With Little House on the Prairie shot in California, there weren't many episodes where viewers saw snow--even though Walnut Grove was in Minnesota. Of the episodes that featured snow--The Pilot, Christmas at Plum Creek (Season 1), Survival (Season 1), Blizzard (Season 3), and A Christmas They Never Forgot (Season 8)--only two portrayed the challenges the pioneers faced on the prairie in the 1870's (Survival and Blizzard), and only one of them (Blizzard) is set around Christmas.
It is well known that Michael Landon often used real life for inspiration when writing episodes, and it is thought that when he wrote this one he drew inspiration from The Children's Blizzard that happened on the Dakota-Nebraska prairie in 1888. The day started out unseasonably warm and many children walked to school without coats and gloves. But that afternoon, with no warning, temperatures plunged and a blizzard ripped through the area. By the next morning, over 500 people had died, many children on their way home from school.
While this might sound a bit morbid, I always enjoyed LHOP episodes that portrayed the difficulties the pioneers faced on a daily basis. It wasn't done all the time, but when the writers and producers decided to create such an episode it was done well.
Blizzard is set on Christmas Eve. Carrie is a guest at school and Miss Beadle releases the children early because it has started to snow. What was only a few flurries when the children left, soon turns into a huge storm. When the women arrive at the the schoolhouse, they are distraught to find the children gone. Isaiah and Charles return from hauling freight and come to the schoolhouse. They organize the men in town to begin searching for the children. The school is turned into a clinic, as children arrive and need mecial attention. One man, Mr. McGinnis, who handles shipping and receiving in town, dies in the blizzard. All the families are back safe and sound except for Mr. Edwards and his children.
When Christmas Day arrives, the blizzard is over, and Charles rousts everyone to look for Edwards. The door to the school opens and in walk Isaiah Edwards and his children, Carl and Alicia. Everyone rejoices, but poor Mrs. McGinnis and her son, Henry, feel the loss of their beloved husband and father. Charles picks up the Bible from Miss Beadle's desk and recites the Christmas story for a dramatic ending.
Even though this is a sad episode, there is much to enjoy about it: the children's joy over the coming of Christmas, the way the town pulls together (Mrs. Oleson even offers coats, lamps and kerosene to the men without considering the cost), and the joyous reunion of Grace with her husband, Isaiah and the kids. Definitely a classic Little House on the Prairie episode.
5 comments:
People that criticize Michael's Little House for not being historically accurate are intellectual snobs. The message that those shows brought should well be taught to kids today. If Little House On The Prairie did not exist as a TV show, I doubt very seriously whether this blog and many others would even exist. Too bad shows of this type don't exist today. But after all, we've gotten too intelligent for that....
When I interviewed Kent McCray he told me they tried very hard to remain historically accurate, but if history takes a back seat to a good show, I'm okay with that. If I want history, I'll watch a documentary.
LHOP remains my favorite show of all time. I'm glad to see it is still on today. Getting kids to sit down to watch it, however, can be a challenge. I've managed a few episodes with my girls, but they don't take to it the way I did growing up. I certainly don't find much worth watching in prime time nowadays.
Thanks for stopping by.
Cheryl
We're currently watching Season 2 as a family but after reading this, I might have to skip forward to Season 3 just to watch this episode this Christmas!
And as for getting the kids to watch it, there are some episodes they like better than others (and they really despise Nellie and Mrs. Oleson) but they are usually quite willing to watch.
My husband and I love that we don't have to worry about content/language not being inappropriate for children and the lessons taught are still just as important today (if not more so) as they were when the series aired.
That is what is so great about the show. You can sit down as a family and watch it without worrying about something awful.
My favorite character in all of Little House is Albert. He wasn't in any of the books, but he was in some wonderful stories that I watch over and over again. What a kid, right up until the end.
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