Ep 23. The Wish

Bonanza season 10 episode 23, "The Wish," centers around a group of people who come to the Ponderosa ranch in search of a long-lost treasure. The episode begins with a man named Martin coming to the ranch and explaining his family's story of a treasure they buried on the land many years ago. Martin is searching for the treasure to help pay off his family's debts, but Ben warns him to be careful, as many people have tried and failed to find the treasure over the years.

Despite the warning, Martin and his friends begin digging on the ranch and quickly attract the attention of a group of bandits who are also searching for the treasure. The bandits threaten Martin and his group, but the Cartwright brothers step in to defend them. In the ensuing scuffle, Martin is injured and must be taken back to the ranch to recover.

As Martin recovers, he begins to form a bond with Adam and Hoss, two of the Cartwright brothers. He shares with them his dream of using the treasure to start a new life for himself and his family, and they begin to understand the desperation that led him to search for it. Ben, on the other hand, remains skeptical of Martin's motives and warns his sons to be cautious around him.

The bandits continue to cause trouble on the ranch, and tensions rise as both they and Martin's group get closer to finding the treasure. Eventually, the two groups engage in a final showdown, with the Cartwrights and Martin's group emerging victorious.

In the end, Martin and his friends find the treasure, but Ben reveals that it is all fake. He explains that he planted the fake treasure years ago to deter people from searching for the real one, which he had already found and donated to charity. Martin and his group are disappointed, but Ben reminds them that there are more important things in life than money and encourages them to focus on building a better future for themselves and their families.

Overall, "The Wish" is a classic episode of Bonanza that explores the themes of greed, desperation, and family ties. The episode is well-written and acted, with strong performances from the entire cast. It also serves as a reminder that sometimes the things we think we want most in life may not be what we really need.