Little House on the Prairie
A long-running drama based on the "Little House" book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder follows the lives of the simple, farming Ingalls family: Charles, Caroline, Mary, Laura, Carrie, Grace, and the later adopted Albert, James, and Cassandra, who settle into a quaint little house on the banks of Plum Creek near the small town of Walnut Grove, Minnesota during the late 1800s. Often narrated by Laura, the series follows her simple farm upbringing from her childhood until her adulthood with Almanzo Wilder with whom she starts a family of her own. While the series is based on the "Little House" book series (and thus the real life of author Laura Ingalls Wilder), it is a very loose adaptation, with mostly only key events and elements of fact surviving the transition from book to TV series, the most important being Mary's eventual blindness, and Laura's future. Several other fictitious (some factual) characters make up the friendly town of Walnut Grove, including teacher Miss Beadle (succeeded by two other teachers, then Laura, then Etta Plum), Dr. Hiram Baker, Rev. Robert Alden, Mr. Hanson (of the Hanson lumber mill), and the well-to-do Olesons, owners of the local mercantile, and also the primary rivals of the Ingalls family (except the Oleson patriarch). Family friends include the Edwards, Garveys, and Carters, who, in the final season, move into the Ingalls' little house.
- 1974-1983
- 9 seasons
- NBC
- Drama, Family, Action & Adventure
- TV-PG
A long-running drama based on the "Little House" book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder follows the lives of the simple, farming Ingalls family: Charles, Caroline, Mary, Laura, Carrie, Grace, and the later adopted Albert, James, and Cassandra, who settle into a quaint little house on the banks of Plum Creek near the small town of Walnut Grove, Minnesota during the late 1800s. Often narrated by Laura, the series follows her simple farm upbringing from her childhood until her adulthood with Almanzo Wilder with whom she starts a family of her own. While the series is based on the "Little House" book series (and thus the real life of author Laura Ingalls Wilder), it is a very loose adaptation, with mostly only key events and elements of fact surviving the transition from book to TV series, the most important being Mary's eventual blindness, and Laura's future. Several other fictitious (some factual) characters make up the friendly town of Walnut Grove, including teacher Miss Beadle (succeeded by two other teachers, then Laura, then Etta Plum), Dr. Hiram Baker, Rev. Robert Alden, Mr. Hanson (of the Hanson lumber mill), and the well-to-do Olesons, owners of the local mercantile, and also the primary rivals of the Ingalls family (except the Oleson patriarch). Family friends include the Edwards, Garveys, and Carters, who, in the final season, move into the Ingalls' little house.
Season 9 Episode Guide
22 Episodes 1982 - 1983
Episode 1
Times Are Changing (Part One)
Mon, Sep 27, 1982 50 mins
The Ingalls can't make ends meet so they move to the city to find work. The Carters buy the little house and Mr. Carter runs the blacksmith shop and Mrs. Carter starts a newspaper. (John and Sarah Carter - they have two sons, Jeb and Jason.) Laura has decided she wants to spend more time with Rose so the town has hired a new teacher, Etta Plum. Almanzo's brother, Royal has come to visit and brings with him, his daughter, Jenny.
Episode 2
Times Are Changing (Part Two)
Mon, Oct 4, 1982 50 mins
Almanzo's brother, Royal, has a serious heart condition. He dies and leaves Jenny devastated. She tries to drown herself so she can go to heaven to be with her poppa.
Episode 3
Welcome to Olesonville
Mon, Oct 11, 1982 50 mins
Harriet finds some old Walnut Grove bonds under a loose step when they are fixing up Mr. Hansen's old house. She says she won't cash them in but only if they do her this little favor of renaming Walnut Grove Olesenville and that little favor of letting Nels be the Mayor.
Episode 4
Rage
Mon, Oct 18, 1982 50 mins
Mr. Stark has gotten himself so far in debt that he has lost his mind. He goes home and shoots his wife and daughter. Then he goes off and ends up at Laura's house. He mistakes Laura and Jenny for his wife and daughter, but when he sees Rose, he thinks that his daughter has had a baby.
Episode 5
Little Lou
Mon, Oct 25, 1982 50 mins
Lou, a diminutive from the circus, tries to find work in Walnut Grove after his wife dies in childbirth. He can't get a job because Harriet doesn't like the fact that he's little and from the circus; she even threatens to close out her bank account if the banker hires him. He steals food and a doll from the mercantile; Harriet presses charges and a judge is on the way, but while they wait for him Nancy falls into a sewer hole and Lou is the only person small enough to pull her out, so all is forgiven.
Episode 6
The Wild Boy (Part One)
Mon, Nov 1, 1982 50 mins
Walnut Grove residents try to rescue a boy who's unable to speak after they see him on display at a carnival show.
Episode 7
The Wild Boy (Part Two)
Mon, Nov 8, 1982 50 mins
Dr. McQueen learns of young Matthew's whereabouts and seeks custody of him so he can use him for his personal gain.
Episode 8
The Return of Nellie
Mon, Nov 15, 1982 50 mins
Nellie comes home for a visit and discovers that Nancy is more of a spoiled brat than she ever was. Nancy doesn't want to have anything to do with Nellie and snubs her every chance she gets. Laura and Nellie act like they are best friends. Everyone is paying attention to Nellie because it's her birthday and they haven't seen her in a while and so Nancy is feeling left out. She decides to run away. Nels and Nellie go to look for her, and they find her and it seems she has changed. When Nellie leaves,they find out that Nancy hasn't changed.
Episode 9
The Empire Builders
Mon, Nov 22, 1982 50 mins
The citizens of Walnut Grove are excited about the railroad spur coming into Walnut Grove, that is until John Carter and Almanzo Wilder are told their farms will be needed for use by the railroad. They decide to stand together and fight the railroad.
Episode 10
Love
Mon, Nov 29, 1982 50 mins
Mr. Edwards falls for a friend of Laura's, but their age difference causes a problem.
Episode 11
Alden's Dilemma
Mon, Dec 6, 1982 50 mins
Mr. Edwards is suspicious of a young handsome minister sent to Walnut Grove by the diocese and Reverend Alden feels his position is threatened.
Episode 12
Marvin's Garden
Mon, Jan 3, 1983 50 mins
After nearly drowning, Jenny befriends a retired Doctor.
Episode 13
Sins of the Fathers
Mon, Jan 10, 1983 50 mins
Sarah Carter's mother died so her father comes for a visit. He's a wealthy newspaper man from the big city and wants the Carters to come back and live with him. He "buys" the boys' affection with nice things. He helps Sarah out in her office by helping her with her layout, but it's not the way she wants it and she is happy with her life there and so her father leaves.
Episode 14
The Older Brothers
Mon, Jan 17, 1983 50 mins
The Younger brothers haven't been out of prison very long, when they decide to hold up Mr. Edwards for some ransom. They decide to turn themselves in so they can get the reward money but they don't have all their marbles.
Episode 15
Once Upon a Time
Mon, Jan 24, 1983 50 mins
Laura needs something to fill some time so Almanzo tells her about a book writing contest. He convinces her to write her stories down that she told him about growing up. She travels to Minneapolis to work with a publisher but they want to make too many changes to book.
Episode 16
Home Again: Part 1
Mon, Feb 7, 1983 50 mins
Albert has fallen in with the wrong crowd so Charles quits his job and takes him home to Walnut Grove. Unfortunately, part of Albert's problem is that he has gotten addicted to morphine and he steals some from Doc Baker so the problems persist.
Episode 17
Home Again: Part 2
Mon, Feb 7, 1983 50 mins
Doc Baker realizes that something is wrong with the morphine in his pouches and he tells Nels that the company is very responsible and loyal and so something had to happen to it when it came here to Walnut Grove. He says no one messed with in the store and he had Albert drop it off for him. Doc Baker realizes that Albert must have switched the morphine for powdered sugar. He tells Charles to watch for symptoms of addiction. Charles finds the morphine in Albert's shoes and gives it back to Doc Baker. When Albert goes looking for it, Charles confronts him but Albert says he only did it once and he's sorry and it won't happen again. He lied and he has to go through a major major withdrawal to get off the morphine. Some of this episode is quite graphic where he vomiting up tons of grossness during the withdrawal.
Episode 18
A Child with No Name
Mon, Feb 14, 1983 50 mins
Laura and Almanzo welcome their second child, a baby boy. They are undecided as far as names go, and Doc Baker examines the child to make sure he's in the best of health. But one fateful morning, the Wilders awaken to find their new baby deceased. Right away, a dumbfounded Laura places blame squarely on Doc Baker, whose business starts to wane and he considers leaving Walnut Grove. But, when Rose suddenly comes down with small pox, the good doctor is their only hope.
Episode 19
The Last Summer
Mon, Feb 21, 1983 50 mins
Jason Carter wants a job so he can buy his mother a birthday present. He starts working for Ruthy Leland. They become close friends. His mother thinks she is being too nice, but since Ruthy is dying from a sickness and won't be around for too long, she doesn't have any reason not to give this stuff away.
Episode 20
For the Love of Blanche
Mon, Mar 7, 1983 50 mins
Mr. Edwards is left in care of a baby orangutan named Blanche, whom Mrs. Olesen wants destroyed after it attacks Nancy at school. Willie helps Mr. Edwards with a plan to fool his mother and sister, but when Mrs. Olesen finds out about the ruse, he orders the sheriff back to finish the job.
Episode 21
May I Have This Dance?
Mon, Mar 14, 1983 60 mins
When Willie announces his plans to marry sweetheart Rachel Brown and manage the hotel-restaurant bearing his sister's name, Mrs. Oleson tries to interfere. But Willie impresses his wife-to-be - and his father - when he stands his ground to his meddlesome mother once and for all.
Episode 22
Hello and Goodbye
Mon, Mar 21, 1983 50 mins
The father of Matthew Rogers, the mute boy Mr. Edwards has been caring for, arrives to reclaim his son. A heartbroken Edwards moves in to Laura's new boarding house, where newlyweds Willie and Rachel Oleson, and eccentric Englishman Sherwood Montague have also taken up residence.
