“He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” (Part One)

New York CITY?!; or It Took a Gay Guy To Teach Nels To Be a Man (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” [sic] Airdate: May 5, 1980 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL:  Almanzo shows his true colors when Pa insists Laura can’t marryContinue reading ““He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” (Part One)”

“May We Make Them Proud” (Part One)

“She’ll Be Fine”; or Mary’s Baby Was Ugly . . . But Not Too Ugly to Live! (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “May We Make Them Proud” [sic] Airdate: February 4, 1980 Written and directed by Michael Landon SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: [screams uncontrollably] RECAP: We live in bad times, everybody. We’re down inContinue reading ““May We Make Them Proud” (Part One)”

“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 Werewolf of Walnut Grove

Eliza Jane Triumphant; or What Can You Write About the Sky? (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Werewolf of Walnut Grove Airdate: January 7, 1980 Written by John T. Dugan Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: In this very odd mélange of previous story elements, Laura and Albert pull a supernaturalContinue reading “The Werewolf of Walnut Grove”

The Angry Heart

Yes, Virginia, Our Grandson is an Asshole; or Hester-Sue Would Rock the Shit Out of This Song (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Angry Heart Airdate: December 17, 1979 Written by Del Reisman Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Therapy Charles has to cure a guy who’s addicted to beating up hisContinue reading “The Angry Heart”

The Faith Healer

The Banality of Evil; or Total Eclipse of the Appendix (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: The Faith Healer Airdate: November 19, 1979 Written by Don Balluck Directed by Maury Dexter SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: Another Reverend Alden one. This time, Dabbs gets to flex his acting muscles when Aldi is challenged by a rivalContinue reading “The Faith Healer”

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”

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”

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”

“Someone Please Love Me”

She Want That Cookie Real Bad; or At Least She Doesn’t Have to Worry About Internet Brain Rot and AI (a recap by Will Kaiser) Title: “Someone Please Love Me” [sic] Airdate: March 5, 1979 Written by Michael Landon Directed by William F. Claxton SUMMARY IN A NUTSHELL: In this Chuck-only episode, Charles ignites lust inContinue reading ““Someone Please Love Me””