I─── Kid

EDITOR’S WARNING (HE BEGAN DEFENSIVELY . . .) This recap features semi-fictional characters (at best) who use racist language in the context of a strongly anti-racist storyline and is rated 13+.    Grandpa Stokes is Not Alright; or Life Ain’t Easy for a Boy Named Spotted Eagle (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: I─── Kid Airdate:Continue reading “I─── Kid”

Journey in the Spring, Part One

La La Lansford; or Can You Imagine CHARLES INGALLS is Your Fucking Brother? (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Journey in the Spring, Part One Airdate: November 15, 1976 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: We meet Charles’s parents, and, like the good Little House characters they are, they immediately goContinue reading “Journey in the Spring, Part One”

The Monster of Walnut Grove

All Work and No Play Makes Nels a Dull Boy; or Sworded Scheme (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Monster of Walnut Grove Airdate: November 1, 1976 Written by John Hawkins Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: A Halloween special! Nels loses his marbles and Mrs. Oleson loses her head inContinue reading “The Monster of Walnut Grove”

The Race

Half This Episode is Fat-Shaming Twelve-Year-Olds (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Race Airdate: October 11, 1976 Written by John V. Hanrahan Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Nellie and Laura are the only two contestants in an annual Hero Township-wide horse race, if you can believe that. RECAP: Bummer ofContinue reading “The Race”

The Talking Machine

She Humiliated Me . . . With Science! (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Talking Machine Airdate: January 14, 1976 Written by Harold Swanton Directed by Victor French SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Nellie is bested by Laura in matters of love, so she plans a humiliation far exceeding anything else she’s done so far.Continue reading “The Talking Machine”

Child of Pain

Charles Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Child of Pain Airdate: February 12, 1975 Written by John Meston Directed by Victor French SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Charles makes an abusive drunk go to rehab. RECAP: Our story’s a dark one this time (with a dark title), and weContinue reading “Child of Pain”

Family Quarrel

Harriet the Suffragette (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Family Quarrel Airdate: January 15, 1975 Written by Ward Hawkins Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Nels moves out on Harriet, and she and Caroline become friends. Mary and Laura hug Nellie and Willie. Nels has a stupid dog for some reason. RECAP:Continue reading “Family Quarrel”

The Voice of Tinker Jones

Reverend Alden: Prince of Liars (a recap by Will Kaiser) TITLE: The Voice of Tinker Jones AIRDATE: December 4, 1974 Written by Tony Kayden and Michael Russnow Directed by Leo Penn SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: The Walnut Grovesters go to war with each other over whether to put up a church bell. A local hearing-impairedContinue reading “The Voice of Tinker Jones”