“Whatever Happened to the Class of ’56”

The Big Chill, Walnut Grove-Style; or The Name’s Charles Ingalls, Motherfucker (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “Whatever Happened to the Class of ’56” [sic] Airdate: January 14, 1980 Written by John T. Dugan Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Where do I begin? The Midwest regional Grange meeting in Milwaukee has overlapped withContinue reading ““Whatever Happened to the Class of ’56””

The Halloween Dream

Son of Mustache Man!; or You Give Ugg a Bad Name (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Halloween Dream Airdate: October 29, 1979 Written and directed by Michael Landon EDITOR’S NOTE: Literally everything about this episode is offensive. (Well, almost.) SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: In what’s regarded by many as the worst Little HouseContinue reading “The Halloween Dream”

Annabelle

Nels Into Darkness; or The Flying Zaldamos (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Annabelle Airdate: October 15, 1979 Written by Del Reisman Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: It’s another tale of fat-shaming, cruelty, and soul-sickness as Nels’s estranged sister comes to town . . . with the circus. [UPDATE: It cameContinue reading “Annabelle”

“Back to School,” Part One

Love is a Manly Splendored Thing; or Flippin’ Awesome (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “Back to School” [sic], Part One Airdate: September 17, 1979 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Walnut Grove experiences an outbreak of immortal TV moments when a grown man named Almanzo Wilder comes to town. RECAP:Continue reading ““Back to School,” Part One”

The Sound of Children

What Could Go Wrong?; or Notice It’s Not “The SIGHT of Children” (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Sound of Children Airdate: February 5, 1979 Written by Carole and Michael Raschella Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Depressing One Alert. Mary and Adam experience the first tragedy in their attempts toContinue reading “The Sound of Children”

“Dance With Me”

Oh Noes!!; or Pa’s Chest is the Perfect Roast-Chicken Color (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “Dance With Me” [sic] Airdate: January 22, 1979 Written by Paul Wolff Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Toby Noe is captured and extradited to Walnut Grove, where he falls in love. RECAP: No time for aContinue reading ““Dance With Me””

The Godsister

Far From Heaven; or How Do You Solve a Problem Like Carrie? (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Godsister Airdate: December 18, 1978 Written by Don Balluck Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Two Carries? Utter insanity! RECAP: [UPDATE: It’s occurred to me that at no point during this episode did anyContinue reading “The Godsister”

Blind Journey, Part Two

Joe Versus the Volcano; or “How Do I Look?” “Like You’re Gonna Kill a Baby and Alice Garvey, Now Go to Bed.” (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Blind Journey, Part Two Airdate: December 4, 1978 Written by John T. Dugan Story by Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella, and John T. Dugan Directed by William F.Continue reading “Blind Journey, Part Two”

Fagin

Big Dickens Energy; or Alibert!: The Musical (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Fagin Airdate: October 23, 1978 Written by Carole and Michael Raschella Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Charles develops an unhealthy obsession with Albert. RECAP: We open on a shot of Charles Ingalls’s muscular shoulders trying to burst through Pinky.Continue reading “Fagin”

The Man Inside

La Bohèmoth; or We Should Never Make Unkind Remarks About Anyone (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Man Inside Airdate: October 2, 1978 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: A new classmate of Laura’s is ashamed of her father because of his size. RECAP: Oh boy, this one I haveContinue reading “The Man Inside”