambling, maladroit brother John (Andy Robinson) is up to his neck in debt to professional gambler named Damien (Larry Golden). Damien wants to collect so he and his ruthless gang visits Alice and the Brother. In order to settle the debt the gang takes a valuable music box as payment. A sentimental wedding gift from her Husband. Things get much darker after that as arson, death and retribution take over in this two part tragedy. You empathize with Little Joe's character throughout this episode. You don't see him as the youngest Cartwright anymore but rather a man who lost everything and he alone standing on his own two feet with out any help from his family. This episode had it's high moments and low tragedies as Little Joe has revenge on his agenda. A shocking break from the conventional format of Bonanza, i.e., Bounty hunters, cattle rustlers, strange visitors from back east visiting the grounds of the Ponderosa and of course lost loves. Thank goodness for re-runs during the summer. Although in truth I felt downcast watching this cataclysm unfold. To the writers credit this story dealt with reality for a time when issues like pregnancy and death were taboo. Bold story and bravo for the Network to air this ground breaking piece.

The best Michael Landen acting job

[pitcher1056 · 10 April 2008]

I remember seeing this episode and crying for "Little Joe". He was always falling in love and never got to keep the girl for whatever reason. He finally gets married and his wife is murdered. The acting that Landen does in this show is dead on heart breaking. I just found out that Landen wrote this piece which probably explains why he captures the mood so well. This was the first time as a kid, that I remember crying while watching the TV. I remember people making fun of Bonanza. They said it was sophomoric and badly written. They said the acting was over done. Well, they didn't see this show then. If you're not moved by this episode, then you never were in love.