by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Unique among Bonanza episodes, "The Companeros" does not feature any of the series' top-billed stars, but instead focuses exclusively on Ben Cartwright's nephew Will, played by Guy Williams. Guest-star Frank Silvera is cast as freedom fighter Mateo Ibara, who hopes to enlist his old friend Will's support in helping Benito Juarez assume the presidency of Mexico. Despite his fondness for Ibara and his wife Carla (Faith Domergue), Will finds himself questioning Mateo's true motives. Anthony Carbone, a familiar face in many an American-International movie epic, is here seen as Vincente. First telecast on April 19, 1964, "The Companeros" was written by Ken Pettus.
