After fourteen seasons and 430 episodes, the saga of Bonanza came to an end on January 16, 1973 with a powerful episode titled "The Hunter." Written and directed by series star Michael Landon, the episode is essentially a two-man show for Landon (as Joe Cartwright) and guest star Tom Skerritt, cast as a psychopath named Tanner. A self-styled "human hunter", Tanner targets Joe as his latest quarry. With no horse, supplies or weapons, Joe desperately tries to outwit and outmaneuver his relentless pursuer. Even by Landon's usually sparse standards, "The Hunter" contained practically no dialogue; the episode represented visual storytelling at its very best, and as such was a worthwhile finale for one of TV's most popular and durable western series.
by Hal Erickson
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