Here is a peek at some of my favorite episodes from Season 4 of
Little House on the Prairie.
"Here Come the Brides"
Adam Simms and his son, Luke, arrive in Walnut Grove. Nellie is quickly smitten with the barefooted pig farmer who has joined the one-room schoolhouse, much to her mother's dismay. Meanwhile, Adam and Miss Beadle's relationship blossoms into love. When Nellie and Luke run off to elope, Adam, Miss Beadle, and the Olesons race off to stop them before it's too late.
Why I like it: While not a huge fan of silly Little House episodes, this is one of the best. The Olesons provide a ton of comic relief, and it's nice to see love develop between two mature characters. My favorite quote from this episode comes from Mrs. Oleson: "Nels, make her a widow."
"Whisper County"
Mary gets her first teaching job in a backwoods community ruled by the infamous Miss Peel. A superstitious woman who opposes education, her lies and accusations drive Mary away. After a conversation with Pa, Mary returns to Whisper County to confront Miss Peel.
Why I like it: Melissa Sue Anderson's performance in this episode is amazing. How enjoyable to see Mary return and stand up for herself, creating positive change in this community. It's nice to see an occasional episode that takes place mostly outside of Walnut Grove.
"I Remember, I Remember"
As Caroline awaits Charles's return on their anniversary, she shares memories with her girls of growing up and falling in love with him.
Why I like it: We don't always get a glimpse into Charles and Caroline's relationship before they were Pa and Ma. Loved Matthew Labyorteaux as a young Charles, and the actress who played a young Caroline was wonderful.
"A Most Precious Gift"
Caroline discovers she is pregnant again, but her fixation on wanting to give Charles a son creates tension between them. In desperation, she visits a fortune teller. When Eva "Beadle" Simms and her husband welcome a son, it causes additional stress to Caroline, so Charles sends the girls to stay with the Garveys so he and Caroline can be alone to sort things out.
Why I like it: Considering how episodic television was back then, the characters rarely flashbacked to their pasts. In this episode, we see Caroline and Charles discuss the loss of Charles Frederick. This episode resonates more deeply as a wife and mother than it did when I was a child. It is easier to feel Caroline's distress and appreciate what she went through.
"I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away"
When Mary struggles with eye fatigue, Charles brings her to the doctor. They hope a new pair of glasses will do the trick. When they don't seem to work for long, they return to the doctor, who tells Charles that the scarlet fever Mary had when she was younger weakened her eye muscles and that she will eventually lose her sight. Charles grapples with how to tell Mary she is going blind, and once it happens, Caroline and he make the difficult decision to send Mary away to a school for the blind.
Why I like it: This is one of the most memorable episodes of the series. Blending fact and fiction, Landon wrote a superb two-parter that tested Mary Ingalls more than she ever had been tested before. What was also well done was how the episode showed the impact of how Mary's going blind and her eventual loss of sight impacted the family as a whole. Melissa Sue Anderson was nominated for an Emmy Award that year.
