Season 2 • Episode 13
LatestThe kids decide Moses needs some romance in his life, so they send away for a mail-order bride. Her arrival precipitates comic explosions in Gold Hill, but by the time Moses realizes she's a wonderful woman, she's decided to go back to her old boyfriend back east.
A good-hearted frontiersman poses as a priest to start an orphanage for a group of kids whose homes have been destroyed by an evil mining manager.
Acting
Merlin Olsen's quietly commanding warmth anchors every scene
Production
Landon's signature cozy-western aesthetic before it became cliché
Creator
Michael Landon
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Merlin Olsen was a Hall of Fame NFL defensive tackle before Landon cast him—this was his first major acting role.
The show's premature cancellation after 35 episodes sparked letter-writing campaigns, proving Landon had already built unshakeable audience loyalty.
US
