Are you planning to tune in on July 9 to see the show?
In the Season 5 episode, "As Long As We're Together," hard times have fallen upon the residents of Walnut Grove. Charles and Caroline decide to leave their Minnesota town and move to the city of Winoka in Dakota Territory. Upon their arrival, a young boy in a cap saunters by Laura in the wagon. When he loses his dime in a hole in the boardwalk, Laura helps him retrieve it with a wad of gum and a shoelace. A friendship is born!
Charles quickly takes a liking to Albert, and upon learning his situation, he makes a deal with him: he will pay him for work if he agrees to attend school with Laura and Carrie. From then on, Albert is an extended part of the family. When Charles and Caroline decide to give Walnut Grove a second chance, Charles is sad to be leaving Albert behind ("There's No Place Like Home"), but with a gentle nudge from Caroline, he asks Albert to join them.
Getting the homestead and the town back in order requires a lot of hard work, and Albert digs right in alongside everyone. He also grows closer to Charles. So close that when Charles spends time helping him raise a calf for the fair, Laura feels like she is losing Pa to the son he always wanted ("Fagin"). Accidentally overhearing that he has caused an issue, Albert runs away. That won't be the only time, but things are soon settled, and the family is back together with Laura and her brother Albert.
Laura, Albert, and their friend Andy Garvey enjoy fun times and antics, often at the expense of the Olesons, like when Laura and Albert alter the type in The Pen and Plow ("Harriet's Happenings") or when they create a fake sea monster to scare Mrs. Oleson and her children ("The Lake Kezia Monster"). They also band together to right wrongs, like when they crafted a plan to scare an older, bigger classmate so that Miss Wilder could stay the teacher in town ("The Werewolf of Walnut Grove"). Albert is also someone Laura can talk to. When she is trying to get a boy to ask her to a dance ("Dance with Me") or when she is struggling to get Almanzo to notice her ("Annabelle"), Albert is a sympathetic ear.
A pivotal moment in Albert's life happens when Miss Wilder assigns a genealogy project ("Family Tree"). Teased by Nellie for not truly being an Ingalls, Albert asks Charles if they can adopt him. When the process uncovers his biological father, Jeremy Quinn wants Albert to help him run his farm. Using his quick wits, Albert devises a last-minute plan that allows him to become a forever Ingalls.
While there are many happy moments for Albert in Walnut Grove, a town tragedy threatens the joy he holds dear. In "May We Make Them Proud," a fire destroys the town's blind school, killing Alice Garvey along with Mary and Adam's newborn son. Albert is devastated to learn that the fire started in the basement, caused by the discarded pipe he and his friend Clay had hidden earlier in the day. Riddled with guilt, Albert runs away. After Charles and Jonathan Garvey conduct a frantic search, they find Albert, tell him they know what started the fire, and head back to Walnut Grove to let the healing begin.
Every adolescent experiences challenges, and Albert is no different. He struggles with being a boy while wanting to prove he's a man ("Men Will Be Boys"); he is beaten for befriending a Jewish craftsman ("The Craftsman"); he falls in love and experiences heartache ("Dearest Albert, I'll Miss You" and "Sylvia"); he feels frustrated when his newly adopted younger brother, James, constantly pesters him and tries to be like him ("Growin' Pains"), and he is critically injured when a drunken Mr. Edwards drives a wagon over him ("A Promise to Keep"). One of the most difficult obstacles he faces, however, is his morphine addiction.
At the beginning of Season 9, Charles moves his family to Burr Oak, Iowa. Albert falls in with a bad crowd, and with the threat of him being sent to a workhouse looming, Charles brings his son back to Walnut Grove ("Home Again"). But Albert is having none of it. A problem with one of Doc Baker's medicine shipments reveals that Albert has a morphine addiction. With the help of Charles, Albert endures withdrawal symptoms and returns to Burr Oak more like his old self.*
Albert's story is one of an independent orphan surviving by his street smarts, who stumbles upon a family that quickly considers him one of their own. While it might be said that Charles and Albert's relationship has the most profound impact on him, Albert and Laura's chance meeting allows all that unfolds afterwards. Through the years, they go from being friends to siblings, from plot hatchers to student and teacher, and most importantly, from occasionally bickering siblings to strong supporters of each other. Therefore, it seems fitting that the last moment we see Albert is him holding hands with his beloved sister, surrounded by the Walnut Grove schoolchildren who peppered their youth.
* "Home Again" and "Look Back to Yesterday" are responsible for one of the most often discussed Little House on the Prairie controversies. At the end of the Season 9 episode "Home Again," Laura's final narration states that in the future, they welcomed Albert back to Walnut Grove as Dr. Albert Ingalls. However, in "Look Back to Yesterday," which aired after the completion of Season 9, Charles is told that Albert is going to die. Some fans believe that Albert miraculously survived and returned to Walnut Grove as a doctor, while others believe that he passed away after the events in "Look Back to Yesterday." What do you think?
More character profiles:
Charles Phillip Ingalls
Exciting news! The latest chapter in my Season 9 "Times Are Changing" rewrite is complete and uploaded to fanfiction.net. You can find the sixth chapter by clicking this link.
We have arrived at the final season of Little House on the Prairie. Today, I will share my favorite episodes from the last full season of the show. For the ninth season, the show was renamed Little House: A New Beginning.
As this season opens, we discover Charles has moved his family to Burr Oak, Iowa, having sold the house on Plum Creek to the Carter family. Laura and Almanzo stay in Walnut Grove, and Charles spends one last day with them before rejoining his family.
For longtime fans of the show, this was an unwelcome surprise. However, it did give the characters of Laura and Almanzo a chance to develop in a way they might not have if Charles and Caroline had remained in town. With the introduction of John and Sarah Carter, the Wilders had peers who were raising children alongside them. And this last season of Little House seemed to be even more about the community as a whole than any one character.
Enjoy reading about my five favorite episodes from Season 9 of Little House: A New Beginning.
"Welcome to Olesonville"
When Mrs. Oleson discovers bearer's bonds while cleaning out Lars Hanson's home, which she has recently purchased, she offers not to cash them in and bankrupt the town if they give her family some courtesies. It is also decided that the town needs a mayor, and Harriet offers Nels up for the job, which sparks controversy in town. With the help of Lem McCary, Almanzo runs against Nels, but he soon discovers he's not the right person for the job.
Why I like it: Though we didn't see Lem McCary or Jess Moffet again, they were great characters. It was awesome seeing Harriet get bested. I just have one question: how did she buy Hanson's house when it was the blind school that burned down in Season 6?
"Rage"
Why I like it: This was such a suspenseful episode. Poor Laura has now been kidnapped three times since she moved to Walnut Grove, which is a bit crazy, but all of the acting here was superb. The last line Stark speaks before heading out the door is super dramatic.
"The Return of Nellie"
Nellie returns to Walnut Grove for a visit. The Olesons decide to throw her a birthday party at the restaurant, which leaves Nancy feeling left out and unloved. When she runs away, Nellie joins her father, Nels, to search for her.
Why I like it: While I wish Steve Tracy could have returned as Percival, it was wonderful seeing Allison Arngrim back in town as Nellie and to see that her relationship with Laura has shifted. We also get to see Willie maturing even more in this episode. The funny scene of Nancy in bed between Harriet and Nels always makes me laugh.
"A Child with No Name"
Why I like it: In some ways, this mimicked real life, because the Wilders did have a son who died so soon they hadn't even named him. As a parent, this is such a hard episode to watch, but Melissa Gilbert, Dean Butler, and Kevin Hagen give such outstanding performances in this episode. After the danger is over, and they know Rose will recover, Doctor Baker trudges out the door and breaks down in tears. It is one of the most intense moments of the series, and one can't help but wonder if he is crying out of relief, grieving that he must leave the town he has called home for years, or because of sheer physical exhaustion.
"May I Have This Dance?"
Willie graduates from the Walnut Grove School, and Harriet is excited for him to take his college entrance exam. But when he fails the exam on purpose so that he can run the restaurant and marry Rachel Brown, Harriet is determined to make sure that doesn't happen.
Why I like it: Willie standing up to his mother is amazing. Nels expressing how proud he is of Willie and explaining to him that it's his life to do with as he chooses empowers Willie to embrace his future. How nervous Willie is to ask Rachel's father for her hand, and how excited he is when he says yes, is so sweet. We also get more of Nels and Harriet's backstory at the end of this episode.
Welcome to Season 8 favorites! I am sharing my top five favorite episodes from the eighth season of Little House on the Prairie today.
"Dark Sage"
Time to share my five favorite episodes from Season 7 of Little House on the Prairie.
"Laura Ingalls Wilder"
Almanzo is excited when he buys a piece of land to build a home for when he marries Laura, mortgaging it under strict terms. When Mr. Gray dams up the water supply, Manly loses his land and his crop. With no plan and no money, he decides to postpone the wedding, which causes friction between Laura and him, especially when she decides to take a job in Radner to help them get back on their feet. Meanwhile, Eliza Jane develops feelings for Harve Miller, who came to Walnut Grove to help with the farm.
Why I like it: This is Almanzo's time to step out from under his sister's wings and into a life with Laura. I admire Laura for staying true to herself and deciding to take the job in Radner despite its consequences. Harve Miller is a character who brought out a different side to Eliza Jane.
"Olseon versus Oleson"
The women of Walnut Grove gather together to stage a protest when their husbands won't sign the petition giving them the right to vote.
Why I like it: This is an episode that boils down to everyone doing the right thing. Charles even admits that while he considers Caroline an equal partner, not every couple might have that arrangement, which is why he eventually agrees to sign. We also have one of the sweetest moments in Beth and Manly's early marriage days in this episode. When Laura says she feels she must join the other women at the hotel to support her mother, Almanzo asks her if she needs to leave that night, and she agrees to stay until the morning. This is one of the few episodes in Season 7 where we are reminded that they are a young couple in love.
"Come, Let Us Reason Together"
Why I like it: We get some of Percival's backstory in this episode, like how he changed his name from Issac Cohen so that he could find work. We see a battle unfold that is familiar in lots of families: Mr. Cohen is afraid Percival is turning his back on this faith and that his grandchild will not be raised a Cohen. Mrs. Oleson wants her grandchild raised as a Christian. It is Nels who comes up with a compromise that everyone can live with. [Side note: The title of this episode is taken from the book of Isaiah.]
"Goodbye, Mrs. Wilder"
When Mrs. Oleson interferes with the school's curriculum, Laura abruptly resigns. She quickly ends up regretting her decision, but possibly not more than the children of Walnut Grove, who are made to wear uniforms and learn French on top of all their other subjects.
Why I like it: I totally understand Laura in this episode. She makes a decision in haste that she gets to repent in leisure. She willingly admits to Manly that while she wishes taking care of him and the house were enough for her, they simply aren't, and without her teaching, she feels useless. Almanzo supports her, despite his stubbornness being part of the reason their engagement was called off earlier in their relationship. In the end, Laura is proven right, Nels reminds Harriet so, and Laura returns to teaching.
"I Do, Again"
We are already on Season 6 in my list of favorite episodes from Little House on the Prairie. Seasons 6 - 8 had some wonderful episodes. Here are my favorites from Season 6.
Walnut Grove welcomes new teacher, Eliza Jane Wilder, along with her younger brother, Almanzo. From the moment he pulls up in front of the restaurant, Laura Ingalls is smitten. However, Mrs. Oleson sees Almanzo as the perfect suitor for her daughter, Nellie. Jealous, Laura plays a prank on her archenemy, which backfires, and when Nellie exacts her revenge, Almanzo pays the price.
Why I like it:
The introduction of Dean Butler's Almanzo marks a definite shift in Laura's character. Viewers witness as she hovers in the uncomfortable place between childhood and adulthood. Change comes for Nellie Oleson as well, with her parents gifting her a hotel and restaurant, which she is totally uninterested in running. This will lead to the introduction of one of my favorite characters later in the season. We see Caroline stepping in to provide for the family when Charles is injured and unable to work. Oh, and that mud fight is epic!
When I visited the Little House on the Prairie Cast Reunions website today, it was so exciting to see how many cast members would be there. I've met some of them. I hope to meet more of them. It also sounds like an amazing venue.
Is anyone who reads this blog attending? Tell us more!
As a book lover, I have a few collections. One of my most beloved is all the books by or about Laura Ingalls Wilder, her family, her writings, and those by Little House on the Prairie cast members. Currently, the collection comprises 124 books. I've read most of them.
Do you collect books? If you do, which collection is your favorite?
Let's take a peek at some of my favorite episodes from Season 3 of Little House on the Prairie.
When the schoolchildren decide to put on skits from famous books for their parents, Mrs. Oleson soon takes over, casting Nellie in the starring role in Little Women. Meanwhile, Ginny Clark, a classmate, has befriended the kindly Mr. Mayfield. Although he would love to have a closer relationship with Ginny's widowed mother, Mrs. Clark shuts him down, forcing Ginny to take drastic measures.
Why I like this: Mrs. Oleson is over the top even for her. She takes over writing the play, makes Nellie the star, and even brings in a famous wig maker so Nellie can have dark hair. What ends up stealing the show, however, is the sacrifice Ginny makes to show her mother how much she loves her.
Today, I will be sharing my favorite episodes from Season 2 of Little House on the Prairie.
"Centennial"
America is turning a hundred years old, and the townsfolk of Walnut Grove are determined to celebrate. But when their taxes are raised, they all become bitter and angry, until one of their own reminds them of the "Land of Freedoms" and how great it is.
Why I like it: This is an episode about having a different perspective. No country's history is without blemish. No government run by flawed humans is perfect.
Part 5 of my "Times Are Changing" Season 9 rewrite is now posted on Fanfiction.net. You can find all five chapters here. Enjoy!
Little House on the Prairie remains one of the most popular family dramas of our generation. Michael Landon's knack for delivering consistent dramatic storytelling is a good part of why the show is still popular today.
Some episodes are simply too hard for me to watch, even now. I'm not talking sad, though there are some sad episodes of Little House on the Prairie. These episodes challenged the characters and viewers in such a way that I now choose not to watch them or choose not to watch certain scenes from them. Here is my list of ...
Five Hardest to Watch Little House on the Prairie Episodes
Number 5 - "A Promise to Keep" (Season 8, Episode 19)
The death of John Jr. in Chicago fractured the Edwards family beyond repair. A year later, Isaiah is drinking his grief away while he reads the final letter John wrote to them before his death. That night, a drunken Isaiah ruins Carl's birthday, which prompts Grace to ask him to leave. Months later, Isaiah receives a letter from Grace telling him she is sending him papers to dissolve their marriage.
The end of Grace and Isaiah's marriage is so heartbreaking that I can't watch the opening scenes of this episode. Isaiah has already clawed his way out of the clutches of grief and loss in the past to find a new relationship with Grace and the Edwards children. Now, the loss of another child drives him back to the grief he attempts to relieve with whiskey. The final interaction between Grace and Isaiah is so unsettling that I skip over it and pick up this episode once Isaiah is back in Walnut Grove.
Number 4 - "Soldier's Return" (Season 2, Episode 21)
This episode and Graville's suffering frightened me as a child. It's barely less disturbing to watch as an adult.
Number 3 - "Gold Country, Parts 1 & 2" (Season 3, Episodes 21 & 22)
This two-parter was never one of my favorites, so I don't feel bad about skipping it. As the viewer watches the realization on Laura's face, they know nothing good is going to come out of her revealing Zachariah's story. When Laura races out to check on him, I was not prepared for the agony and despair on Zachariah's face or how he screams at Laura to get out. I certainly wasn't expecting the fire. These last few scenes before Charles decides to take his family home are what nightmares are made of.
Number 2 - "Sylvia, Parts 1 & 2" (Season 7, Episodes 17 & 18)
This is one of those episodes I recall being traumatized by when it first aired. There aren't many of those, but even when I think about it now, my pulse races. I am not afraid of clowns, but if you look up photos from this episode, tell me that isn't one of the creepiest clown masks you have ever seen. How this guy skulks toward Syliva, how he grabs her from behind, dressed in all black with those nasty black eyeballs and rosy cheeks painted on the mask, and how even when the mask is knocked off his face and lying in the straw, it gives me goosebumps, make this an episode I don't watch.
Number 1 - "May We Make Them Proud, Parts 1 & 2" (Season 6, Episodes 18 & 19)
This entire episode is hard. That anyone comes away from this episode without being scarred amazes me. I would rather watch Mary cry, "I can't see!" a thousand times in "I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away," than watch this episode in its entirety. And it's odd because I have brief recollections of watching the fire scene when it first aired on television, and then the ending scene where they unveil the plaque, but not so much the middle of the episode.
What do you think of these five hardest to watch Little House on the Prairie episodes? Do you share the same as me? Are there others you would add to this list?
I've been watching/listening to the Little House on the Prairie 50 Podcast--which seems to be on hiatus as cast appearances have ramped up--and a GenX podcast that is now defunct. Both podcasts discussed character matches where there were age differences between the actors and how that wouldn't happen today.
Let's take a peek at a few of these matches.
