Michael Landon returns to the series to make his final appearance as Charles Ingalls (other than the separate TV movie specials which later concluded the story) and is billed as "special guest star". Interestingly, although the episode is about her (adopted) son's problems with petty crime and drug addiction, Caroline (Karen Grassle) does not appear at all, even in the scenes in Burr Oak and is only referred to.
Claude Earl Jones who plays Mr Gibson also played Jack Prescott who dies of a heart attack in a previous episode.
Laura is seen in bed reading an issue of Young Ladies Journal. This was an actual illustrated periodical of the time, published from 1864 to 1920.