by Hal Erickson
synopsis
The focus in "A Lonely Man" is on Victor Sen Yung as Ponderosa houseboy Hop Sing; indeed, Sen Yung is the only series regular to appear in this episode. Having fallen in love with a white woman (Kelly Jean Peters, Hop Sing runs afoul of a racist judge (Peter Hobbs), who eagerly digs up an old and obscure anti-miscegenation law. Commendably, there is no pat or predictable ending: even in its thirteenth season, Bonanza was unafraid to take a harsh and uncompromising look at the face of bigotry. Written by John Hawkins, "A Lonely Man" originally aired on January 2, 1972.
