Little House On The Prairie - General Discussion

[tearknee]

Missy F. never got a fair shot.

 

[Blergh]

It seems ML concocted the character of Albert [Quinn] Ingalls initially as a tribute to family friends who had lost their own son in a sudden accident before his 20th birthday- and ML bestowed the friends' late son's given name on the character.  While I imagine that they may have initially felt honored by somewhat . .reviving their son's 'memory' re Albert's introduction, I can't help but wonder if their emotions may have become . . mixed at the very least due to all the angst and havoc this character would wreak on the Ingallses and other Walnut Grove citizenry. Even if they may have tried to hold onto wanting their late son 'immortalized' via a character with clay feet, I can't imagine that they wouldn't have felt as though their own son wasn't being 'killed' all over again via the character of Albert being rendered with a fatal diagnosis right about the same age as his RL namesake's actual death- even if the show never spelled out the character's death and offered a possibly 'alternate' fate via Laura's vocal postscript.

[Zella]

Well, that backstory makes the fire and morphine subplots even more distasteful. I can't imagine those poor parents being flattered by that. 

[debraran]

Spoiler

 

For anyone interested, Little House 50th podcast had Todd Bridges on. He discusses LHOP episode, what he's doing now, Different Strokes and Henry Fonda (worst experience as child actor)

My only beef with the episode was that the writer (a very new writer) got most of it written well, but didn't realize no one leaves the Ingall's empty handed. Solomon deserved hope, hope like Hester Sue had, Joe, the funeral director. Education is never wasted even if he couldn't use it the same way a white person could. If they gave him a book, a tablet, something (they got all new ones) and he took that with him on the stage, it would have showed that they believed in him, that they "saw" him. It was touching, but fell flat since they never let anyone leave on a stage without food, snacks, their home without a chicken, a "store bought" shirt in the past.

Pam's daughter's response to watching it at 6 years old was also moving. (she moderates)

 

 

Edited March 14 by debraran

[Blergh]

Very topical Podcast with Mr. Bridges,etc.

Yes, I understand why the conversation Miss Bob had with her young daughter was awkward but it's far better to HAVE honest conversations about tough topics with one's offspring than to attempt to pretend said topics don't exist much less take umbrage that anyone would bring them up.

Now that you mention it that it did seem a bit off that the Ingallses didn't attempt to gift the knowledge-seeking Solomon something to hold onto to give him the incentive to keep trying to improve himself despite such overwhelming odds (including those in his own family trying to insist on him settling).

Yeah, why would Charles have gifted the elder-abusing, thieving Todd a new shirt but not have attempted anything for the earnest and positive Solomon? Even a prayer book [after Solomon had learned to read] would have been better than just a 'good luck and goodbye, kid' deal.

Edited March 19 by Blergh

[debraran]

6 hours ago, Blergh said:

Very topical Podcast with Mr. Bridges,etc.

Yes, I understand why the conversation Miss Bob had with her young daughter was awkward but it's far better to HAVE honest conversations about tough topics with one's offspring than to attempt to pretend said topics don't exist much less take umbrage that anyone would bring them up.

Now that you mention it that it did seem a bit off that the Ingallses didn't attempt to gift the knowledge-seeking Solomon something to hold onto to give him the incentive to keep trying to improve himself despite such overwhelming odds (including those in his own family trying to insist on him settling).

Yeah, why would Charles have gifted the elder-abusing, thieving Todd a new shirt but not have attempted anything for the earnest and positive Solomon? Even a prayer book [after Solomon had learned to read] would have been better than just a 'good luck and goodbye, kid' deal.

Yes, that's what was so disturbing, he buys the horrible grandkid a store bought shirt he ruins when no one in his family ever got store bought clothes. It was $$ I'm sure. Laura gave Busby books and Mr Edward's had one. I don't know, I thought that would have been so much more touching. It seemed rushed, Laura yelling for him to come then,  "coach is here, bye" No food either...that's a long ride back! He seemed so lost on there. : (

[tearknee]

On 3/14/2025 at 2:59 PM, Zella said:

Well, that backstory makes the fire and morphine subplots even more distasteful. I can't imagine those poor parents being flattered by that. 

Yeah, it's good in some ways that Landon was called home by his Lord.

That man needed help.

[Blergh]

16 hours ago, tearknee said:

Yeah, it's good in some ways that Landon was called home by his Lord.

That man needed help.

True but would he have GOTTEN help?

It seemed he had gotten such an EGO that it wasn't until he got diagnosed with terminal cancer that he FINALLY realized that drinking like a fish and smoking like a chimney for decades on end hadn't been worth it- even though he had built himself via exercise and weightlifting on the outside! I only hope that he  had others drive him while tanked.

[tearknee]

1 hour ago, Blergh said:

True but would he have GOTTEN help?

It seemed he had gotten such an EGO that it wasn't until he got diagnosed with terminal cancer that he FINALLY realized that drinking like a fish and smoking like a chimney for decades on end hadn't been worth it- even though he had built himself via exercise and weightlifting on the outside! I only hope that he  had others drive him while tanked.

Also, Landon's weird hang-ups and to be honest, fetishes, keep showing up on-screen -- Carrie's outhouse and Grace being in a highchair way too long, being but two of those.

[The Wild Sow]

Founder's Day was just on.  That had to be some hot, sweaty work chopping those logs!  And at the end of the contest, Forrest Tucker and ML had beads of perspiration dripping down their faces.

But somehow, ML's pristine, white dress shirt (funny wardrobe choice for a log-chopping contest, BTW) was completely dry under the arms!  Which you could clearly see while he was swingin' that axe!  

[tearknee]

2 hours ago, The Wild Sow said:

Founder's Day was just on.  That had to be some hot, sweaty work chopping those logs!  And at the end of the contest, Forrest Tucker and ML had beads of perspiration dripping down their faces.

But somehow, ML's pristine, white dress shirt (funny wardrobe choice for a log-chopping contest, BTW) was completely dry under the arms!  Which you could clearly see while he was swingin' that axe!  

you'd almost think the sweat was makeup ("Better than powdered wigs" Pa thought...)

[debraran]

yes, sometimes they'd have sweaty clothes but I don't think the main stars had it happen often, it would just be face and stop there. Kids would have sweat marks under arms on those really hot Simi Valley days.

Obviously ML wasn't working that ax too hard IRL  ; )

[Blergh]

3 hours ago, debraran said:

yes, sometimes they'd have sweaty clothes but I don't think the main stars had it happen often, it would just be face and stop there. Kids would have sweat marks under arms on those really hot Simi Valley days.

Obviously ML wasn't working that ax too hard IRL  ; )

Either that, or he had LAYERs of Arrid X-tra Dry underarm antiperspirant  on!LOL

[tearknee]

With female kid actors (me included back in the day), i like to play the "obviously are in makeup even though they are not supposed to be wearing any in-universe" drinking game.

1. Nellie Oleson and Christy Kennedy

.

2. Alice of Wonderland (1985)

3. Ruthie Camden

5. Carrie Ingalls (1999 miniseries)

 

[Blergh]

Yeah, I know that these performers wore makeup despite their characters having ostensibly been makeup free. However, with the harsh kleig lights and reflectors used, if the performers had used any makeup, they'd have appeared rather pasty-faced and peaked oncamera.

BTW, one of the few behind-the-scenes observations that Melissa Sue Anderson made in her autobio was that ML insisted that the performers playing the Ingalls daughters ALL had to wear darker-than-usual makeup on camera so as to not appear downright ghostly compared to ML himself who not only was no WASP but also spent a great deal of time out in the sun.

[tearknee]

I know that, too -- i was a "jobbing" kid actor/kid model. the tone of my post was meant to be cheeky.

[Blergh]

Interesting new Podcast with the trio of AA, Dean Butler and Miss Pamela Bob detailing the Season One episode 'Voice of Tinker Jones'. I mean, they covered everything from how the 'molten metal' was created [and was nowhere near the volcanic temps of the real McCoy] to how one of the extra 'background kids'/ director's son Sean Penn somewhat vindicated AA's early rep as a delicate flower via his own rather sudden faint- and how they'd only talk about it at a teen party some years later.  Oh, AA mentioned one poignant note via the ending with Nels giving his preteen offspring a look of surprised, genuine pride due to their participation with the other Walnut Grove kids in creating this bell- drawing the feuding adult townsfolk back together. I mean, I think that would be the ONLY time he'd do that before their respective [permanent] marriages. Something else a bit chilling that barely got touched upon before it become a Little House cabin elephant was how Harriet's 'bell rival', Mr. Kennedy wasn't just overly harsh to the show's cardboard villain but worse to Mrs. Kennedy via not even allowing her to speak! Yikes- and this was Mary's bestie's male DNA Donor yet his harshness (if the probability of being a spousal abuser) never got addressed by anyone else- even Charles or Caroline there.

Anyway, I agree with the others that, despite its flaws, it was one of the best early episodes.

[tearknee]

Not Just his wife -- what sufferings did he inflict on Christy?

(Jason Vorhees might have a relief to her in comparison!)

[Blergh]

14 hours ago, tearknee said:

Not Just his wife -- what sufferings did he inflict on Christy?

(Jason Vorhees might have a relief to her in comparison!)

That's a good question.

Although it should be noted that Christy Kennedy's first appearance had her stand up for Mary against Nellie [of all people] . Hence, Christy at least hadn't become so intimidated by her upbringing so as to have been too timid to have stood up to bullying peers. Hence, it's possible Mr. Kennedy may have somewhat spared her from his worst (and it hasn't been unheard of for abusers to beat one family member like a carpet while treating another like fine China). Then,too, Christy didn't seem to try to spend as many waking hours as possible after school with the Ingallses to avoid going home (nor did she bring up her male DNA Donor's at least emotional abuse of her poor mother).

 For whatever reason/s, Christy's arc went from being Mary's new bestie to background character. ..to gone so who knows!

[debraran]

16 hours ago, Blergh said:

That's a good question.

Although it should be noted that Christy Kennedy's first appearance had her stand up for Mary against Nellie [of all people] . Hence, Christy at least hadn't become so intimidated by her upbringing so as to have been too timid to have stood up to bullying peers. Hence, it's possible Mr. Kennedy may have somewhat spared her from his worst (and it hasn't been unheard of for abusers to beat one family member like a carpet while treating another like fine China). Then,too, Christy didn't seem to try to spend as many waking hours as possible after school with the Ingallses to avoid going home (nor did she bring up her male DNA Donor's at least emotional abuse of her poor mother).

 For whatever reason/s, Christy's arc went from being Mary's new bestie to background character. ..to gone so who knows!

yes, I enjoyed that! I liked hearing about how the heat affected many with fainting and Alison didn't feel as "seen" until it happened to Mr Penn's son, Sean. She said she thanked him later in life because his fainting helped others and they weren't being "dramatic".

I liked when everyone helped, that show and the apple orchard, it showed how smaller towns could be nice but also back then, husband's like that were probably more prevalent. They owned your money if any, they decided things and thankfully ML made his family and others a bit more progressive.

[Blergh]

9 hours ago, debraran said:

yes, I enjoyed that! I liked hearing about how the heat affected many with fainting and Alison didn't feel as "seen" until it happened to Mr Penn's son, Sean. She said she thanked him later in life because his fainting helped others and they weren't being "dramatic".

I liked when everyone helped, that show and the apple orchard, it showed how smaller towns could be nice but also back then, husband's like that were probably more prevalent. They owned your money if any, they decided things and thankfully ML made his family and others a bit more progressive.

I agree that it was a somewhat eye-opening Podcast (especially the behind-the-scenes stuff such as how they made the 'molten metal',etc). I suppose that the other performers and crew felt that young Mr. Penn's faint was legit instead of 'staged' due to him being a mere extra who could have easily been replaced for that episode instead of a permanent semi-regular AND since men and boys don't have reps for faining [unlike women and girls- regardless of how fair that was].

I agree that episodes in which everyone pitched in were some of the best (and  that was also one reason why I disagreed with Miss Grassle's panning Caroline's role in 'Stone Soup' in her autobio as 'unimportant' since Caroline not only got to be seen being a teacher again but she DID rally her class to save  Laura's orchard and even more importantly helped safeguard her stubborn daughter and unborn grandchild's health).

Regardless, it was a good episode that showed how everyone in the town had the potential to change for the better- though, time proved that not everyone would do so.

[debraran]

I had given Karen's book away but saw today on Reddit, the reason Karen was upset. I had forgotten ML promised her an episode with her starring in it before they wrote her off and it was in her contract. Stone Soup, although a good episode except for her reading it to the kids, she wasn't really in it, it was about the children. I enjoyed that part though and wish they had more episodes like that.

Petty to some, probably not to her since it was in her contract but now I get why a "good episode" was not as liked. It wasn't School Mom in that way. I have no idea what was in writing re script.

Edited March 24 by debraran

[tearknee]

Landon... as @Blergh points out, he and French caused their own deaths. Even though he'd be in his late 80s by then, how would he have reacted to McCurdy's book, given they were both abused by their moms?

[tearknee]

On 5/30/2021 at 11:00 AM, Egg McMuffin said:

There was also snow in “A Christmas They Never Forgot”, which ended with that silly shot of the little house being buried in snow up to the second floor.

Carrie: "I'm going to the outhouse; I may be some time..."

 

[Blergh]

14 hours ago, debraran said:

I had given Karen's book away but saw today on Reddit, the reason Karen was upset. I had forgotten ML promised her an episode with her starring in it before they wrote her off and it was in her contract. Stone Soup, although a good episode except for her reading it to the kids, she wasn't really in it, it was about the children. I enjoyed that part though and wish they had more episodes like that.

Petty to some, probably not to her since it was in her contract but now I get why a "good episode" was not as liked. It wasn't School Mom in that way. I have no idea what was in writing re script.

OK, I looked it  up on IMDB and noticed that AFTER 'Stone Soup' came the Caroline and Doc Baker episode 'A Faraway Cry' when they ventured to treat the plague afflicted folks in that mining camp and Caroline takes the live baby of her dead friend and creep spouse and gives it to the nice couple who had lost their own baby at birth. While Caroline may not have been so clearly in the right in this episode as she had been in 'Stone Soup', she DID essentially carry this episode  and even went so far as to fight off the friend's creep spouse's attempted rape of her!  However, Miss Grassle made NO mention of the latter episode whatsoever in her autobio (which I have kept) even though one would think that THIS would have fulfilled the contract instead of being another 'More coffee, dear?' episode.

 

[debraran]

6 hours ago, Blergh said:

OK, I looked it  up on IMDB and noticed that AFTER 'Stone Soup' came the Caroline and Doc Baker episode 'A Faraway Cry' when they ventured to treat the plague afflicted folks in that mining camp and Caroline takes the live baby of her dead friend and creep spouse and gives it to the nice couple who had lost their own baby at birth. While Caroline may not have been so clearly in the right in this episode as she had been in 'Stone Soup', she DID essentially carry this episode  and even went so far as to fight off the friend's creep spouse's attempted rape of her!  However, Miss Grassle made NO mention of the latter episode whatsoever in her autobio (which I have kept) even though one would think that THIS would have fulfilled the contract instead of being another 'More coffee, dear?' episode.

 

I wondered about that episode, no one talks about it on podcasts because they aren't in it, it really was Doc and Karen and she did carry most of it with him. She stood up to that creepy (but handsome) husband of her friend, the guy who stole the gold, she wasn't afraid with so much illness around her. She was very good, even down to the silent vow the two of them made with the baby.

It was 2 months apart, Jan to March so it seems (to me) she got her way even if he had her fight for it. The circle should have been mentioned but it's odd how that very dramatic episode is just rarely discussed. I'm going to check out some podcasts with her to see if she does with someone. Ive been listening to some with Lucy and Charlotte and Melissa Sue lately.

[Blergh]

16 hours ago, debraran said:

I wondered about that episode, no one talks about it on podcasts because they aren't in it, it really was Doc and Karen and she did carry most of it with him. She stood up to that creepy (but handsome) husband of her friend, the guy who stole the gold, she wasn't afraid with so much illness around her. She was very good, even down to the silent vow the two of them made with the baby.

It was 2 months apart, Jan to March so it seems (to me) she got her way even if he had her fight for it. The circle should have been mentioned but it's odd how that very dramatic episode is just rarely discussed. I'm going to check out some podcasts with her to see if she does with someone. Ive been listening to some with Lucy and Charlotte and Melissa Sue lately.

I would agree that Miss Grassle "got her way" by getting to be front and center re the latter-aired episode.

However whether it was due to ML suddenly getting generous on his own,Miss Grassle  somehow prevailing after all or the network just dropping it into her lap is unclear-in no small part due to her autobio completely avoiding any hint of the latter episode's existence .Instead(as per said narrative),Ma is nothing more than a background character until the final two part episode with  Charles miraculously healing James from the gunshot wound

I know ML was often unfair to her  and needlessly crude at times (and I agree he deserves the disses for those times when he unquestionably was that way) . However  I'm not so keen that her narrative re the last regular season seemed to be making more of an effort to heighten(if not exaggerate)  his unfairness to her rather than acknowledge that she  somehow DID get at least one episode in the last regular season where Caroline was the focus.

Maybe Miss Grassle might have later brought the latter episode in a Podcast or interview but since she had made the issue of negotiating her contributions on the show as a major part of her autobio, IMO it would have been better had she at least mentioned it instead of (at the very least) leaving it out altogether  of that narrative.

 

 

Edited March 26 by Blergh

[debraran]

A little disjointed but nice podcast on The Collection. I really liked this episode.    I only watched half on lunch. Will catch up later    Loved hearing how they all had contract negotiations and not just poor Karen. I'm glad though that MSA had it to herself and didn't have to share the spotlight much.

Edited March 29 by debraran

[Blergh]

Yes, I liked watching the Pod hosts open adoration of both Mr. Cash and Ms. Carter Cash as performers both in the music industry AND on LHOTP!  Yes, indeed June had been part of country music from virtually its earliest recording roots!

 I have to admit I was taken aback by Miss Arngrim's interpretation of Miss Carter's Mattie as somehow having been a resigned if not abused spouse of Mr. Cash's Caleb. I'm not saying that that interpretation isn't a valid possibility re Mattie. However, I more or less viewed Mattie as someone who had known from the start re Caleb's clay feet and had embraced that about him even though she wasn't ready to shout her own knowledge about her spouse's shadowside from the rooftops! I also think by the fact that Caleb and Mattie appear to have been childless, that they DID have a mutual affection for each other to stay with each other in a time when Caleb could have used that as a legal excuse to end the marriage or at the very least to have abandoned her while Mattie could have early on 'visited' relatives for years at a time to end the union but neither of them considered doing that.  I STILL think that Ms. Carter Cash's laughs seeing Mr. Cash in ministerial vestments when he was ready to dupe the trusting Walnut Grove citizenry went FAR beyond what the script called for.

Yes, I agree with them that it was preposterous for Mary to have gone off with this complete stranger grown man to help him with 'charity' with neither of her parents making the slightest objection (and Miss Anrgrim went so far as to cite Mrs. Wilder's own passages re how protective the Ingalls parents WERE of their daughters in the 1870's). I know it was part of the script but Mary WAS taking a huge risk (not that it would justified any bad things happening to her on Caleb's part).

Not surprising that one of the Cashes' six daughters had been a Little House fan and THAT was what motivated them to let the producers know they wanted to be in an episode (though Miss Arngrim didn't specify which of these daughters had lobbied for this).

Interesting behind the scenes stuff with the whole Season Three debut evidently having been delayed solely due to contract disputes with MG,etc. (which AA had initially just speculated about before she finally texted and got MG herself to confirm).  Yes, not only does it appear that Miss Anderson got an entire Mary-centered episode due to this (and  herself  has considered working with Mr. Cash a highlight of her life). I have to wonder if perhaps ML might have deliberately done this to attempt to strongarm MG and her agents to back down from some of their salary demands- citing that he COULD have made  the whole show Mary-centered if Laura wasn't available. I wouldn't put it past him (and this somewhat leads me to believe that it's possible that he not only WAS aware of the MG's dislike for Miss Anderson but was willing to use it to try to intimidate her despite her believing him to be 'her Pa'). Yeah, too bad that not only was Laura barely even seen in this episode but AA herself was told Nellie wasn't needed (in spite of Harriet having been one of the duped citizens) to AA's chagrin at having never gotten to have met the Cashes.

Anyway, I enjoyed the Pod -especially with Miss Bob's contributions and having done her homework from WAY back re June Carter Cash's and her original family's career trajectory (with everyone agreeing that she wasn't the best singer but DID have the most appealing onstage persona of the sisters).

[tearknee]

On 3/21/2025 at 12:49 PM, tearknee said:

With female kid actors (me included back in the day), i like to play the "obviously are in makeup even though they are not supposed to be wearing any in-universe" drinking game.

1. Nellie Oleson and Christy Kennedy

.

2. Alice of Wonderland (1985)

3. Ruthie Camden

5. Carrie Ingalls (1999 miniseries)

 

And when Laura was mistaken for dead and treated by the mortician:

 

[debraran]

2 hours ago, Blergh said:

Yes, I liked watching the Pod hosts open adoration of both Mr. Cash and Ms. Carter Cash as performers both in the music industry AND on LHOTP!  Yes, indeed June had been part of country music from virtually its earliest recording roots!

 I have to admit I was taken aback by Miss Arngrim's interpretation of Miss Carter's Mattie as somehow having been a resigned if not abused spouse of Mr. Cash's Caleb. I'm not saying that that interpretation isn't a valid possibility re Mattie. However, I more or less viewed Mattie as someone who had known from the start re Caleb's clay feet and had embraced that about him even though she wasn't ready to shout her own knowledge about her spouse's shadowside from the rooftops! I also think by the fact that Caleb and Mattie appear to have been childless, that they DID have a mutual affection for each other to stay with each other in a time when Caleb could have used that as a legal excuse to end the marriage or at the very least to have abandoned her while Mattie could have early on 'visited' relatives for years at a time to end the union but neither of them considered doing that.  I STILL think that Ms. Carter Cash's laughs seeing Mr. Cash in ministerial vestments when he was ready to dupe the trusting Walnut Grove citizenry went FAR beyond what the script called for.

Yes, I agree with them that it was preposterous for Mary to have gone off with this complete stranger grown man to help him with 'charity' with neither of her parents making the slightest objection (and Miss Anrgrim went so far as to cite Mrs. Wilder's own passages re how protective the Ingalls parents WERE of their daughters in the 1870's). I know it was part of the script but Mary WAS taking a huge risk (not that it would justified any bad things happening to her on Caleb's part).

Not surprising that one of the Cashes' six daughters had been a Little House fan and THAT was what motivated them to let the producers know they wanted to be in an episode (though Miss Arngrim didn't specify which of these daughters had lobbied for this).

Interesting behind the scenes stuff with the whole Season Three debut evidently having been delayed solely due to contract disputes with MG,etc. (which AA had initially just speculated about before she finally texted and got MG herself to confirm).  Yes, not only does it appear that Miss Anderson got an entire Mary-centered episode due to this (and  herself  has considered working with Mr. Cash a highlight of her life). I have to wonder if perhaps ML might have deliberately done this to attempt to strongarm MG and her agents to back down from some of their salary demands- citing that he COULD have made  the whole show Mary-centered if Laura wasn't available. I wouldn't put it past him (and this somewhat leads me to believe that it's possible that he not only WAS aware of the MG's dislike for Miss Anderson but was willing to use it to try to intimidate her despite her believing him to be 'her Pa'). Yeah, too bad that not only was Laura barely even seen in this episode but AA herself was told Nellie wasn't needed (in spite of Harriet having been one of the duped citizens) to AA's chagrin at having never gotten to have met the Cashes.

Anyway, I enjoyed the Pod -especially with Miss Bob's contributions and having done her homework from WAY back re June Carter Cash's and her original family's career trajectory (with everyone agreeing that she wasn't the best singer but DID have the most appealing onstage persona of the sisters).

I agree, wholeheartedly about Mrs. Cash not being an abused wife, but I respected her view on it. I think if she actually watched it film she might’ve not felt that way. I love how Melissa Gilbert still tried to get herself in there for one scene lol
I do believe there was ongoing jealousy between the girls and I do feel that no matter how great of an actress Melissa Gilbert was, that Michael Landon loved Melissa Sue, a little better in that regard and knew she can carry that episode as she had done others. I can’t even imagine Laura being with Mr. Cash the same way. I also love how they talked about Mary having two faces also .😊

I also like the honesty of Dean in saying that she really wasn’t negotiating with NBC because he controlled the pocketbooks and I think you were correct in saying he was waiting her out

[Blergh]

Yes, while I have to say that it's a testament to how layered and nuanced the script and performances of this episode was that made AA's interpretation of the Caleb-Mattie union feasible, IMO it wasn't the ONLY possible interpretation. Speaking strictly for myself, I got the impression that, rather than Mattie having married down and currently over her head not knowing any way out, I thought this was more of a case of birds of a feather flocking together- even with Caleb  more openly displaying his plumage than Mattie was. However, the important thing is that both of this evidently previously grifting duo DID have the capacity for redemption and doing actual good works. Yep, I can't help but think that this was not entirely off the mark re the Cashes' offstage union (with both of them also 'getting' because by all accounts both of them were very intelligent).

Good for MG somehow getting herself into a single shot despite all the previous efforts to TOTALLY shoot around her (and almost pretend that Laura had never existed- though of course  had this been maintained how would the whole series have justified its continuing existence?).

Yes, I agree that MG couldn't have carried ALL of the gamut of Caleb interactions on her own the way Miss Anderson did. However, I can't help but imagine that Miss Anderson HAS shown her . .. offended face to her own husband and offspring when they've done things to offend her down the years.

It's interesting how Mr. Butler also somewhat nailed ML's control of the cast's individual purse strings as exec producer and likely had been strongarming not just MG and her agent but also MG's somewhat . .tenacious RL mom Barbara via having Laura[ almost ]totally absent from this Season opener. Yes, I thought Mr. Butler had good insight here despite the fact that it would be a few years before he'd join the show as Almanzo (thus ALSO missing out on meeting the Cashes).

[debraran]

I watched LHOP “Little Women” podcast today and was going to link it but it was a mistake and taken down. This week is The In-laws” Next week is LW. I guess I got a preview.

Little Women podcast  mainly covered the bad wigs, the relationship with Mr. Mansfield and the daughter and mother, and that might be deemed odd by some, how women liked being alone more than men if widowed, Jonathan on episode and being mysterious again (he always was private) and not communicating much, and how the Ingalls really weren’t in this episode much and not needed as saviors.  Dean gave MSA props again for her part. They also mentioned how The Walton's stole Ginny from them. : ) They joked that Caroline had to scrub the floor at 3 o’clock in the afternoon just to have Laura put the mop on her head as a pretend wig just to give them some airtime.lol They also gave Carrie some props for her run down the hill and never crying (grass wasn't soft) being a good little actress and putting up with all the outhouse scenes. Again, this will be out for real next week on youtube.

 

I will be watching this podcast tonight on The In-laws after dinner and look forward to discussing it if anyone else does. 

 

https://youtu.be/Fb2kDR5cT7Y?si=CID3INMRn2nqusWt

 

Edited 12 hours ago by debraran