·
SEASON NOTES The Ingalls family (apart
from Laura) leave Walnut Grove and
move to Iowa.
·
The Carter family
moves into The Little House on Plum Creek.
·
Laura and Almanzo
adopt Almanzo's niece, Jenny,
following the death of his brother, Royal Wilder.
·
Mr. Edwards adopts
a young mute boy named Matthew Rogers.
However later on Matthew leaves to live with his birth father.
·
Charles and Albert
return to Walnut Grove to help Albert get rid of a morphine addiction.
·
The birth and death
of Baby Boy Wilder.
·
Laura and Almanzo
move into the huge house of a widower and turn it into a boarding house.
·
Willie marries
his classmate Rachel Brown.
·
Nellie Oleson
returns to Visit Walnut Grove.
Principal cast
·
Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls Wilder (22/22)
·
Dean Butler as Almanzo Wilder (21/22)
·
Victor French as Isaiah Edwards (20/22)
·
Jonathan Gilbert as Willie Oleson (19/22)
·
Richard Bull as Nels Oleson (18/22)
·
Katherine MacGregor as Harriet Oleson (18/22)
·
David Friedman as Jason Carter (18/22)
·
Lindsay Kennedy as Jeb Carter (18/22)
·
Allison Balson as Nancy Oleson (17/22)
·
Shannon Doherty as Jenny Wilder (16/22)
·
Kevin Hagen as Hiram Baker (16/22)
·
Stan Ivar as John Carter (15/22)
·
Pamela Roylance as Sarah Carter (14/22)
·
Dabbs Greer as Reverend Robert Alden (14/22)
·
Leslie Landon as Etta Plum (11/22)
·
Ketty Lester as Hester-Sue Terhune (9/22)
·
Jennifer and Michelle Steffin as Rose Wilder
Recurring cast
·
Ruth Foster as Mrs. Foster (/22)
·
Sam Anderson as Mr. Anderson (/22)
·
Elmore Vincent as Floyd (/22)
·
Sherri Stoner as Rachel Brown (2/22)
·
Jonathan Hall Kovacs as Matthew Rogers (4/22)
·
Robert Casper Lilley as Sherwood Montague (1/22)
Special guest cast
·
Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls (4/22)
·
Matthew Laborteaux as Albert Ingalls (2/22)
·
Alison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson Dalton (1/22)
Season 9: A New Beginning
(1982–1983)
When Michael Landon decided to leave the show, it was
renamed, the focus was put on the characters of Laura and Almanzo, and more
recurring characters were added. Landon did, however, stay on as executive
producer, and wrote and directed occasional episodes as well.
Season 9 episodes |
||||||
No. in series |
No. in season |
Title |
Director |
Writer(s) |
Original air date |
Production code |
183 |
1 |
September
27, 1982 |
8451 |
|||
In the spring of 1887, Charles,
having suffered a hard winter and wanting to pursue a promising life, has
moved the Ingalls family to Burr Oak, Iowa. He
completes the sale of their homestead to the Carter family from New York, and
is given a farewell party by his friends. John Carter is the new town
blacksmith and his wife Sarah starts a newspaper, the Walnut Grove Gazette. Four
months later, Laura announces her resignation from Walnut Grove School to
raise Rose at home and introduces the kids to their new teacher, Etta Plum.
Almanzo's brother, Royal, arrives with his daughter, Jenny, and with a
devastating secret: he is terminally ill and
the true reason he is visiting Walnut Grove is to give Jenny a chance to get
to know Laura and Almanzo, who will become her adoptive parents. ·
Notes: This marks the first
appearance of Jenny Wilder (played
by Shannen Doherty).
In real life, the Ingalls moved to Iowa in 1876. |
||||||
184 |
2 |
Michael
Landon |
October 4,
1982 |
8452 |
||
The Carters, including their sons
Jeb and Jason, adjust to life in Walnut Grove, but Jenny has a hard time
doing so after her father dies. She blames herself and Laura for her father's
death, saying that she should have been told that he was ill. After Reverend
Alden assures her that she will see her parents again in heaven, Jenny tries
to drown herself to join them, but Jeb conquers his fear of water and dives
in and saves her. Then Laura teaches Jenny a 'tough love' lesson on the
importance of life, like Charles had done for her. |
||||||
185 |
3 |
October
10, 1982 |
8454 |
|||
Mrs. Oleson finds an old Walnut
Grove Bearer Bond and, claiming that she is owed over $14,000 in unpaid
interest, uses it to have the town renamed Olesonville. However, when she
wants her compliant husband elected as mayor, she encounters unexpected
opposition from some of the town's oldest inhabitants. ·
Guest
stars: Charles Lane and Lew Ayres |
||||||
186 |
4 |
"Rage" |
B. W.
Sandefur |
Maury
Dexter |
October
18, 1982 |
8456 |
A farmer named Mr. Stark is denied
a loan at the bank and soon goes bankrupt. He flies into a terrible rage and
shoots his wife and daughter, and takes off. The citizens of Walnut Grove
organize a posse to track him down, but, as they are searching for him, he
chances upon the Wilders' house, and Laura and Jenny must rely on their wits
to escape from a dangerous situation. ·
Guest
stars: Robert Loggia, Tammy Lauren, Ronnie Scribner |
||||||
187 |
5 |
WrittenBy=Michael
Landon |
DirectedBy=Victor
French |
October
25, 1982 |
8453 |
|
A widowed circus man and young
father named Little Lou (Billy Barty) makes a promise to his wife to quit the
circus and move to Walnut Grove to try to make a living after his wife dies
during childbirth. He
interviews for a job at the bank, but a prejudiced Mrs. Oleson refuses to do
business as long as he is employed there. Jobless, Little Lou begins stealing
from the Mercantile to support his baby daughter. Just before he is set to go
on trial for theft, Nancy falls down a well, and Little Lou is the only one
who can reach inside to save her. Mrs. Oleson realizes how wrong she was and
gets the charges dropped against Lou, who gets the job at the bank. ·
Note: An episode of Bonanza,
titled "It's a Small World", had a story with a similar theme to
this episode. Both episodes were written by Michael Landon. |
||||||
188 |
6 |
Vince
R. Gutierrez |
November
1, 1982 |
8457 |
||
Dr. McQueen (Anthony Zerbe), an unscrupulous traveling
medicine man, visits Walnut Grove to sell his elixir and promote his sideshow
attraction, the "Wild Boy", a wild-looking boy in a cage who goes
mad when McQueen beats him with a stick for the entertainment of his
customers. When the
Walnut Grove children sneak into the tent and Nancy pokes the boy with a
stick, Jenny defends him. Later, the boy escapes and takes refuge in the
Wilders' barn. Jenny finds him there and befriends him, and she discovers he
is not really wild, only mute and tortured, and that his name is Matthew
Rogers (Jonathan
Hall Kovacs). Then
Almanzo and Laura discover Matthew is regularly beaten by McQueen and given
morphine elixir. While they try to keep Matthew safe with Mr. Edwards,
McQueen posts a reward for the boy's return, which Nancy hopes to
claim. |
||||||
189 |
7 |
Vince R.
Gutierrez |
Victor
French |
November
8, 1982 |
8458 |
|
Laura has taught Matthew, Jenny
and Mr. Edwards sign language and Matthew has become accepted by many of the
adults and children of the town. However, Nancy, whose mind is focused on the
large reward, leads McQueen to Mr. Edwards. This initiates a custody battle
between McQueen and Mr. Edwards. The judge initially decides to have
Matthew placed in a mental hospital for his protection, but after a heartfelt
and tearful speech by Mr. Edwards, he allows Matthew to stay with him in
Walnut Grove as long as he keeps it quiet. |
||||||
190 |
8 |
November
15, 1982 |
8459 |
|||
Nellie returns to Walnut Grove,
and most of her family try to make it the best visit ever. But what will
happen if Nancy does not get the attention she normally gets? ·
Note: This is the final appearance
of Alison Arngrim as
Nellie. |
||||||
191 |
9 |
Larry
Jensen |
Joseph
Pevney |
November
22, 1982 |
8460 |
|
The railroad is coming to Walnut
Grove, and with it the promise of jobs and economic growth. But that joy
turns sour when the townspeople learn the side effects: the railroad needs
property easements, forcing many farmers from their homes, and plenty of ill
repute to boot. |
||||||
192 |
10 |
"Love" |
Victor
Lobl |
November
29, 1982 |
8462 |
|
Jane (Jill Schoelen), a childhood friend of Laura's who
attended the blind school, visits Walnut Grove and falls in love with Mr.
Edwards. He encourages Jane to have a new surgical treatment which restores
her sight, and her feelings for him do not change when she sees he is much
older than her. Mr. Edwards also loves Jane, but he faces hostile opinion in
town, and when Laura is reluctant to offer her unqualified support for their
love match, he rejects Jane and she leaves town. |
||||||
193 |
11 |
Don
Balluck |
Maury
Dexter |
December
6, 1982 |
8461 |
|
A traveling minister is planning a
surprise for Rev. Alden; he is arranging a house for him in Walnut Grove. But
this truth does not come to light until Rev. Alden concludes his congregation
is planning to leave him. |
||||||
194 |
12 |
Michael
Landon |
Michael
Rhodes |
January 3,
1983 |
8463 |
|
An aging doctor (Ralph Bellamy) is losing his sight and knows he
will soon have to retire. Meanwhile, Jenny nearly drowns while looking for
her locket in the lake. Her brain is partly damaged and she is unable to
walk, talk and use her hands. Dr. Marvin convinces Laura to let Jenny help
him with his garden to rehabilitate. She turns out to be his last patient. ·
Note: The main theme to this
episode's original score would later serve as the theme music to Michael
Landon's next series, Highway To
Heaven. |
||||||
195 |
13 |
E. F.
Wallengren |
Victor
French |
January
10, 1983 |
8464 |
|
Sarah Carter's imposing father
visits Walnut Grove, demanding they move back to New York City. Sarah will
not listen and she is finally allowed to stay with her family in Walnut
Grove. ·
Note: Victor French and Dean
Butler do not appear. |
||||||
196 |
14 |
Michael
Landon |
Victor
French |
January
17, 1983 |
8455 |
|
Mr. Edwards, and later, Almanzo
and John, become mixed up with the criminal activities of a bumbling gang of
outlaws. ·
Notes: An episode of Bonanza, titled "The Younger Brothers' Younger
Brother", had a story with a similar theme to this episode. Both
episodes were written by Michael Landon. ·
Guest
stars: Geoffrey Lewis, Robert Donner, Timothy Scott |
||||||
197 |
15 |
Don
Balluck |
Maury
Dexter |
January
24, 1983 |
8465 |
|
At Almanzo's urging, Laura enters
a writing contest and produces a novel about the Ingalls family which Almanzo
and Jenny love. After travelling with Jenny to Minneapolis, Laura learns that
she has won the contest and she is offered the opportunity to have her novel
published. She reluctantly agrees to changes which the publishers want to
make, but Jenny convinces Laura that the new version is not as good as her
original and should not be published. ·
Note: As the episode ends, Michael
Landon narrates a flashforward (taken from
"The Little House Years"), in which his daughter Shawna Landon is
the little girl running into the public library to read Laura
Ingalls Wilder's third
book, Little House on the Prairie. In real life, Laura did
not start writing the 'Little House' books until she was in her fifties,
encouraged to do so by her daughter Rose
Wilder Lane, who was
by then herself a successful journalist and author. |
||||||
198 199 |
16 17 |
|
Michael
Landon |
Michael
Landon |
February
7, 1983 |
8467/033210 |
Charles and Albert return to
Walnut Grove after Albert has repeated run-ins with the law for curfew
violations and theft. It is soon discovered that Albert is hooked on
morphine, which increasingly causes his behavior to be violent and eventually
leads Charles to take drastic measures to help his son withdraw from the drug. ·
Notes: Originally aired as a
two-hour episode. In both syndication and
the Lionsgate/NBC DVD, it is shown as a two-part episode. Final series
appearances of Michael Landon and Matthew
Laborteaux, who both
return in the post-series movies. |
||||||
200 |
18 |
Don
Balluck |
Victor
French |
February
14, 1983 |
8466 |
|
"In the late summer of
1889", Almanzo and Laura's newborn son dies overnight from no obvious
cause at only a week old. Without any real reason, Laura blames Doc Baker for
the baby's death and his reputation and business is badly damaged, so he
decides to leave Walnut Grove. Then Rose becomes sick with smallpox and, against Laura's wishes, Almanzo calls
in Doc Baker, who has to stay with them in quarantine. After Rose recovers,
Laura acknowledges that she had been wrong and that Doc Baker is a good
doctor, and she persuades him to stay. ·
Note: This is the final appearance
of Ketty Lester as Hester-Sue Terhune. |
||||||
201 |
19 |
Duke
Sandefur |
=Maury
Dexter |
February
21, 1983 |
8469 |
|
Jason begins doing odd jobs for an
aging woman, Ruthy Leland (Vera Miles). Sarah becomes jealous over the blossoming
friendship, until Ruthy reveals her that she is dying. Jason makes
plenty of happy memories with his friend before her death. ·
Note: Victor French and Dean
Butler do not appear. |
||||||
202 |
20 |
Michael
Landon |
Michael
Landon |
March 7,
1983 |
8470 |
|
Mr. Edwards promises to care for a
dying traveler's "baby," only to discover it to be an orangutan
named Blanche, which makes quick friends with everyone except Nancy, who
tries to swat the animal, only for it to fight back. Mrs. Oleson wants
Blanche killed, but Mr. Edwards devises a plan to trick them into thinking
Blanche is dead. Mr.
Edwards decides that Blanche needs to live in a zoo. Later, Blanche saves
Rose from a potentially deadly house fire that Jenny puts out, and when Jenny
tells the story at school, Nancy finds out that Blanche is still alive. Mrs.
Oleson demands that the sheriff make sure Blanche is dead this time, but the
ape hides in a tree until the arrival of the zookeeper, who convinces the
sheriff and Mrs. Oleson to let Blanche live. |
||||||
203 |
21 |
Victor
French |
March 14,
1983 |
8471 |
||
Willie graduates and his mother
expects him to go on to college, but Willie has fallen in love with his
girlfriend Rachel Brown, and wants to get married and take over the running
of the family's restaurant. Mrs.
Oleson opposes his plans and cruelly insults Rachel, and when Willie stands
up to his mother and defends Rachel against her, she vows not to show up at
the wedding. In the event, she does go, but theatrically dressed in black
funeral clothes. Nels later reminds Harriet that his mother similarly opposed
their marriage, and he says he has never regretted it. Meanwhile, Mrs.
Flannery, a childless elderly friend of Laura's, passes away after gifting
her big house to Laura and Almanzo, who set about turning it into a
boardinghouse, and Willie and Rachel move in as their first boarders. ·
Note: This is the first appearance
of [[Rachel Brown-Oleson[[ (Sherri Stoner), who also appears in the series finale
and the three subsequent TV movies. |
||||||
204 |
22 |
Don
Balluck |
Michael
Landon |
March 21,
1983 |
8472 |
|
Matthew's natural father arrives
in Walnut Grove, wanting to reclaim custody after years of searching for him.
Initially, Matthew is angry that his parents abandoned him as a baby, but,
after learning why they did it and receiving a gift of his late mother's
bible, Mr. Edwards helps him to decide to leave town to live with his father.
A devastated Mr. Edwards decides he will move into Laura's new boarding
house, where a multi-talented English writer named Sherwood Montague has also
taken up residence. ·
Note: At the conclusion of the
1982-83 season, Michael Landon and NBC jointly decided to end the
series. Despite still ranking in the top 30 programs, Little House had two consecutive years of
declining ratings, and Landon had not imagined the series lasting long enough
for Laura to become an independent, married woman. [2] To wrap up the storylines,
three TV movies were aired in the following television season. This is the
last appearance of Harriet Oleson (Katherine MacGregor),
who does not appear in the post-series movies. Also this is the first
appearance of Sherwood Montague,
who appears in the three post movies. |
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