This two parter makes up a couple of good episodes but Eliza Jane makes me so uncomfortable. In earlier episodes with her lies and delusions regarding her relationship with "Harv" to her getting mad at Laura in Arizona for keeping her from her crush but in this two parter, her creepy behavior really shines through! She is by far the worst reoccurring B character of the series. This 2 part story is otherwise pretty good.
Little House on the Prairie (TV Series)
Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow: Part One (1982)
User Reviews
Review this title8 Reviews
For better or worse
mitchrmp23 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Shows are so good at showing the better times in marriage, but when the rough times come, this really shows how much a couple loves each other. Caroline said it best in the second part when she said, "Why is all this happening to THEM?" I think that's one of the most profound statements in the whole two part episode. The answer is simple - we don't know why.
It started with a simple cold, but because his immune system was weak, the mild case of diphtheria Almanzo had turned into a bad case. He would have been fine if a hail storm hadn't come, causing Almanzo to panic and run outside (by the way, I hate the part when Almanzo shoves a pregnant Laura out of the way...). Almanzo's faith is destroyed - not just because of his being paralyzed, but also because they were up to their necks in debt. Almanzo has given up.
Let's add to the fact that Eliza Jane came back to "help," which made matters ten times worse. This is the final episode we see her in, thank God! She is way too mother-hennish and needy. What she did to Almanzo is awful! I felt so bad for Laura. I can't give too much of the episode away because it's good and full of new things happening. It's probably my favorite episode.
It started with a simple cold, but because his immune system was weak, the mild case of diphtheria Almanzo had turned into a bad case. He would have been fine if a hail storm hadn't come, causing Almanzo to panic and run outside (by the way, I hate the part when Almanzo shoves a pregnant Laura out of the way...). Almanzo's faith is destroyed - not just because of his being paralyzed, but also because they were up to their necks in debt. Almanzo has given up.
Let's add to the fact that Eliza Jane came back to "help," which made matters ten times worse. This is the final episode we see her in, thank God! She is way too mother-hennish and needy. What she did to Almanzo is awful! I felt so bad for Laura. I can't give too much of the episode away because it's good and full of new things happening. It's probably my favorite episode.
The Wilders are Put to the Ultimate Test...
ExplorerDS678915 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Life couldn't be better for Almanzo and Laura Wilder..well, it could be, money-wise. But for the most part they had all they needed in terms of love and companionship, plus a baby on the way. Laura had even decided on a name for it, should it be a girl: Rose, named after the flower of the same name brought to her by Cassandra. With that on their minds, there were also money woes, even the Ingallses were short (when were they not?) with two more mouths to feed and not enough work at the mill, Charles was considering a job on the railroad, though he may not take it because of reported accidents. To help curve their own debts, Almanzo had to get started on the field, so he plowed from dusk til dawn, rain or shine, and there was some heavy rain on this day. As a result, Almanzo came down with a cold. Did that stop him? Heck no, he still tended to that plowing. Say, I wonder whatever happened to that orchard Laura nearly killed herself trying to preserve in Stone Soup? Probably died off and dried up. Anyway, as he went about his task, Almanzo suddenly began to feel very weak. With what little strength he had left, he wandered over to the Ingalls farm before finally collapsing. Thankfully Albert and James saw him and helped him home. Almanzo had a burning fever and difficulty in breathing. Quick, Albert, get Doc Baker!
Diagnosis: diphtheria. Highly contagious. Today it's very rare and almost completely eradicated, but in 1885, such was not the case. Doc Baker showed particular concern for Laura and her baby and recommended someone else look after Almanzo, but no, she insisted. So, let me get this straight: Laura wouldn't mind jeopardizing the life of her unborn baby AGAIN just to do some work that someone else could easily do? What is this stuck-up bitch's problem? People like her shouldn't be allowed to have children. They're irresponsible and pigheaded. Charles should have stayed with Almanzo, he'd keep him in line. But anyway, despite Doc Baker's warnings, Almanzo got out of bed during a hail storm because the oaf was worried about his crops. Little Laura struggled to keep him inside, but it did no good...again, Charles should have stayed. He wouldn't have let Manly set one foot out of bed. So the Wilder patriarch ran outside and collapsed...well, he's really done it now. He's had a stroke, paralyzed from the waist down. Things soon went from bad to worse, because with Almanzo laid up and an uncertainty if he will ever recover, the crop was gone and the Wilders were about to lose their house. Manly had mortgaged it for $500. Charles attempts to reason with Anderson at the bank, but his hands were tied. He would have to come up with $500 to pay off the debt, and it meant putting a lean on his property. Despite Anderson's warnings, Charles went ahead. Remember that job at the railroad? Looks like Charles is taking it afterall. Meanwhile the Wilders get some help, well, help in the loosest sense, in the form of Eliza Jane. She barges in and demands she be the one to care for Almanzo. Or rather, she insisted on babying him. After so much time, Almanzo quit trying to recover and allowed himself to be confined to a bed or a chair. He even got a wheelchair he didn't really need. While that was going on, Laura finally went into labor and little Rose Wilder was born, surprisingly healthy. You would think this would make Almanzo come out of his funk, right? Nope. No change. As a result, Eliza Jane decided to go behind their backs and find Manly a sit-down job in Minneapolis. Her next step would be to sell the house and have Laura and Almanzo move in with her. Seems she's told everybody in Walnut Grove, except Laura, who was dead set against it. Almanzo managed to convince her however, seeing as how he's a cripple now. You know, why doesn't somebody just put Almanzo out of his misery? Why let him suffer in his own self-pity and make everyone around him miserable? Just point a 12-gauge at him, that'll get his ass out of that chair. Oh, and Eliza Jane's voice makes me want to smack the hell out of her. So, will the Wilders pack up and move? Will Almanzo ever snap out of it? Find out in Part II.
Good episode, but frustrating as hell. Eliza Jane is so annoying and Almanzo is a pathetic lump. You just get to feel so bad for Laura. You also have to wonder why she doesn't just step up, throw that nerdy old spinster out of THEIR house and force Almanzo to man up? What happened to the Laura we used to know? I guess Don Balluck didn't consider this when he wrote the script? Anyway, stay tuned and let's see how they'll get themselves out of this crappy situation.
Diagnosis: diphtheria. Highly contagious. Today it's very rare and almost completely eradicated, but in 1885, such was not the case. Doc Baker showed particular concern for Laura and her baby and recommended someone else look after Almanzo, but no, she insisted. So, let me get this straight: Laura wouldn't mind jeopardizing the life of her unborn baby AGAIN just to do some work that someone else could easily do? What is this stuck-up bitch's problem? People like her shouldn't be allowed to have children. They're irresponsible and pigheaded. Charles should have stayed with Almanzo, he'd keep him in line. But anyway, despite Doc Baker's warnings, Almanzo got out of bed during a hail storm because the oaf was worried about his crops. Little Laura struggled to keep him inside, but it did no good...again, Charles should have stayed. He wouldn't have let Manly set one foot out of bed. So the Wilder patriarch ran outside and collapsed...well, he's really done it now. He's had a stroke, paralyzed from the waist down. Things soon went from bad to worse, because with Almanzo laid up and an uncertainty if he will ever recover, the crop was gone and the Wilders were about to lose their house. Manly had mortgaged it for $500. Charles attempts to reason with Anderson at the bank, but his hands were tied. He would have to come up with $500 to pay off the debt, and it meant putting a lean on his property. Despite Anderson's warnings, Charles went ahead. Remember that job at the railroad? Looks like Charles is taking it afterall. Meanwhile the Wilders get some help, well, help in the loosest sense, in the form of Eliza Jane. She barges in and demands she be the one to care for Almanzo. Or rather, she insisted on babying him. After so much time, Almanzo quit trying to recover and allowed himself to be confined to a bed or a chair. He even got a wheelchair he didn't really need. While that was going on, Laura finally went into labor and little Rose Wilder was born, surprisingly healthy. You would think this would make Almanzo come out of his funk, right? Nope. No change. As a result, Eliza Jane decided to go behind their backs and find Manly a sit-down job in Minneapolis. Her next step would be to sell the house and have Laura and Almanzo move in with her. Seems she's told everybody in Walnut Grove, except Laura, who was dead set against it. Almanzo managed to convince her however, seeing as how he's a cripple now. You know, why doesn't somebody just put Almanzo out of his misery? Why let him suffer in his own self-pity and make everyone around him miserable? Just point a 12-gauge at him, that'll get his ass out of that chair. Oh, and Eliza Jane's voice makes me want to smack the hell out of her. So, will the Wilders pack up and move? Will Almanzo ever snap out of it? Find out in Part II.
Good episode, but frustrating as hell. Eliza Jane is so annoying and Almanzo is a pathetic lump. You just get to feel so bad for Laura. You also have to wonder why she doesn't just step up, throw that nerdy old spinster out of THEIR house and force Almanzo to man up? What happened to the Laura we used to know? I guess Don Balluck didn't consider this when he wrote the script? Anyway, stay tuned and let's see how they'll get themselves out of this crappy situation.
Life is About How Hard You Can Get Hit and Keep Moving Forward!
spasek28 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Sylvester Stallone's quote from "Rocky Balboa" is so appropriate for this episode. Life, indeed, is about how much you can take; how often you get knocked down, and find a way to keep going. Perseverance is a prime trait for anyone to have.
Taken from history, Almanzo is stricken with diphtheria which left him partially paralyzed. While he was able to nearly fully recover, he had to use a cane for the rest of his life. Laura Ingalls Wilder was also stricken, but she'd made a full recovery. Also, the Wilders were, indeed, in severe debt, and Rose Wilder records that the family suffered seven years of crop failures.
Almanzo, laid up with his disability, sees no reason to try and get better. He's convinced that he never will. Self-pity may be one of the most damaging things to a person, who digs his/her own deep, dark hole, and has no idea how to get out of it. Perhaps that is why it was a favorite theme for Michael Landon.
Laura is about to give birth to Rose when Eliza Jane shows up "to help." Of course, Laura is trying her best to get Almanzo to start doing for himself. Eliza Jane is the opposite. She prefers to coddle and baby him. Of course, she has ulterior motives. The irony about people who meddle is that they are never doing it for the other person. Of course, they believe that they are, but they really aren't. People who meddle are only thinking of themselves. And at the end of the next episode, Eliza Jane confesses her motivations.
Laura gives birth to Rose, and Almanzo can only be happy that it's a girl instead of a boy. In a self-deprecating comment, he says, "I'm glad it's a girl. Father can't very well play ball with a son when he's a cripple."
This may be, in my opinion, Melissa Gilbert's best acting performance of the series. She plays Laura as someone trying to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. Given that Laura is in the late stages of pregnancy, it makes you want to do exactly what Ma wants to do to Almanzo: shake him!
Just when things appear to be at their darkest, things take another turn for the worst in the following episode.
Taken from history, Almanzo is stricken with diphtheria which left him partially paralyzed. While he was able to nearly fully recover, he had to use a cane for the rest of his life. Laura Ingalls Wilder was also stricken, but she'd made a full recovery. Also, the Wilders were, indeed, in severe debt, and Rose Wilder records that the family suffered seven years of crop failures.
Almanzo, laid up with his disability, sees no reason to try and get better. He's convinced that he never will. Self-pity may be one of the most damaging things to a person, who digs his/her own deep, dark hole, and has no idea how to get out of it. Perhaps that is why it was a favorite theme for Michael Landon.
Laura is about to give birth to Rose when Eliza Jane shows up "to help." Of course, Laura is trying her best to get Almanzo to start doing for himself. Eliza Jane is the opposite. She prefers to coddle and baby him. Of course, she has ulterior motives. The irony about people who meddle is that they are never doing it for the other person. Of course, they believe that they are, but they really aren't. People who meddle are only thinking of themselves. And at the end of the next episode, Eliza Jane confesses her motivations.
Laura gives birth to Rose, and Almanzo can only be happy that it's a girl instead of a boy. In a self-deprecating comment, he says, "I'm glad it's a girl. Father can't very well play ball with a son when he's a cripple."
This may be, in my opinion, Melissa Gilbert's best acting performance of the series. She plays Laura as someone trying to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. Given that Laura is in the late stages of pregnancy, it makes you want to do exactly what Ma wants to do to Almanzo: shake him!
Just when things appear to be at their darkest, things take another turn for the worst in the following episode.
Laura's stubbornness is something that surpasses the normal, being constant is a merit, being stubborn is a defect.
drfernandogil22 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I summarize both parts in a comment.
It is a good example of life, what happens to Almanzo (falling into a depressive pit and resigning prematurely) is something common and requires a lot of patience to reverse. Generally, the change in attitude can be motivated by a chance event, such as reflecting on the geranium that survives the tornado.
Eliza Jean's attitude is regrettable, contravening medical advice and interfering in Laura and Almanzo's private matters. I thought she married Mort after the literature teacher episode. But it seems that it was not like that and that his life has plenty of time to enter the lives of others.
Laura's stubbornness is something that surpasses the normal, being constant is a merit, being stubborn is a defect.
It is a good example of life, what happens to Almanzo (falling into a depressive pit and resigning prematurely) is something common and requires a lot of patience to reverse. Generally, the change in attitude can be motivated by a chance event, such as reflecting on the geranium that survives the tornado.
Eliza Jean's attitude is regrettable, contravening medical advice and interfering in Laura and Almanzo's private matters. I thought she married Mort after the literature teacher episode. But it seems that it was not like that and that his life has plenty of time to enter the lives of others.
Laura's stubbornness is something that surpasses the normal, being constant is a merit, being stubborn is a defect.
This episode shows human frailties
jannki-0133210 May 2023
I liked this 2 part episode for a few things. Things go wrong. Almanso used his illness as a mental incapacity and just gives up. That didn't makes sense. I liked that Laura told him that and that she wouldn't let him just give up. And she was frustrated. Eliza Jane also played a role and she wanted to feel wanted. She's all alone. And I can understand her part but know she's wrong and she learns it. It's a story for all of us as we can identify with it. I think something else more powerful than that stupid plant would have been a better story. I think Charles should have given him a harsh " enough already " but still liked it.
A Lesson In Perserverence
sapphiresky7 January 2024
This moving, tear inducing two part feature walks the veiwer through the hills and valleys that life often presents to otherwise good, hard-working, honest people. A realistic depiction of how life can be normal one day and challenged by unforeseen circumstances the next. How we get through the bad times is all in how we confront our challenges, as the Wilders must learn to do throughout the episode.
In part one of Days of Sunshine Days of Shadow, Laura and Almanzo face difficult times in their marriage after he catches diptheria and is on bedrest. During this time, he can't tend the fields and therefore worries about their wheat crop and their future. Laura is pregnant and can't teach at the school. They fall into the terrifying prospect of financial hardship. He pushes himself too hard one evening during a hailstorm after his recovery and ends up suffering from a debilitating stroke that puts him down indefinitely.
Left partially incapacitated, he loses the will to try to walk again. His sister, Eliza Jane Wilder, travels from Minneonapolis to help care for him. She does more harm than good, enabling him to rely on other people to eat, get around, make decisions, etc. He stops thinking for himself, giving his sister the reins to his life as he sits around in a wheelchair wallowing in self pity. Laura sees what's happening and tries to encourage her husband to be more self sufficient to no avail.
In part two of this episode, the days of shadow continue for the Wilders. A damaging twister, future uncertainty, disagreements, and Almanzo's continued downward spiral into defeat persist. Baby Rose is born, offering a small ray of sunshine amidst the darkness. Laura begins to lose hope herself following a devastating loss that threatens everything she and Manly worked so hard for.
After self reflection, Almanzo begins to think for himself again. With the love, kindness and support of Charles, he finds a newfound sense of perserverence and faith inside himself, and together the two men set out on rebuilding his life with Laura.
While everyone does a fine job,with this dark-themed material, the acting by the two main leads is phenomenal. At the end of the episode, the sunshine peeks through again reminding us that while life isn't always easy, the shadows don't last forever. The message I get from the content is that we shouldn't give up even when things seem hopeless. Keep plowing ahead, and in the end, the good outweighs the bad.
Enjoy! 😊
In part one of Days of Sunshine Days of Shadow, Laura and Almanzo face difficult times in their marriage after he catches diptheria and is on bedrest. During this time, he can't tend the fields and therefore worries about their wheat crop and their future. Laura is pregnant and can't teach at the school. They fall into the terrifying prospect of financial hardship. He pushes himself too hard one evening during a hailstorm after his recovery and ends up suffering from a debilitating stroke that puts him down indefinitely.
Left partially incapacitated, he loses the will to try to walk again. His sister, Eliza Jane Wilder, travels from Minneonapolis to help care for him. She does more harm than good, enabling him to rely on other people to eat, get around, make decisions, etc. He stops thinking for himself, giving his sister the reins to his life as he sits around in a wheelchair wallowing in self pity. Laura sees what's happening and tries to encourage her husband to be more self sufficient to no avail.
In part two of this episode, the days of shadow continue for the Wilders. A damaging twister, future uncertainty, disagreements, and Almanzo's continued downward spiral into defeat persist. Baby Rose is born, offering a small ray of sunshine amidst the darkness. Laura begins to lose hope herself following a devastating loss that threatens everything she and Manly worked so hard for.
After self reflection, Almanzo begins to think for himself again. With the love, kindness and support of Charles, he finds a newfound sense of perserverence and faith inside himself, and together the two men set out on rebuilding his life with Laura.
While everyone does a fine job,with this dark-themed material, the acting by the two main leads is phenomenal. At the end of the episode, the sunshine peeks through again reminding us that while life isn't always easy, the shadows don't last forever. The message I get from the content is that we shouldn't give up even when things seem hopeless. Keep plowing ahead, and in the end, the good outweighs the bad.
Enjoy! 😊
"It's a family affair"
awarlock-1770317 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Very good 2 part episode. It starts out with Charles and Zalzamo returning after Zal purchased 5 new horses. He bought them on credit, which Charles wasn't too happy about. Anyway, after showing them to Beth and being lectured by her about getting too far in debt, he put them in the corral. They break to Zalzamo plowing the field. The second time they did that, it was in the pouring rain. At dinner that night, Beth scolded him for doing so and getting sick. He assured her he just had a cold and he was going to be alright. Then Zal apologized. They then show him plowing the field again, but he looked much worse. After resting his head on the plow, Zalzamo went back to the house and then collapsed. Dr Baker checked him out and told Laura that hi had diphtheria, a very contagious disease. Much to everyone's disagreement, a pregnant Laura insisted that she was going to take care of him. That night Zalzamo was awakened by hail on the roof. He screamed "the crop" and ran out the house, withe LAura chasing him. He then collapsed shortly after leaving the house. The next scene, Dr Baker was there at bed side. Zalzamo woke up with a stroke. The rest of the episode focuses on Zalzamo giving up on everything and unwilling to take matters in getting back his mobility Eliza came back to Walnut grove to baby Zalzamo, to Laura's dismay. She wanted him to be strong and fight through it. Eliza wants Zalzamo and family to move to Minneapolis and get a desk job. Eliza and Laura fight it out over this. During all this, Laura gives birth to a healthy baby girl. She named her "Rose".
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