Almanzo and John were off to San Francisco for the Grange convention. Just as they were getting ready to depart, a stage pulled up and out of it came Reverend Addison Hale, a youthful pastor looking to see Reverend Alden. He had apparently come from the district office to observe the ministers and how they preach. So while Carter and Wilder endure a five-day train trip together crammed in the same car, back in the Grove, all of hero township enjoyed listening to Reverend Hale preach alongside Reverend Alden. But despite it all, Hale wasn't satisfied. He wanted to be a full-time minister, but the diocese kept him as a businessman, per his training. As soon as a ministry position opened up, Hale wanted to take it...something tells me he already has a certain ministry position in mind, even though it was presently full, things might soon change; Almanzo and John arrived in San Francisco, which was full up due to the convention, so while they hunt for an available room, Reverend Hale buys an old house and fixes it up good as new. Edwards begins to have his doubts about the young clergyman, especially by the way he buys furniture from the Olesons, let's the women cook for him and spends his time fixing up his house...yeah, real suspicious there, Edwards; John and Almanzo finally find a hotel and get their first real taste of Japanese culture, as well as experience a friendly mixed bath. Well, they had a good night sleep and the next morning, they got robbed by a "sweet" old lady, and when trying to get Almanzo's wallet back, the old bat played the sympathy card and got him and John arrested.
As the hapless farmers resided in a jail cell, they soon realized they were really in a mess. Seems Manly also kept the convention tickets and their train tickets in his wallet. Cue muted trumpets; Back in Walnut Grove, Edwards couldn't shake his suspicions about Hale, and now even Reverend Alden began to share his paranoia. Yeah, Hale was acting strange alright: a nice, quiet, friendly man. Don't you just hate them? Seeing him talk to Laura and Sarah, Edwards and Alden must have thought the young preacher was trying to pick'em up. But as it turns out, Hale was sent by the diocese to present an award to Reverend Alden for his years of dedicated services. An award in the form of a house...the one he'd been fixing up. Laura and Sarah were made to keep it secret; So while Almanzo and John miss the convention due to lack of tickets and find themselves broke and stranded in San Fran, Mr. Edwards continues to spy on Reverend Hale. But then, Laura stopped by, and she and Hale went inside together...oh deary dear. It gets worse: as Hale reads her Ralph Waldo Emerson's poetry, Edwards overhears and takes it the wrong way. Next day, it was Sarah Carter coming over; Meanwhile, the two schmucks took to walking home along the train tracks, with only two apples between them. Eventually, they hitch a ride on an eastbound train...in a cattle car of all things. So while they fantasize about a king-sized steak dinner, Edwards spies on Hale again, being all cordial-like with Sarah. Finally, the big doofus runs at Hale, shouts an impromptu war cry and belts him. That's when Sarah laid out the whole thing, and boy did Edwards feel like a big bearded jackass in a flannel shirt. So, Alden is given his award and his new house, everybody applauds, Edwards is forgived, and Sarah and Laura wish their husbands could be here to see this. Despair not, dear ladies, for John and Almanzo will make it home....eventually. Maybe in the next episode. Th-th-th-th-That's all, folks!
Great episode, great plot with a twist, and of course, very funny. Victor French was wonderful, as always, so were Stan Ivar and Dean Butler as our hapless heroes in what pre-dates today's road-trip buddy comedies, and of course David Huffman as Rev. Hale, so convincing and you always wonder about him; The subplot about John and Almanzo and their adventures was priceless. Seeing them get into one jam after another. The great thing about Little House is that when it wants to be funny, not only are they funny, but they do it with dignity. They don't sink to any low levels for a cheap laugh. This episode is a fine display of such traits. Little House fans, I urge you to check this one out. It's touching, it's funny, it'll keep you guessing. Those of you who think Season 9 sucks haven't given it a fair chance.
As the hapless farmers resided in a jail cell, they soon realized they were really in a mess. Seems Manly also kept the convention tickets and their train tickets in his wallet. Cue muted trumpets; Back in Walnut Grove, Edwards couldn't shake his suspicions about Hale, and now even Reverend Alden began to share his paranoia. Yeah, Hale was acting strange alright: a nice, quiet, friendly man. Don't you just hate them? Seeing him talk to Laura and Sarah, Edwards and Alden must have thought the young preacher was trying to pick'em up. But as it turns out, Hale was sent by the diocese to present an award to Reverend Alden for his years of dedicated services. An award in the form of a house...the one he'd been fixing up. Laura and Sarah were made to keep it secret; So while Almanzo and John miss the convention due to lack of tickets and find themselves broke and stranded in San Fran, Mr. Edwards continues to spy on Reverend Hale. But then, Laura stopped by, and she and Hale went inside together...oh deary dear. It gets worse: as Hale reads her Ralph Waldo Emerson's poetry, Edwards overhears and takes it the wrong way. Next day, it was Sarah Carter coming over; Meanwhile, the two schmucks took to walking home along the train tracks, with only two apples between them. Eventually, they hitch a ride on an eastbound train...in a cattle car of all things. So while they fantasize about a king-sized steak dinner, Edwards spies on Hale again, being all cordial-like with Sarah. Finally, the big doofus runs at Hale, shouts an impromptu war cry and belts him. That's when Sarah laid out the whole thing, and boy did Edwards feel like a big bearded jackass in a flannel shirt. So, Alden is given his award and his new house, everybody applauds, Edwards is forgived, and Sarah and Laura wish their husbands could be here to see this. Despair not, dear ladies, for John and Almanzo will make it home....eventually. Maybe in the next episode. Th-th-th-th-That's all, folks!
Great episode, great plot with a twist, and of course, very funny. Victor French was wonderful, as always, so were Stan Ivar and Dean Butler as our hapless heroes in what pre-dates today's road-trip buddy comedies, and of course David Huffman as Rev. Hale, so convincing and you always wonder about him; The subplot about John and Almanzo and their adventures was priceless. Seeing them get into one jam after another. The great thing about Little House is that when it wants to be funny, not only are they funny, but they do it with dignity. They don't sink to any low levels for a cheap laugh. This episode is a fine display of such traits. Little House fans, I urge you to check this one out. It's touching, it's funny, it'll keep you guessing. Those of you who think Season 9 sucks haven't given it a fair chance.
