What would Walnut Grove do without their trusty Doc Baker? Sure it's tough being the town doctor, dealing with all sorts of patients, including Mrs. Oleson, or Hypochondriac Harriet, but it's the feeling he gets when he knows he can be of service to those in need, and let nothing jeopardize those moments of bliss. However one fateful day, something would occur that would jar the good doctor's perception of his ability to heal and might very well have him hang up his stethoscope for good! It all started in what would have been a routine visit to the Novack farm. Beth Novack was pregnant with her third child, having lost the first two. Her husband Stanley was up fixing the roof when he suddenly lost his balance and toppled off. Except for a slight daze, Stanley seemed to be just fine. His concern was for his expectant missus, whom Doc Baker examined. Everything seemed to be fine. However that night, Stanley unexpectedly collapsed. A frightened Beth ran to the Ingallses' place and Charles ran for Doc Baker. It seemed Stanley was hemorrhaging internally and sadly, there wasn't time to do anything because he went pretty quickly. Unable to face Beth and tell her of her new status as a widow, Doc Baker left while Charles and Caroline broke it to her easy.
It seems this Novack tragedy gave Doc Baker the push he needed to retire from medicine and do what he always wanted: live on a farm and raise corn. He seemed to make it sound like he was tired of being paid in fruits and vegetables, but we all know the real reason: he's lost faith in his abilities. So once the new doctor arrived, a stuck-up city boy by the name of Dr. Asa T. Logan, Hiram Baker packed up, tore down his sign and left town, after having to give Beth Novack the brush off. Well, as folks soon found out, Doc Logan was a cold man without compassion, but at least he managed to cure Harriet of her hypochondria with his own special (90 proof) elixir, leading an intoxicated Harriet to sing praises of the new doctor and curse the old one, and if you thought drunken Nels was hilarious, get a load of a plastered Harriet! Anyway, speaking of the former Doc Baker, was the farm life really for him? While struggling to plow his cornfields, Mary and Carrie drop by. After helping Baker get the hang of the horses, Mary tells him of a pain Carrie has, but unfortunately the youngest Ingalls opened her mouth, thus spoiling the ruse. The point is they wanted him back, but no soap. Hiram Baker was perfectly content on his new farm, and with any luck, he'll have his crop planted by the end of the decade; Old Jed Haney lumbered up to Doc Logan, looking for some more pills to cure his sciatica. Not only did Logan blow him off, but he refused to accept the rooster Jed offered as payment. Doc Baker used to accept them, but not Doc Logan, who coldly walked away. What a douche. So as Mary was looking in on Widow Novack, she suddenly went into labor...Widow Novack, not Mary. Quickly she went for Doc Logan, only to find the inhospitable bastard had closed up. Luckily Charles and Caroline rushed to Beth's side, but it wasn't enough. She needed Doc Baker and cried out for him frantically. So whether he liked it or not, Farmer Baker was gonna have to play doctor today. Well after a grueling labor, Stanley Novack Jr. was born, in perfect health. Confidence restored, Baker decreed he would come back and be the town doc again. Deciding that farming was for the birds, he told that Doc Logan where to stick it and reclaimed what was rightfully his. Welcome back, Doc Baker!
A swell character building episode for Doc Hiram Baker, played to perfection by Kevin Hagen, who was really an underrated actor, and who I hear was treated like crap by the network execs, but his performance still shined. We see how in this harrowing drama that the death of a patient had broken his spirits, but helping give life to a new patient helped restore it. Plus it always seems that when a replacement, whether it be for Miss Beadle or Doc Baker, is always some mean, joyless creep who only cares for himself. I think the same thing happened when Reverend Alden got a replacement in some episode I can't remember. I guess it really shows who is cut out for what job, and who isn't; also great here were Burr DeBenning as a doctor who makes House look like Mother Teresa, very convincing. Michael Pataki had an enjoyable cameo as Stanley Novack, and Collin Paxton brought all the right emotion into Widow Beth Novack. Melissa Sue Anderson got to take center stage due to Melissa Gilbert's noticeable absence, so I'm sure she was glad she got to do more. My verdict: To Run and Hide comes recommended.
It seems this Novack tragedy gave Doc Baker the push he needed to retire from medicine and do what he always wanted: live on a farm and raise corn. He seemed to make it sound like he was tired of being paid in fruits and vegetables, but we all know the real reason: he's lost faith in his abilities. So once the new doctor arrived, a stuck-up city boy by the name of Dr. Asa T. Logan, Hiram Baker packed up, tore down his sign and left town, after having to give Beth Novack the brush off. Well, as folks soon found out, Doc Logan was a cold man without compassion, but at least he managed to cure Harriet of her hypochondria with his own special (90 proof) elixir, leading an intoxicated Harriet to sing praises of the new doctor and curse the old one, and if you thought drunken Nels was hilarious, get a load of a plastered Harriet! Anyway, speaking of the former Doc Baker, was the farm life really for him? While struggling to plow his cornfields, Mary and Carrie drop by. After helping Baker get the hang of the horses, Mary tells him of a pain Carrie has, but unfortunately the youngest Ingalls opened her mouth, thus spoiling the ruse. The point is they wanted him back, but no soap. Hiram Baker was perfectly content on his new farm, and with any luck, he'll have his crop planted by the end of the decade; Old Jed Haney lumbered up to Doc Logan, looking for some more pills to cure his sciatica. Not only did Logan blow him off, but he refused to accept the rooster Jed offered as payment. Doc Baker used to accept them, but not Doc Logan, who coldly walked away. What a douche. So as Mary was looking in on Widow Novack, she suddenly went into labor...Widow Novack, not Mary. Quickly she went for Doc Logan, only to find the inhospitable bastard had closed up. Luckily Charles and Caroline rushed to Beth's side, but it wasn't enough. She needed Doc Baker and cried out for him frantically. So whether he liked it or not, Farmer Baker was gonna have to play doctor today. Well after a grueling labor, Stanley Novack Jr. was born, in perfect health. Confidence restored, Baker decreed he would come back and be the town doc again. Deciding that farming was for the birds, he told that Doc Logan where to stick it and reclaimed what was rightfully his. Welcome back, Doc Baker!
A swell character building episode for Doc Hiram Baker, played to perfection by Kevin Hagen, who was really an underrated actor, and who I hear was treated like crap by the network execs, but his performance still shined. We see how in this harrowing drama that the death of a patient had broken his spirits, but helping give life to a new patient helped restore it. Plus it always seems that when a replacement, whether it be for Miss Beadle or Doc Baker, is always some mean, joyless creep who only cares for himself. I think the same thing happened when Reverend Alden got a replacement in some episode I can't remember. I guess it really shows who is cut out for what job, and who isn't; also great here were Burr DeBenning as a doctor who makes House look like Mother Teresa, very convincing. Michael Pataki had an enjoyable cameo as Stanley Novack, and Collin Paxton brought all the right emotion into Widow Beth Novack. Melissa Sue Anderson got to take center stage due to Melissa Gilbert's noticeable absence, so I'm sure she was glad she got to do more. My verdict: To Run and Hide comes recommended.
