Promoting family values on television is lacking today. That’s one reason I gave up television 13 years ago. Shows like Game of Thrones or Supernatural mark the television screen with gratuitous violence and sex.
However, I must confess I returned to television last year because one of my favorite books is now an episodic cable show. It is the only show I watch on television. It’s on Starz and has violence and sex. However, the TV version promotes honor, keeping one’s promise and staying devoted to one’s loved one. It is the only show I watch, and I justify watching it because I read all the books first and love the story.
I am trying not to write about violence, sex and Outlander. I am trying to tell you about a tremendous new Blu-Ray/DVD on the market.
Without further fuss, let’s look at Little House on the Prairie. They also based the series on a book, and it is one of those shows in the late 1970s where you knew violence or sex didn’t play a role in the storyline. As a matter of fact, there wasn’t much violence or sex on television in those days at all — it was unheard of. There were lessons learned, and the characters were polite and caring. Families could watch television together. Now, NBC is releasing Little House on the Prairie on Blu-ray and DVD as remastered and restored to broadcast length.
Season 5 is the trendy season, with the storyline moving the whole family away from Walnut Grove to be closer to Mary’s school for the blind in Winoka. Mary and Adam even get engaged and married.
However, there is a drawback to a lengthy television series that lasts five years and longer. They become cookie-cutter or listless, lacking stories to fill an entire season. More medium shots are filmed than master shots to cut down on production and get the crew home for dinner. I heard two cinematographers discuss cutting production time down on a long-running TV show by not moving the camera. He pushed the other actor into the former actor’s place in front of the camera, rather than moving the camera and keeping the background obscured. He said it supported the actor’s happiness. I think you see a bit of “cheating” in the final seasons of Little House on the Prairie. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a great show, and the fact that it lasted almost a decade and remains popular today, over 40 years later, speaks volumes about the production’s quality.
I have broken down Season 5 episodes for your enjoyment. The summaries show the wholesomeness and family values portrayed on the award-winning show.
As Long As We’re Together (2 Parts) – Poor economic conditions cause the Ingalls to move closer to Mary, who is now teaching at the Blind school in Winoka. Charles befriends Albert, an orphan whom Laura catches stealing from the hotel they manage. Fabulous, the producers could include a moral message.
The Winoka Warriors – A blind student feels useless and is reluctant to participate in school. He gains self-confidence when he joins the football team and becomes the quarterback. This episode is contemporary because I doubt this happened during our frontier history.
The Man Inside – Amelia, Laura’s new friend, feels ashamed of her overweight father. He works at the blind school, where the students are very fond of him. Laura learns an important lesson when she ridicules him in front of the other children in her class.
There’s No Place Like Home (2 Parts) – The Ingalls, along with Albert, the Garveys, and the Olesons, tire of the bustling city and return to Walnut Grove. They discover that someone has severely neglected the town after they left it. Together, they begin work immediately to organize the city back to its former glory.
Fagin – Albert runs away after overhearing Charles and Caroline discussing how Laura feels ignored and left out because Charles spends so much time with him.
Harriet’s Happenings – Harriet Oleson tries her hand at journalism when her cousin visits Walnut Grove. Her cousin starts a newspaper with Harriet’s column “Harriet’s Happenings” in it. Charles steps in when she writes unpleasant things about his family.
The Wedding – Adam finally asks Mary to marry him. She has second thoughts when her parents remind her of her childhood.
Men Will Be Boys – Albert and Andrew are tired of being treated like kids. They want to be treated like “men.” Charles and Jonathan decide to teach them a lesson and permit themselves to go through the woods to Sleepy Eye. They figure it’ll take the boys a few hours to give up. The fathers follow them all the way. The boys end up having an uneventful trip. Charles and Jonathan are the ones who have an eventful journey. Wonder what happened?
The Cheaters – Mrs. Garvey, embarrassed by her son’s poor school grades, hires Nellie to tutor him. Nellie reveals her secret for getting good grades. She forces Andy to keep her secret.
Blind Journey (2 Parts) – The blind school in Winoka is forced to close down. The citizens of Walnut Grove donated an old building so the school could transfer to Walnut Grove. Harriet Oleson decides she needs to be present to bring the children to Walnut Grove with Charles. The two of them together make for an exciting trip!
The Godsister – No one is available to play with her. Carrie makes up a friend of Alissa. It is a cute story that the whole family can watch.
The Craftsman – Albert works as an apprentice for an old Jewish man. All the children call him “Jew-Lover.” He embarrassed even Laura. He soon develops a sense of pride in his work, and the two become best friends. Another good message makes the show popular with a storyline about prejudice.
Blind Man’s Bluff – After he is involved in an accident, Jordan, Laura and Albert’s friend, pretends to be blind to keep his parents together. I am unsure who pretends to be blind, but it is a fun show.
Dance With Me – Laura and Albert become matchmakers just in time for the upcoming dance.
The Sound Of Children – Mary finds out she is pregnant and writes to her father-in-law. She thinks he and Adam are becoming closer. But she loses the child and finds that her father-in-law is just interested in the baby.
The Lake Kezia Monster – Kezia refuses to pay her taxes. Mrs. Oleson buys her land, and Kezia, who has nowhere to go, gets roped into being Oleson’s maid. Laura, Albert, and Andy are mad that Mrs. Oleson bought the place. So they make up a monster tale to scare Mrs. Oleson and her rotten children off the site. Sounds like a fun ending.
Barn Burner – The price of wheat drops, and the farmers agree not to compete against one another by charging the same fee. One of them breaks the bargain, and Andy gets hurt. Mr. Garvey takes action.
The Enchanted Cottage – The Ingalls hope Mary is regaining sight when she believes she can distinguish light from dark. Sounds like a tearjerker.
Someone, Please Love Me – Charles is asked to prevent a divorce from the children of a troubled couple.
Mortal Mission – Sick mutton gets around Walnut Grove, and everybody seems to turn for the worse. Jonathan and Charles are sent to get some medicine in Sleepy Eye but are robbed on the way back.
The Odyssey – Dylon is dying of leukemia and wants, more than anything, to see the ocean. Albert and Laura decide to run away and help him achieve his goal. A heartfelt story means learning the value of friends.
Did you recognize any episodes you’ve seen before? The DVD set also comes with Special Features: An interview with Dabbs Greer (Reverend Alden), an Interview with Allison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), and an interactive quiz for Season 5.
As I said, Little House on the Prairie brings families together—something we miss so much on television today. The entire family could see the whole series. Whether you buy it or rent it, make sure you are watching it with your closest friends and family.
