This particular episode of Bonanza answers the question for at least one of the Cartwright kids. That is, are there any uncles and aunts for some or any of them and where are they? The Last Viking refers to Dan Blocker's Uncle Gunnar played by Neville Brand who comes for a visit after an over 20 year absence. He's been gone so long that he doesn't know that Ben's married a third time and has Michael Landon around as the result.
Since Joe has no childhood memories of him, he can see him more clearly and he doesn't like it. He's got good reason not to like Uncle Gunnar as it turns out because Neville Brand runs with a gang of outlaws who hear what a rich brother-in-law he has and would like to rob the Ponderosa.
Neville Brand gives a memorable performance as the overage man who just won't settle down. He's tired though and maybe would like to. His character is seen in a later flashback episode about how Lorne Greene teamed up with Hoss's mother who is played in that episode by Inga Swenson, a two parter. The Gunnar character is played by Jeremy Slate in that and he's quite the lout as the younger version of Brand.
A background episode of Bonanza and a good one.
Since Joe has no childhood memories of him, he can see him more clearly and he doesn't like it. He's got good reason not to like Uncle Gunnar as it turns out because Neville Brand runs with a gang of outlaws who hear what a rich brother-in-law he has and would like to rob the Ponderosa.
Neville Brand gives a memorable performance as the overage man who just won't settle down. He's tired though and maybe would like to. His character is seen in a later flashback episode about how Lorne Greene teamed up with Hoss's mother who is played in that episode by Inga Swenson, a two parter. The Gunnar character is played by Jeremy Slate in that and he's quite the lout as the younger version of Brand.
A background episode of Bonanza and a good one.
