Alden's Dilemma

I just love Isiah Edwards! He has so much of a fun character!

This episode starts with Isiah giving John and Almanzo sound advise. While they are getting onto the stage to go to San Francisco, a young preacher is getting off. This is the topic of our two stories:

1. Almanzo and John run into all sorts of trouble. It really starts when Almanzo helps a little old lady across the street. They end up chasing her down, Almanzo loses his wallet, and they both end up in the slammer! Their reason for coming never happens and they are broke as they ride back. It's really quite funny!

2. Isiah convinces Reverend Alden that the new preacher is there to take over his job. For some strange reason, Reverend Alden believes him. Then when he asks Laura and Sarah to help him with a surprise for the Reverend, Isiah gets the notion in his head that they are both having a love affair with him. The mere idea is so stupid - it's funny!

The Reverend plot line is weak, very weak.

The big city plot line has potential but is trite and predictable, missing its one chance when the little old lady gag is cut short.

Mr. Edward's salvages the Reverend/Walnut Grove plot line by simply being himself - he saves A LOT of the last season since there are barely any original character's left! Reverend Olden can't hold a plot line so thankfully Victor French/Mr. Edward's can! Nells Olson, who can, only makes one appearance that a stand in could play.

YOU WONT MISS A THING IF YOU SKIP THIS ONE. This show is so important to me that I'm only advising that you skip this episode - and many others this season - to preserve the integrity of Little House, Walnut Grove, and THE INGALLS! (Who aren't there anymore! Ugh!)

...which do not hang very well together.

1.A young minister comes to Walnut Grove for he (and his superiors) thinks that Rd Alden deserves an award for his devotion (bearing Harriet for so many years was quite a feat ).He wants to restore an old house to give it to his old colleague.He gets good help from Laura and Mrs Carter.But Mr Edwards thinks that the handsome minister got the two women under his spell.

2.Almanzo and Mister Carter take the train to Chicago where they have to sleep in a Japanese hotel.After a ponderous beginning with chopsticks,oriental music,bath ,the story hits its stride with the meeting with the poor old lady...who will be their downfall.

Almost Olesonless and the Carters are pale copies of Pa and Ma Ingalls.

To many story lines going on at once, disconnected themes throughout...