I won't give a long review as others have gone into detail. Laura clearly fell in love with Jasper as a pet and was heartbroken when she thought her father killed him with the pitchfork. But near the end as Charles was about to shoot the dog Jack, Jasper appears just in the nick of time! But after Charles hurries up the ladder to the loft to tell Laura the good news that Jack is all right (and she also) after all, it kind of puzzles me that Jasper's not getting any petting! I guess I must be "missing something" as the saying goes. I still love the episode though.
9 Reviews
always tell the truth.
RedRainbowUnicorn2320 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
A very good episode! Mary accidentally let Laura brake her Glass doll.On the way back from the mercantile Mary finds a baby Racoon.She brings it for Laura to make up for the doll she just broke. Mr in galls does not like it but later gives in and says she can keep him. But their a twist in this story and a very valuable lesson that even though sometime you promise not to tell a secret under different circumstances you probably have to bc it might maybe cost someone their life This episode is good and you really learn something here The show is known for his animals and Jasper is the second "animal star" on the show. With Melissa gilbert,Micheal Landon and Melissa sue Anderson.
Now continue to episode 11
Now continue to episode 11
Raccoon: The New Dog.
ExplorerDS678922 March 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Today's Little House opens on a tragedy. A fatality I should say, so brace yourselves. It all started when Mary wanted to play catch with Laura, who was busy playing with her doll. I realize these interests are a bit out of character for these two, but this is only the tenth episode and Joseph Bonaduce hadn't written for the show before. Anyway, when Mary threw a heater, Laura tried to catch it, but fell over the log she'd been sitting on and in the process, her doll got busted. She was heartbroken. Worse yet, Charles was unable to glue the head back together, and Mary, feeling responsible for the incident, tried to procure a new doll head, but found they sell at a whopping $1.20! On the way home, Jack had a wild animal cornered. Mary discovered it to be a baby raccoon, so she took it home and gave it to Laura, who fell in love with the little critter. She named it Jasper. Apparently it was okay with Caroline for her to keep it, but here comes Charles, let's see how he'll react. Out of the question! He ordered Laura to take Jasper outside, play with him a bit and turn him loose. The girls protested, but Charles said no 'cause he's meany-head. Naturally, he changed his mind after being softened up by Caroline, with the condition that Jasper sleeps in the barn. The next day, the girls walk the raccoon, leash and everything, to school where they have him perform tricks for the class. En route, Jack tried to attack Jasper. The girls dismissed it as jealousy, but a dog knows. There's something about that critter he didn't like. That Sunday, while the Ingallses were at church, Jasper managed to get into the house and trash it. That was the last straw. Charles gathered up the raccoon and turned him loose in the wild, but what the Ingalls patriarch didn't know was that raccoons can find their way home again.
The girls should have listened to Jack, because the next day when Laura attempted to feed her little pet, he bit her and then bit Jack as he ran away. That night, the little bastard came back and terrorized the chickens. A shirtless Charles went out to have a look see and he was attacked by Jasper in the barn, but he grabbed a pitchfork and speared the little vermin to death. It turns out, the raccoon was rabid (who'd a thought?) and so Jack had to be tied up. Mary tearfully lets it slip that Laura was bit too, but she didn't say anything because of a promise. Is that more important than your sister's life, Mary? Well, according to Doc Baker, they simply had to watch Jack and Laura for any possible signs and, if they did develop rabies, there was no treatment. So for the next several days, Laura and Jack were watched like a hawk, Mary kept figuratively beating herself up over the raccoon thing, it was all very tense and emotional. As the days progressed, things got no better, but not particularly worse, until one night Jack was jumping and barking furiously. He's probably just feeling restless, but Charles was somehow sure it was the rabies and so he grabbed his rifle and headed for the barn. Despite Jack not even frothing at the mouth, Charles cocked his piece and aimed, about to make a HUGE mistake, when suddenly...Jasper appeared! A ghost! Nope, turns out the rabid raccoon wasn't Jasper after all. Oh Jasper, you adorable little deus ex machina. So Jack was okay, Laura was okay, and they all put this horrible mess behind them.
What can I say about The Raccoon? It was very well done, well acted, well written, just an all around good episode. The animal handling was done well, you have to wonder what was going through that raccoon's head during all that. Performances: Melissa Gilbert was very good, as always, just look at her in the beginning where she's holding her broken doll, crying. If that doesn't tug at your heart, you haven't one. Melissa Sue Anderson was also fantastic, as were Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Jack the dog and Jasper the raccoon. Not easy for animals to act, but they pulled it off. I like how the episode starts out fun and quirky, but immediately turns dark and dramatic. Not an easy feat, but they pulled it off flawlessly. It's amazing how one small incident set off this chain reaction that nearly cost two lives. Going in, we knew Laura wasn't going to die, but Jack...? Don't worry, Jack won't die until Season 4. So Little House fans, check out The Raccoon, and remember, don't try this at home.
The girls should have listened to Jack, because the next day when Laura attempted to feed her little pet, he bit her and then bit Jack as he ran away. That night, the little bastard came back and terrorized the chickens. A shirtless Charles went out to have a look see and he was attacked by Jasper in the barn, but he grabbed a pitchfork and speared the little vermin to death. It turns out, the raccoon was rabid (who'd a thought?) and so Jack had to be tied up. Mary tearfully lets it slip that Laura was bit too, but she didn't say anything because of a promise. Is that more important than your sister's life, Mary? Well, according to Doc Baker, they simply had to watch Jack and Laura for any possible signs and, if they did develop rabies, there was no treatment. So for the next several days, Laura and Jack were watched like a hawk, Mary kept figuratively beating herself up over the raccoon thing, it was all very tense and emotional. As the days progressed, things got no better, but not particularly worse, until one night Jack was jumping and barking furiously. He's probably just feeling restless, but Charles was somehow sure it was the rabies and so he grabbed his rifle and headed for the barn. Despite Jack not even frothing at the mouth, Charles cocked his piece and aimed, about to make a HUGE mistake, when suddenly...Jasper appeared! A ghost! Nope, turns out the rabid raccoon wasn't Jasper after all. Oh Jasper, you adorable little deus ex machina. So Jack was okay, Laura was okay, and they all put this horrible mess behind them.
What can I say about The Raccoon? It was very well done, well acted, well written, just an all around good episode. The animal handling was done well, you have to wonder what was going through that raccoon's head during all that. Performances: Melissa Gilbert was very good, as always, just look at her in the beginning where she's holding her broken doll, crying. If that doesn't tug at your heart, you haven't one. Melissa Sue Anderson was also fantastic, as were Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Jack the dog and Jasper the raccoon. Not easy for animals to act, but they pulled it off. I like how the episode starts out fun and quirky, but immediately turns dark and dramatic. Not an easy feat, but they pulled it off flawlessly. It's amazing how one small incident set off this chain reaction that nearly cost two lives. Going in, we knew Laura wasn't going to die, but Jack...? Don't worry, Jack won't die until Season 4. So Little House fans, check out The Raccoon, and remember, don't try this at home.
Befriending Wild Animals
mitchrmp11 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Mary brings home a baby raccoon after she accidentally causes her doll to literally lose her head. Charles doesn't want to keep the raccoon at first, but everyone else gangs up on him. Everything goes great for awhile. Laura's even allowed to take Jasper to school for show and tell. But then one Sunday, Jasper destroys the house. That's it as far as Charles was concerned. He takes Jasper to the woods and drops him off.
Jasper is back by the time he returns. His heart melts at the sight of Laura and her friend, so he agrees to build a cage. Unfortunately, he can't keep the worst from happening. Before all's said and done, Laura and Jack are bitten and Jasper is soon killed.
But that's only half of the story. The hardest part of the entire episode is when Mary has to tell her father that Jasper bit Laura. Her tearful confession makes you want to cry!
Though this episode has nothing on Ol' Yeller, we still can't help but to watch and wait to see what happens to Jack. The mood is tense and quiet, as if they are just waiting for something to happen.
Of course, another tearful scene happens at the very end. AT first you're like "Oh man!" Then you're like "Oh wow!" Yep, it's your typical Ol' Yeller without the sad ending...
I don't notice anything bad in this episode. The way Charles throws down the rifle does make me cringe a bit. I wondered what would have happened had the rifle gone off?
By the way, I think the whole Jack acting wild thing was really overrated. Jack barks when anything comes into his past. I don't know why Charles automatically jumped to the conclusion that Jack had rabies...
Jasper is back by the time he returns. His heart melts at the sight of Laura and her friend, so he agrees to build a cage. Unfortunately, he can't keep the worst from happening. Before all's said and done, Laura and Jack are bitten and Jasper is soon killed.
But that's only half of the story. The hardest part of the entire episode is when Mary has to tell her father that Jasper bit Laura. Her tearful confession makes you want to cry!
Though this episode has nothing on Ol' Yeller, we still can't help but to watch and wait to see what happens to Jack. The mood is tense and quiet, as if they are just waiting for something to happen.
Of course, another tearful scene happens at the very end. AT first you're like "Oh man!" Then you're like "Oh wow!" Yep, it's your typical Ol' Yeller without the sad ending...
I don't notice anything bad in this episode. The way Charles throws down the rifle does make me cringe a bit. I wondered what would have happened had the rifle gone off?
By the way, I think the whole Jack acting wild thing was really overrated. Jack barks when anything comes into his past. I don't know why Charles automatically jumped to the conclusion that Jack had rabies...
Tearjerker
brueggemanntami17 August 2020
I remember watching this one as a child. Not long after I had both read the book and seen Ol Yeller. Both were wonderful, but they left a whole lot of the story out of the movie. Either way, I sobbed through this episode. Re-watching it as an adult during this pandemic struck way too many emotions here. I haven't been able to see my parents for months because of this crisis. They are in their late 70s and remaining isolated due to health issues. The prairie people faced rabies, we are facing this new virus. It really struck a nerve
Amazing!!!
muratmihcioglu25 October 2023
This is the first time I'm giving a straight 10 for any title on IMDb. May be on an impulse right after watching the highly tense and rewarding ending, but who cares! This episode is a marvel in depicting love and compassion to animals, parenthood, responsibility, faith and many other key concepts.
It started off like a variation of The Yearling, which I thought would end as such. Then with a twist, it got to become even more laden with tragedy than The Yearling. That chain of bites changed the whole scene. I went on Google to check when the first rabies vaccine was made, saw it was 1885, and got that there wouldn't be a historically accurate surprise ending as this first season is set in the 1870s.
And those final ten minutes... Michael Landon's acting was top notch. All those facial expressions, the build up to what he will have to do... And then...
I didn't see that coming. Really, really well-crafted story from top to bottom. And not sticking with a certain narrow pattern feeds it perfectly.
Kudos to everyone involved. This must have been one of the episodes that made Little House on the Praire the legend it is, what a very young me watched in awe as I sat with my late mom and dad on an evening that escaped my memory.
It started off like a variation of The Yearling, which I thought would end as such. Then with a twist, it got to become even more laden with tragedy than The Yearling. That chain of bites changed the whole scene. I went on Google to check when the first rabies vaccine was made, saw it was 1885, and got that there wouldn't be a historically accurate surprise ending as this first season is set in the 1870s.
And those final ten minutes... Michael Landon's acting was top notch. All those facial expressions, the build up to what he will have to do... And then...
I didn't see that coming. Really, really well-crafted story from top to bottom. And not sticking with a certain narrow pattern feeds it perfectly.
Kudos to everyone involved. This must have been one of the episodes that made Little House on the Praire the legend it is, what a very young me watched in awe as I sat with my late mom and dad on an evening that escaped my memory.
So Frustrating!!!
Quinn407723 December 2021
This episode makes me want to just slap every member of the Ingalls family! Just slap some sense into them. (Except for Carrie - which is saying something.) I cannot remember a time in my life, for 40 years now, in which I did not know A) to stay away from raccoons and B) if something is making the family dog freak out, then everyone should probably pay attention and C) if Pa Ingalls (or my father, specifically, I don't know about other people's) tells you to do something for your own good, then you should probably listen :-) All of that whining, crying, sister guilt, and little kid naïveté just grates on my last nerve.
Well Acted, But Story Isn't Realistic Of 1800s Life
darthdelirious4 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I love LHOTP, and only a few eps are what I would consider filler material or sub par. Up until the later seasons anyway, where they jump the shark and go so far away from the real source material written by LIW. The adopted kids never existed. Only Carrie, Mary, Laura and Grace with Charles Jr surviving only around 9 months of life sadly. Anyway, as for this episode it is well aced, and Melissa Gilbert is fantastic as always. Such an incredibly talented child actor she was. My issue with the episode and my reason for the low rating are the absurdity of the content. First of all, Laura owns and is playing with a doll which she doesn't do per prior canon, secondly Mary is now interested in boys games. Both go against established character profiles. Third, nobody in those days living on the prairie in the days of Cholera, Black Plague, Rabies and Typhus would ever allow a wild animal like a raccoon near their small children who could easily be bitten, or killed by a fatal illness. Even back then people knew that wild animals were a source of potential severe or fatal illness. It's also just common sense. No way a survivalist Pa would have let that happen. I'm glad "Jasper" was like so many of the school kids of walnut grove. One show, goodbye. Never seen or heard about again. Although the show would have benefited from a stable roster of school children instead of the almost silly amount of one show wonders we get like Johnny Johnson, Jason, Olga etc. In concluding I'm surprised nobody in prior reviews ever pointed this out so I felt it was needed as 1800s families simply wouldn't have allowed the whims of a small child to endanger the entire family by bringing wild live animals into the home as depicted in this episode. Game for meals was one thing, they were processed and stored for meat. Game also wasn't ever a known vector for Typhus or the Plague.
Animal cruelty? Where?
talahxr8 February 2021
I will always hate this episode for the way in which they let that stupid raccoon attack and alter the hens. I guess animal cruelty in TV wasn't a subject back then, but it's unbearable.
That and the fact that Laura might be dumb as it gets, but then again she's a kid. It's the parents who are the real dumb ones for enabling her with her brain-dead whims.
That and the fact that Laura might be dumb as it gets, but then again she's a kid. It's the parents who are the real dumb ones for enabling her with her brain-dead whims.
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