Deciding there was nothing left for them in Walnut Grove, Jonathan Garvey and his son Andrew sold off their farm, packed up and left for Sleepy Eye, where he set up his own freight company. Right away, Jonathan meets Pete Rawlins, a private security man for hire. It seems Sheriff Pike, while a well meaning man, was somewhat useless, so Pete was the current lawman. He was willing to provide Jonathan with security, but he respectfully declined. Now, you might be wondering where the town of Sleepy Eye got its name: because the folks stay up all night actin' like idiots, such as a young crowd playing 'keep away' with a juicer's bottle. Thank goodness Jonathan arrived to break up their good time. Afterwards, Adam and Mary join the Garveys for a welcoming supper. They talk of break-ins and rowdy gangs in the area, which gives us a hint of foreshadowing. It seems the Kendalls are still grieving over the loss of their baby, and Andrew still grieves over the loss of his mother. He blames Adam and Mary's baby for the death of his mother...no, it was Albert's fault, you little twit. But then, Adam and Mary DID abandon their baby in the fire, so I'd say it's a three-way tie. But that's another story; that night at Garvey's Freight, there was trouble a-brewin'. That obnoxious street gang from earlier break into their run-down barn and make off with several boxes of goods. An infuriated Jonathan tried to give chase, but they were long gone. So he went to Sheriff Pike to report it, and realized just how useless the old curmudgeon really was. Jonathan respectfully thanks him for nothing and leaves.
After chastising the banker for carrying a gun, Jonathan comes across Pete Rawling again. Maybe now he would reconsider his offer? Nope. That night, the same gang infiltrated Garvey's. This time by one of them having himself delivered, in order to bypass Jonathan's new steel lock. Once again, Jonathan reports it to the sheriff, but he won't budge. Why? Well, Sheriff Pike says it's because he has no deputy to back him up. So, for the good of the community as well as his new, fledgling business, Jonathan Garvey offers to help and is thusly deputized. Now a lawman, Jonathan went to confront the father of Tim Mahoney, the gang's leader. Naturally the old man was oblivious to his son's crime wave. However a search of the attic turns up a box of stolen goods. Tim pleads innocence and his father Arthur practically begged for the charges to be dropped. Even though Jonathan wanted that boy to go to trial for what he done, he decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and drop the charges. The next day Charles comes for a pick-up and he and Jonathan discuss the recent robberies. It seems the sheriff thinks there might be a middle man, somebody to sneak the goods outta town. Say... I wonder if it's that Rawlins fella? He's awful suspicious. Nah, couldn't be. Anyway, when delivering Nels his year supply of telephone pads, Charles is shown Harriet's new silver tea set, which sounded remarkably like some silverware that was stolen in Sleepy Eye. Charles investigates where Harriet bought the goods and the man said he acquired them from Mr. Spokes. He described him and Charles thought he sounded vaguely familiar. Rawlins! I knew it! So the kingpin is rightfully put behind bars. Tim and the gang were furious and wanted revenge. That night they beat up Andrew and in response, Jonathan, Pike and Arthur Mahoney seek out the gang at the saloon where they were getting drunk and acting like idiots and Arthur immediately disowned his son for good. Feeling he had nothing more to lose, Tim decided next he would rob the bank. His gang wanted nothing to do with it and left, so Tim went at it alone. Well, as expected, he was shot and killed. Good riddance. That kid had problems and at long last was out of his pain. As for Jonathan, the town council wanted to fire Sheriff Pike and give him the job. Jonathan refused and demanded Pike be reinstated. It's just as well. They make a pretty good team.
Nice episode for Jonathan Garvey. Merlin Olsen carried the show nicely, and it was great to once again see him set out to round up the rapscallions. Also good were John Dukakis as Tim Mahoney, a young man with a serious anger issue and an all around unlikeable person. Harry Carey Jr. really did Sheriff Pike justice. I'm glad they decided to build on the sheriff's character rather than just toss him aside and make Jonathan the new sheriff. Med Flory was good as Pete Rawlins and he was a suspicious character right off the bat. So if you like Jonathan Garvey and you like these crime solving, whodunit episodes, then "A New Beginning" is for you. Don't let the title fool you, this has nothing to do with Little House: A New Beginning, or Season 9.
After chastising the banker for carrying a gun, Jonathan comes across Pete Rawling again. Maybe now he would reconsider his offer? Nope. That night, the same gang infiltrated Garvey's. This time by one of them having himself delivered, in order to bypass Jonathan's new steel lock. Once again, Jonathan reports it to the sheriff, but he won't budge. Why? Well, Sheriff Pike says it's because he has no deputy to back him up. So, for the good of the community as well as his new, fledgling business, Jonathan Garvey offers to help and is thusly deputized. Now a lawman, Jonathan went to confront the father of Tim Mahoney, the gang's leader. Naturally the old man was oblivious to his son's crime wave. However a search of the attic turns up a box of stolen goods. Tim pleads innocence and his father Arthur practically begged for the charges to be dropped. Even though Jonathan wanted that boy to go to trial for what he done, he decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and drop the charges. The next day Charles comes for a pick-up and he and Jonathan discuss the recent robberies. It seems the sheriff thinks there might be a middle man, somebody to sneak the goods outta town. Say... I wonder if it's that Rawlins fella? He's awful suspicious. Nah, couldn't be. Anyway, when delivering Nels his year supply of telephone pads, Charles is shown Harriet's new silver tea set, which sounded remarkably like some silverware that was stolen in Sleepy Eye. Charles investigates where Harriet bought the goods and the man said he acquired them from Mr. Spokes. He described him and Charles thought he sounded vaguely familiar. Rawlins! I knew it! So the kingpin is rightfully put behind bars. Tim and the gang were furious and wanted revenge. That night they beat up Andrew and in response, Jonathan, Pike and Arthur Mahoney seek out the gang at the saloon where they were getting drunk and acting like idiots and Arthur immediately disowned his son for good. Feeling he had nothing more to lose, Tim decided next he would rob the bank. His gang wanted nothing to do with it and left, so Tim went at it alone. Well, as expected, he was shot and killed. Good riddance. That kid had problems and at long last was out of his pain. As for Jonathan, the town council wanted to fire Sheriff Pike and give him the job. Jonathan refused and demanded Pike be reinstated. It's just as well. They make a pretty good team.
Nice episode for Jonathan Garvey. Merlin Olsen carried the show nicely, and it was great to once again see him set out to round up the rapscallions. Also good were John Dukakis as Tim Mahoney, a young man with a serious anger issue and an all around unlikeable person. Harry Carey Jr. really did Sheriff Pike justice. I'm glad they decided to build on the sheriff's character rather than just toss him aside and make Jonathan the new sheriff. Med Flory was good as Pete Rawlins and he was a suspicious character right off the bat. So if you like Jonathan Garvey and you like these crime solving, whodunit episodes, then "A New Beginning" is for you. Don't let the title fool you, this has nothing to do with Little House: A New Beginning, or Season 9.