An old friend has returned to Walnut Grove. Don't remember her? That's because she hasn't been on the show before. Anyway, Miss Ruthy Leland arrives on horseback, much to Harriet's disdain, and together with Laura, they catch up on all the good times. But returning to the present, it seems Ruthy has a fair amount of work that needs doing and her handyman Dewey was showing age, so she was in need of a young boy. Laura refers her to the Carters. This couldn't have come at a more opportune time, because Sarah's birthday was a mere 3 weeks away and Jeb had already picked out his present to her and will pay for it with the money he earned cleaning chicken coops. Jason wanted to buy something himself, but he was a little too little to have a job of his own. John sent him to dig for worms to keep him out of the way. So while Jason went digging, Ruthy rode up to him and asked how to get to the Carter residence. Not knowing what residence meant, Jason introduces himself and instantly jumps at the job offer Ruthy put out on the table. She had her doubts about a little boy doing heavy work, but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. And so the next day after school, Jason ran off to his new job at Ruthy's summer home. Dewey was a little peeved about his new co-worker, but found he had no choice in the matter.
Jason worked hard scrubbing, lifting, dusting, and when he got home, the little tad was all tuckered out. But when they weren't working, Ruthy taught Jason how to fly fish. A friendship really starts to blossom, but leave it to Sarah Carter to see a problem with this. Things were fine for the time being, until her birthday rolled around and Jason gives her a broach that Ruthy had "sold" him. Well, instead of being appreciative that her son gave that much of a damn about his mother to break his back for three weeks to earn money to buy her such a gift, Sarah told him it was far too expensive and for him to take it back. Jason was too afraid of breaking Ruthy's heart, so Sarah took it back and it was apparent to Miss Leland that Sarah was jealous of their relationship. Sarah was quick to deny, and not only that, tried to wedge herself between them and sway Jason to stay home. But you see, Ruthy had a deep, dark secret she hadn't let anybody in on...she was dying. It was the cancer. She'd been diagnosed by specialists and knew that this would be her last summer (hence the episode title). Ruthy's days were spent in misery, not so much over her condition, but because she missed Jason. Old Dewey decided to intervene and talk to Sarah, who stood by her selfish decision, but she recanted when she learned Ruthy was dying. She takes her helping of humble pie and apologizes to Ruthy for her behavior. She forgives, so they're friends now. Well, Jason gets to spend one more heartfelt moment with Ruthy before she leaves Walnut Grove. She passed away a few months later, but Jason never forgot her or the fun times they had.
Good episode, but pretty sad. The ending is tragic, but then this is Little House on the Prairie and somebody always seems to die. Well, props to David Friedman who turned in a terrific performance as Jason Carter, and Vera Miles was fantastic as Ruthy, and Eric Christmas as Dewey, great as always; one of the few Carter based episodes and I have to say, the family is pretty bland to say the least. Maybe if they had more attention story and character-wise? This episode was a good attempt, however. You really get to see the selfish and insecure side of Sarah Carter, thinking Ruthy was posing a threat to her mother-son relationship. It was really frustrating to see her carry on like that and forbid Jason from seeing Ruthy, and you have to wonder why John didn't intervene? Is he a man or what? Well, even though Mr. Edwards (my favorite character) isn't in it, "The Last Summer" is still a pretty good episode. Very dramatic and sad, but worthy nonetheless. If you like the Carters, check it out. If you don't, skip it. Simple as that.
Jason worked hard scrubbing, lifting, dusting, and when he got home, the little tad was all tuckered out. But when they weren't working, Ruthy taught Jason how to fly fish. A friendship really starts to blossom, but leave it to Sarah Carter to see a problem with this. Things were fine for the time being, until her birthday rolled around and Jason gives her a broach that Ruthy had "sold" him. Well, instead of being appreciative that her son gave that much of a damn about his mother to break his back for three weeks to earn money to buy her such a gift, Sarah told him it was far too expensive and for him to take it back. Jason was too afraid of breaking Ruthy's heart, so Sarah took it back and it was apparent to Miss Leland that Sarah was jealous of their relationship. Sarah was quick to deny, and not only that, tried to wedge herself between them and sway Jason to stay home. But you see, Ruthy had a deep, dark secret she hadn't let anybody in on...she was dying. It was the cancer. She'd been diagnosed by specialists and knew that this would be her last summer (hence the episode title). Ruthy's days were spent in misery, not so much over her condition, but because she missed Jason. Old Dewey decided to intervene and talk to Sarah, who stood by her selfish decision, but she recanted when she learned Ruthy was dying. She takes her helping of humble pie and apologizes to Ruthy for her behavior. She forgives, so they're friends now. Well, Jason gets to spend one more heartfelt moment with Ruthy before she leaves Walnut Grove. She passed away a few months later, but Jason never forgot her or the fun times they had.
Good episode, but pretty sad. The ending is tragic, but then this is Little House on the Prairie and somebody always seems to die. Well, props to David Friedman who turned in a terrific performance as Jason Carter, and Vera Miles was fantastic as Ruthy, and Eric Christmas as Dewey, great as always; one of the few Carter based episodes and I have to say, the family is pretty bland to say the least. Maybe if they had more attention story and character-wise? This episode was a good attempt, however. You really get to see the selfish and insecure side of Sarah Carter, thinking Ruthy was posing a threat to her mother-son relationship. It was really frustrating to see her carry on like that and forbid Jason from seeing Ruthy, and you have to wonder why John didn't intervene? Is he a man or what? Well, even though Mr. Edwards (my favorite character) isn't in it, "The Last Summer" is still a pretty good episode. Very dramatic and sad, but worthy nonetheless. If you like the Carters, check it out. If you don't, skip it. Simple as that.
