Little House on the Prairie (TV Series) The Award (1974) User Reviews

Parents Make Mistakes Too

[spasek · 8/10 · 22 July 2019]

I remember watching this episode when it first aired on television. I thought, "What a wonderful punishment to NOT have to take a test!" Obviously, that was when I was a kid.

It didn't take me long to realize that Ma made a mistake in not allowing Mary to take the exam as a punishment, especially when there were so many other more suitable punishments available to her (extra chores, being confined to the loft for a couple of weeks, etc.). As a teacher myself, I don't know of any parent who would use an examination as a form of punishment. It's counterproductive.

My only other issue with this episode is Reverend Alden's interference. I've always found it ironic that people think that a priest/minister has all of Life's answers. They don't. They especially don't when they lack the necessary life experience as well. Alden's advice isn't "bad" all around, but he could have just as easily asked Caroline to think of another suitable punishment.

What bothers me about this situation is that the punishment is an "all or nothing" proposition without any alternatives being considered, as if Ma's decision was carved in stone.

Still, this is a good episode that helps us to realize that parents make mistakes too. And the climactic scene between Ma and Mary is a good one in which Ma has the strength to admit this fact to her daughter.

It's also amazing to watch Mary carry the burden of rectifying the situation on her own shoulders...from the test to the book. Ma realizes the strength and maturity in Mary to be able to do this.

All in all, it's still a good episode that I've watched countless times.

Mother Knows Best??

[ExplorerDS6789 · 7/10 · 22 March 2012]

Mary and Laura were late to school one morning, on account of bidding farewell to Charles and Edwards as they hit the road (it's obviously stand-ins for the scene, making it very apparent that Michael Landon and Victor French were not available for some reason) and because Laura thought she saw something along the way. Anyway, Miss Beadle announces a scholarship award to the student who scores the highest grade on the examination. This year, in lieu of some cheap ribbon, the winner would receive a golden dictionary. Mary was hoping it would be her, as she practically drooled over the dictionary for the rest of class. In preparation for the exam, Mary was allowed to borrow a book on history from Miss Beadle, which she studied all day and all night, but when Laura complained about the lamp light, she had to stop. Unable to sleep, Mary took the book and a lantern out to the barn where she could continue cramming. After a while, she got tuckered out and dozed off, knocking over the lantern. It fell on a patch of straw, which instantly caught fire. Bet you saw this coming. Fortunately Mary woke up in time and went screaming into the house. Caroline sent the girls to the creek while she evacuated the livestock. After the blaze was extinguished, the usually calm, collected and sensible Caroline lost control and screamed at Mary, and even forbid her from taking that examination. Talk about having your dreams go up in smoke.

While Mary rakes out the burnt straw, she comes across Miss Beadle's history book, now a charred mess, Caroline went to see Reverend Alden, feeling bad for losing her temper with Mary and forbidding her from taking the exam she had her heart set on, which she thought about recanting, but the reverend suggested she stand firm, lest her daughters grow to expect her to take back punishments and let them get away with murder. The next day, Mary and Laura go into Oleson's to purchase licorice when Mary spots a help wanted sign. Nels was looking for some help around the store, and Mary took the job, with Caroline's permission. See, Oleson's had a history book for $1.00 (books like that today run for at least $70 or $80 at universities, folks back then should be considered lucky) and the job paid $.50 a week, so while being hounded by Nellie and pestered by a nosy Laura, Mary struggled to get as much studying in as possible. She didn't tell Miss Beadle about not being allowed to take the exam, because the teacher had said she had a good chance of winning. So now, Mary was in a bind. School, working at Oleson's and chores during the day and doing her homework late at night. Three weeks later, she earned enough to buy the book, which she gave to Miss Beadle who never caught on that it was a replacement, and she had fifty cents left over. Naturally she didn't tell her ma what she spent the dollar on, so she assumed Nels short-changed her and felt it was her business to confront him on it. He told her about the book. Caroline's pride was further crushed when she just barged into the schoolhouse and saw Mary taking the exam, despite telling her no. Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, Mary didn't win the dictionary. Son of a... however, it's revealed she didn't take the exam after all. So what was she doing then? Just sitting there scribbling? Oh, wait, that's right, she was writing Miss Beadle a self-deprecating confession about how she couldn't take the exam because her mommy wouldn't let her. Anyway, Caroline finds Mary, they share tearful apologies and all was well again. Yep, all that work for nothing. What a load!

So the moral of our story is, you should always obey your parents even when they're wrong, just because they created you, they automatically know what is best? That's a load! Now Caroline had every right to be mad at Mary for torching the barn, but to jeopardize such a prestigious opportunity to advance her education because of her pride and authority as a parent was wrong! Have to say, I missed Charles in this episode. I would have liked to hear what he would have had to say. I guess Landon was sick. Karen Grassle and Melissa Sue Anderson were very good and displayed emotion perfectly, but this storyline was seriously flawed. I don't blame Alden's advice, he was only trying to help and he doesn't have children so how could he understand? Caroline should have been a better judge of what was right and what wasn't. But anyway, if you like the show, you like Mary and Caroline, go ahead and see this one, but prepare to be disappointed. All Mary's work was for nothing. Caroline, you owe your daughter a dictionary. Pronto.

A subtle dig at the patriarchy?

[cap-22128 · 7/10 · 24 February 2023]

I wonder if this was one of the episodes that had implications below the surface. I noticed that the input of the minister was the cause of the problem between Caroline and Mary, and yet there was no apology from him at the end, nor any criticism of him from anyone else. I wonder if the show had to toe the line and not be critical of church authorities? Charles was sometimes shown making mistakes in dealing with the children and owning up to them, but I wonder if the minister ever was shown in a critical light in the show. In any case, female intuition and bonding was the hero in this episode.

What's a Mother To Do?

[mitchrmp · 10/10 · 12 February 2013]

When Pa's around, he gets to be the bad guy. When somebody does one of the children does something wrong, she can expect that her husband will straighten out the situation. But what happens when the one who has the firm hand goes out of town? Ma gets to be the bad guy...er...girl!

In this episode, always studious Mary wants to take a difficult examination. But when she tries to study, Laura makes her town out the light. So, even though her parents have made a rule that she cannot light lamps, she does so anyhow and takes it out to the barn. After falling asleep, she knocks the lamp over and catches the barn on fire. Caroline, of course, is very upset. She yells at Mary and tells her she cannot take the examination. Then out of guilt, she goes to Reverend Alden who tells her that she cannot go back on her decision.

My issue with this episode comes at the very end. Caroline does what parents are told NOT to do. She apologizes for giving Mary the punishment. The fact that Mary could have died deserved that punishment by itself! I think it was wrong for Caroline to apologize for doing the right thing!

over studying.

[RedRainbowUnicorn23 · 10/10 · 25 August 2015]

Oh another gem for season 1.There is a special examination coming up and the people who gets the highest score will get a nex dictionary.(Just so lovely to see that the people back then thought that ,that was the most awsomest thing they have ever seen as to today we all have dictionaries or you can look a words meaning up on your phone or on the net)Mary starts to prepare bc she has her eye on the prize.one night she went out to the barn lit a lantern fall asleep and accidentally knocked it over.She woke up and the bran was on fire in fear called her mom and Mrs Ingalls put it out. Horribly frightened Caroline yells at Mary and tells her for punishment she can't take that test another she must go tell that to miss beadle the next morning.Which included this funny quote Laura:"ma she can't tell mis beadle tomorrow", Caroline:"well why not?", Laura:"bc tomorrow is Saturday", Caroline:"oh well Monday then". I always loved that. This episode is good and the way Mary tried to make up for what she did wrong that was great, some sense form a very well brought up daughter!!! Go and check this one out once again another one of the perfect ones for the series!!! Now continue to episode 13