Little House on the Prairie (TV Series) Annabelle (1979) User Reviews

Nobody's perfect

[mitchrmp · 7/10 · 17 August 2013]

There were several interesting stories in this episode.

First, we have the Laura-Almonzo storyline. She really wants to invite Almanzo to the circus that's coming to town, but she's afraid he'll reject her. Opportunity arises when Albert gives her an extra ticket in a way that annoys her. But when she finally gets the nerve to ask Almanzo, he turns her down because he already has a date. Laura is upset when she learns it's the stuck-up Christie Norton, whom she's making a dress for! As time goes by, Laura decides Christie needs a lesson and the events that "unravel" show just how jealous Laura really is of anybody trying to steal her man!

Another plot is Laura and Albert playing parts in the Circus. They meet a nice man, London, and wonder about a quiet, sad clown. What they learn is a bit surprising.

But the main plot is Nels discovering that the sister he never talks about is in town. She is the fat lady. Her being fat is what put a wedge between the brother and sister several years ago. Harriet is very, very rude in this episode. She makes fun of the fat lady from the very beginning and doesn't stop even after learning that she's related to her! Even though she was put in her place at the end, it's still dis-heartening to see how she acts - as if her world was coming to an end!

The personality of Mrs. Oleson seems to only worsen over time. I can't help but to really hate her...

Loves

[hvhlw5 · 10/10 · 11 July 2019]

Probably my favorite episode! Oh the feels! Love you Nels and Annabelle!

Nels Gets a Real Blast From the Past!

[ExplorerDS6789 · 4/10 · 18 June 2011]

The circus has come to town, and right away a few of Walnut Grove's children were put to work by Mr. London, proprietor, president and CEO of London's Circus. It had everything: clowns, elephants, and an incredibly fat woman who looked very familiar to Nels. I mean, she should. She's his sister! Bet you didn't know Nels Oleson even had a sister. Well, he does. Annabelle's her name. The circus' token fat lady...at least she doesn't have a beard. They must have a sour past, because Nels couldn't even bring himself to say hello, and for that matter Annabelle was too shy to approach him. Maybe this will help: Charles went to see London about possibly sending a circus performer to the blind school to talk with the kids, and London selected Annabelle. At the same time, Nels was heading out to the school for a delivery. Their paths are bound to cross. Sure enough, the siblings were briefly reunited before Nels scampered away with his tail between his legs. Something is definitely wrong in Olesonville, and for once it isn't Harriet; While that was going on, Albert asked Laura if she wanted his circus ticket and it seemed like a fair trade, until he had to mention Almanzo. The two get into a small spat, but make up for it afterwards. It seems Laura was uncomfortable with Albert mentioning Almanzo in front of Charles, knowing how much he hates him. But unlike Nels and his estranged sister, they patched up their differences right then and there. Unfortunately it was all for nothing because Almanzo already had a date to the circus: some stuck-up bitch named Christy Norton.

Laura confesses her unhappiness to a mute clown with a sad face, who actually turns out to be London. He suggests Laura become a clown to help lift her spirits. An eavesdropping Albert is even allowed to join, so it looks like the Ingalls kids will be clowns...actually they already were, only now they can wear make-up as a formality; when Harriet and the kids make one fat joke too many about Annabelle, Nels finally owns up and admits that she is his sister and storms out. Taking a walk through the circus grounds, he meets up with Annabelle and the two finally manage to talk out their differences. It seems Nels wasn't a very good brother and had shown publicly his humiliation over the size of his sister. He reflected on what an unfeeling cur he used to be, while Annabelle would just as soon put all that behind her. She has a new family with the circus and a happy life. Well, glad that worked out. Let's check in with Laura. She had somehow been roped into hemming Christy's dress and delivered it to her five minutes late, which Miss Norton made a huge deal out of and only paid Laura 1/2 of what she was owed. Now you know what they say, don't get mad, get even. Laura refused the 1/2 payment and wished Christy a wonderful evening. Ooh, I wonder what she's got cooking. Now let's check back with Nels, he's still depressed. Regardless, he was chosen to be the ringmaster for the night. There were many splendid acts, and clowns Albert and Laura really put on a show. That latter getting sweet revenge on Christy, making her a real wet blanket. At the end of the night, Nels proudly proclaimed to the entire gathering that Annabelle was his sister and at long last they made amends.

I don't know about this one, I felt it was very mediocre. Not a lot of story and it wasn't that interesting of an episode. Okay, Nels has an overweight sister with the circus, they had a bad history, he's struggling with his feelings, as is Laura when it seems this Christy Norton dame is threatening her relationship with Almanzo. I think "mean" is a good term for this episode. Christy was flat out mean and unlikeable, Harriet was absolutely cruel towards Annabelle. I realize that's the point of the episode: realizing ignorance and cruelty, but after having to deal with it for 60 minutes, it gets pretty redundant; Richard Bull and Melissa Gilbert were very good in conveying all the emotion, even though Bull had very little to do besides harboring the feelings Nels has towards his sister and their relationship. Also good were Harriet Gibson as Annabelle, a character with little to no personality whatsoever. Billy Barty has a delightful cameo as Owen the midget, and we'll be seeing him again in Season 9's "Little Lou", another episode dealing about bigotry to someone with abnormal physical qualities. Ken Barry, the guy from Mama's Family, brought out a good man in London. So all in all, this one is worth seeing probably once, as it's none too memorable and it's just an unpleasant, depressing episode. I realize most Little House episodes have a depressing tone, but this one hardly lets up. If you like Little House, you like Nels Oleson and Laura Ingalls, this one might be a good one for you, if for only one viewing. Sorry, Del Reisman and Bill Claxton, this one didn't deliver. Better luck next time.

it is embarrassing to see the dirty way in which Laura tries to take away from Almanzo any young man who approaches her

[drfernandogil · 4/10 · 10 April 2024]

I didn't think it was a great chapter. That Nels felt ashamed when he was a child because of his sister's fatness is something that can be excused in a child. Now, as an adult, he seemed really sorry. Harriet's teasing about Ana's fatness gave more salt to Nels' old wound, and she apologized to her sister in a touching way.- On the other hand, it is embarrassing to see the dirty way in which Laura tries to take away from Almanzo any young man who approaches her, in this case mistreating Miss Norton for no other reason than her interest in Almanzo. Bad there.- We know what Laura is like, capricious and tenacious, and she will not accept that she is still a girl, much less if her brother Albert, in a contradictory attitude, first encourages Laura by giving her his circus ticket to invite Almanso and then recommending her Let him forget about him... What are we left with?

Fellini-style circus in... 1870s Midwest?

[muratmihcioglu · 2 December 2023]

Little House on the Prairie has proven to be quite flexible with regards to historical accuracy. Mistakes or intentional stretches of imagination sure add to the entertainment value of the show. That's why we don't think much of whether such a circus would travel to a small town like Walnut Grove.

Yeah we have seen one-man acts with a monkey and a crow before, traveling medicine men whatnot. But this time it's kinda huge, with all the works. When you think on it, kinda confusing because Walnut Grove seems to have a churchgoer population of one or two dozen people, few of them rich, and the economics of a crowded circus putting on a show there is... Never mind... The episode is about how Nils will embrace a family member who was ostracized for being... obese!

Okay... I can't say I listened to every single line, but I have this gut feeling there was lack of information as to how and why that sister got estranged. That story looks as strange as the circus itself. But again... This episode is set almost on the borders between real-life Walnut Grove and some dream sequence, so that's not an issue either.

It was smart of the writers to actively use the setting to push further the love story between Laura and Almanzo.

It's a strange episode that strangely works. Eat your heart out, Fellini!