After the series ended, three Little House on the Prairie movies aired between 1983 and 1984: "Look Back to Yesterday," "Bless All the Dear Children," and "The Last Farewell." The last two were aired out of order because "Bless All the Dear Children" is a Christmas episode. It aired the week before Christmas in 1984, whereas "The Last Farewell" aired in February 1984. Let's take a look at what these movies were about. Beware of spoilers if you haven't seen them.
"Look Back to Yesterday"
Charles plans a trip to Walnut Grove to help the local farmers organize an agricultural cooperative. With Albert planning to attend medical school, Charles decides he should join him to check out the University of Minnesota. Once in Walnut Grove, Albert's chronic nosebleeds worsen, and Charles brings him to Mankato, where they learn Albert has a fatal blood disorder. Albert begs Charles to bring him back to Walnut Grove to live out his final days.
"Bless All the Dear Children"
While Mr. Montague rallies against the commercialization of Christmas, Jason Carter tries to earn money to buy gifts for his family. Meanwhile, Laura, Almanzo, and Mr. Edwards travel to Mankato with Rose to shop for Christmas. When Rose is kidnapped by a distraught woman who has lost a baby, the Wilders and Mr. Edwards frantically search for her. Along the way, they meet Samuel, a young orphan, hiding in their wagon. Back in Walnut Grove, Sarah and John Carter worry they won't have gifts for Jason and Jeb if the Wilders, who were also entrusted with their money, don't return in time.
"The Last Farewell"
Charles and Caroline pay a visit to Laura and Almanzo, offering to stay at the little house on Plum Creek with Jeb and Jason Carter when their parents are away. When a ruthless land tycoon acquires the deed to all of Hero Township, the citizens of Walnut Grove are forced to either work their businesses for Mr. Lassiter or forfeit everything they have built through the years. This leads to a final confrontation between the townsfolk and Lassiter, with the Carters returning just in time to help.
By far, my favorite of these three movies is "Look Back to Yesterday." Though it created one of the greatest conflicts in Landon's LHOP world (How could future Albert return to Walnut Grove as a doctor ("Home Again") if he dies and the town has been blown up?), it nicely, though tragically, wraps up Albert's storyline and reconnects him with his beloved sister Laura, the first member of the Ingalls family he met in Winoka, which eventually led to him becoming an Ingalls.
While I wish we could have seen Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls in this episode, "Look Back to Yesterday" was an engaging storyline from start to finish. It seems odd she is not there, because Charles and Caroline were partners committed to each other and their children. Fans know Caroline would have wanted to be there.
Melissa Gilbert gives an amazing performance as Laura, a caring sister who struggles to accept her brother's fate. She and Dean Butler's Almanzo also share a sweet moment when Laura tells him about the blood brother badges. As a show that rarely focuses on the past, Laura's treasured memories give meaning to Albert's triumph and heart to the loving relationship that they created through the years.
Which of these three is your favorite?
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