Bonanza (TV Series) Shanklin (1972) User Reviews

Great Acting

[clacura · 9/10 · 26 February 2021]

Charles Cioffi who played Shanklin OWNED this episode! One of the best acted TV episodes--this could have been a movie. The scenes where he is operating are well timed. He plays a complex character, both a villain and hero. There are many layers to his personality and Cioffi was the man for the job. I didnt delete this from my DVR it was such a great performance.

The best episode of Bonanza I've seen

[velo-48741 · 9/10 · 11 November 2018]

I'm not a fan of the later seasons of Bonanza. But this episode shocked me as to how good it was. Better than good, it was excellent. Extremely well written and superbly cast, it hooked me in the first 3 minutes. The plot has much in common with the first half of The Outlaw Josie Wales (which came along several years later).

My favorite episode

[learychristine · 10/10 · 6 January 2023]

This is absolutely my favorite episode! Charles Cioffi plays Shanklin, a Confederate officer trying to rob the Ponderosa when Hoss is shot, then held hostage. Critically wounded, the local doctor is summoned and faced with the only option available with his limited skills, and prepares to amputate a leg. Shanklin turns out to be a skilled surgeon who becomes frustrated with the doctor's ineptitude, and compelled to utilize his superior skills.

Although the story line is a good one, it's Cioffi's outstanding performance as an angry victim of injustice whose powerful personality towers over Ben Cartwright's.

Not well plotted at all

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 30 September 2020]

One thing that has always bothered me about Bonanza is where are all the other ranch hands when bad people invade the Ponderosa? They must not keep the bunk house within gunshot hearing of the main house. Because there's only Hoss, Jamie, and Hop Sing arrive when Charles Cioffi leading a bunch of ex-Confederates to the Ponderosa demanding a ransom. Dan Blocker gets shot for his troubles by Cioffi.

Dead hostages bring no ransom so Cioffi sends Mitch Vogel for Lorne Greene and a doctor.

After that things get wackier. .Cioffi used to be a doctor and has many professional disagreements with woodrow Parfrey the doctor Vogel sent back. It's all quite strange.

Not a well thought out script. And some ridiculous characters.

What were they smoking?

[duskdog-19452 · 1 February 2019]

Shanklin was unsane plain and simple. The whole episode was so unrealistic. Its a wonder that those thieves made it as far as the Ponderosa. Its the first episode that I really don't like.