Young Laura was so likeable and sweet. She was spunky and scrappy but not mean and bitchy. As Laura got older, she seemed to turn into more of a bitch. She was always griping at Almanzo and the schoolchildren. As much as she proclaimed to love Almanzo, she sure did make his life a living hell at times. Granted, Almanzo could be awful too. He could be a jerk at times himself. Both he and Laura could behave so immaturely at times. As a kid, Laura was very caring about others and always tried to be friends with everyone, especially the downtrodden. Young Laura had a good heart, even so much as basically becoming Nellie's slave after Nellie faked her paralysis. Young Laura certainly misbehaved at times, but it was mostly just kid's stuff and nothing too bad. Adult Laura was bossy and a know-it-all. She blamed poor Dr. Baker for her baby's death, YET she wasn't even upset with that woman who kidnapped Rose and didn't even think of pressing charges.
Laura was even starting to become different after Mary went blind, and Albert came into the picture. Suddenly she was the older sister, and she didn't play it as well as Mary did. In the early years, it was usually Laura who wanted to do something and Mary who was the level-headed one that stopped her from doing it. Then it became Albert who Laura tried to rein in, only she wasn't mature enough herself to do this without being a bitch. Plus, unlike Mary, at times Laura would go right along with what Albert wanted to do, and the two would get in trouble together. The only time Mary gave in to Laura's stupidity was when they spent the Sunday School money on the medicine bottles instead of a birthday gift for Rev. Alden.
Acting mature and grown up just didn't seem to work for Laura. I don't know if it was the writers or if it was Melissa Gilbert as she aged, or a little bit of both. One of the funniest scenes is when Caroline reprimands the adult Laura. Laura has gotten into a fight in the middle of the street with a woman who she thinks Almanzo is interested in. Laura attacks this poor woman and says she's going to scratch her eyes out. Caroline breaks up the fight. Laura won't stop. Caroline finally shouts, "You will be silent!!". LOL!! It's pretty bad when you're an adult, and your mother scolds you as if you were a 2-year-old! And this was in front of the entire class. The teacher was misbehaving and got reprimanded by her mother. Plus Nellie was watching too, and Nellie by this time had long passed up Laura in the nice and maturity departments! I think it's in that same episode where Charles also talks to Laura as if she's a child. She is throwing another fit, and Charles says, "Halfpint, get in the wagon!". Adult Laura minds her Pa just like a child, LOL.
