Silent Promises

It Must Be Hard to Ghost Somebody in Walnut Grove; or The Deafisode? (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Silent Promises Airdate: January 28, 1980 Written by Carole and Michael Raschella Directed by Maury Dexter SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Laura teaches herself ASL in about ten minutes to help socialize a deaf teenager, who thenContinue reading “Silent Promises”

“Author! Author!”

I Call Cash On the Bullshit; or “Awful! Awful!” (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “Author! Author!” [sic] Airdate: November 26, 1979 Written by Carole and Michael Raschella Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: In a shocking twist, Grandma Holbrook suddenly dies! Then, in a boring twist, Charles helps her husband publishContinue reading ““Author! Author!””

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”

The Preacher Takes a Wife

Reverend Fallden; or You May Ask Yourself, Where is My Beautiful Wife? (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Preacher Takes a Wife Airdate: October 22, 1979 Written by John T. Dugan Directed by Maury Dexter SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Mrs. Oleson schemes to destroy Reverend Alden’s new love relationship – until surprise! a darkContinue reading “The Preacher Takes a Wife”

The Family Tree

Pin a Heart-Shaped Apron to Your Boobs, You’re Sure to Get a Husband; or Walnut Steamy? (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Family Tree Airdate: October 1, 1979 Written by Vincent R. Gutierrez Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: When his biological father surfaces, Albert devises a twisted strategy to getContinue reading “The Family Tree”

“Back to School,” Part Two

Welcome to the Grove, Zaldamo; or Here’s Mud in Your Eye (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “Back to School” [sic], Part Two Airdate: September 24, 1979 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: In the aftermath of the cinnamon-chicken holocaust, Laura gets punked, Nellie gets slimed, and Almanzo gets a knuckleContinue reading ““Back to School,” Part Two”

“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 Odyssey

How Do They Get the Body Back to Walnut Grove, in a Backpack?; or He Was Just Doing His Job, Chuck! (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Odyssey  Airdate: March 19, 1979 Written by Carole and Michael Raschella Directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: This week’s summary is a direct quote fromContinue reading “The Odyssey”

“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””

Blind Man’s Bluff

Bad Acrobat-itude; or If You Don’t Like That Ending, Blame God (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: Blind Man’s Bluff Airdate: January 15, 1979 Written by Arthur Heinemann Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: You may experience déjà vu as the show reimagines a previous episode. See if you can guess which one.Continue reading “Blind Man’s Bluff”