The Return of Mr. Edwards (5 Nov. 1979)

When Isaiah Edwards loses his will to live after a crippling logging accident, a letter to Walnut Grove from his worried wife, Grace, brings Charles and Laura back to the big woods to try to help their old friend.

Director:

Michael Landon

Writers:

Laura Ingalls Wilder (based upon the series of books "Little House" by), Arthur Heinemann

Stars:

Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Michael Landon	...	Charles Ingalls
Karen Grassle	...	Caroline Ingalls
Melissa Gilbert	...	Laura Ingalls
Melissa Sue Anderson	...	Mary Ingalls Kendall
Lindsay Greenbush	...	Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush)
Sidney Greenbush	...	Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bonnie Bartlett	...	Grace Snider Edwards
Linwood Boomer	...	Adam Kendall
Victor French	...	Isaiah Edwards
Rod McGaughy	...	Townsman
Eddie Quillan	...	Shorty
Kyle Richards	...	Alicia Sanderson Edwards
Vince Tortell	...	Thomas

Storyline

When Mr. Edwards severely injures his legs saving Alicia from a potentially deadly accident, he becomes very morose about his condition. Grace calls in Charles and Laura to help her husband snap out of his deep depression. However, it is a task that is easier said than done because Mr. Edwards is determined to kill himself.

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Plot Keywords:

character name in episode title | suicide attempt | attempted suicide by gunshot

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance | Western

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 November 1979 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ed Friendly Productions, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

While the electric chair was introduced in New York in 1890, information given in previous episodes shows that this takes place in at least 1891. In season 5's There's No Place Like Home: Part 2, Lars Hanson told Doc Baker he had settled there and founded Walnut Grove 50 years ago. A sign shown at the end says Lars founded the town in 1840, which would put The Return of Mr. Edwards in 1891 or later.

User Reviews

Life is Worth Living When You're Living For Someone.

I'm sure many of you are wondering whatever became of Mr. Edwards after he left Walnut Grove after Season 3. Well, he moved to Carter Country in 1877, which was located in Georgia and took up a duty as the sheriff. Unfortunately the town went bust and shut down in 1879 and so Edwards moved back to the Big Woods in Kansas. On this fine day, Edwards was supervising the deforestation of this neck of the woods when his daughter Alicia came to bring him lunch. Due to work, Edwards had to break his promise to eat with her, but made up for it by reminding her of the big trip they were taking to Walnut Grove once the job was done. On her way home, Alicia stopped to gather monster pine cones, and unfortunately, she was standing in the path of a falling tree. Edwards raced to her, yelling to get out of the way. Alicia made it, but sadly, Edwards was not so lucky. The falling tree didn't kill him, thankfully, although he now wishes it did. Determined to perk up his spirits, Grace wrote Charles, who decided to pay his old friend a visit. Laura came along, per Caroline's insistence. When Edwards found out about this, he felt it was a low blow. He didn't want anybody seeing him in this state, but Grace was desperate. The once jolly, jocular Isaiah Edwards was now a sullen bump on a log. He had a bum leg and was as stubborn as hell. Charles and Laura really have their work cut out for them.

He managed to blow off Charles, but seeing little Half Pint brought somewhat of a smile to Edwards' face. They share fond memories, like their very first Christmas together, Edwards braving a terrible storm to play Santa's helper. I'd say Mr. Edwards was dangerously close to recovery at that moment, if only he could stop giving Grace the cold shoulder. But we've got two acts still to go. To everyone's surprise, Isaiah joins them for supper, dressed in a regular getup, and he seemed his normal self again. Could it be? He even agreed to take Charles hunting. Laura insisted on tagging along, and Charles said it was okay, because let's face it, he can never say no to her...unless it involves her having a baby or a husband. After leaving Laura to tend to the cooking, Charles and Edwards head out. Call me paranoid, but I think Edwards had a motive to this whole hunting trip, especially when he sent Charles on up ahead to find the deer. Guess what? He did. Now that he was left alone with his shotgun, Isaiah Edwards prepared to take the cowards' way out to end his pain, and he felt suicide was painless. But thank heavens Charles stops him in time. Edwards took off soon after, and Charles went off to search, hoping to find his friend and stop him before he does something stupid. He found him, but it was no use. Edwards was bent on ending his life, so Charles just decided to give up on him and leave him for dead. He didn't want to, but was not given much choice. It was in the hands of the Almight now... and then, it hit him. Literally. Edwards heard a gunshot, followed by his name being called. He found Charles wounded and was asked to go find Laura. Edwards doubted his strength, but found he had no other option. So with his bum leg, Edwards hobbled and stumbled through the woods, but with all of his might, he found Laura, and also found out he'd been played for a fool: Charles was only joshing, but this made Edwards take a long, hard look at himself and he realized that life is worth living when you're living for someone else, and so, after being happily reunited with his family, Isaiah Edwards was a new man and had a new lease on life.

Great episode. Nice to see Mr. Edwards again after a two year absence. Like I said earlier, he'd gone to Carter Country which only lasted two years. He'll return again in Season 8, and become a regular again in Season 9. Isaiah Edwards is a great character and Victor French is and always was fantastic in his portrayal. Also great were Michael Landon as Charles, Edwards' best friend and the two of them made quite a team, and Melissa Gilbert as Laura, who helped Edwards start on the road to recovery. It just shows what a difference having friends at your side can make. If you like Mr. Edwards, this is an episode you should see, though it will be tough to see him in misery, his recovery is one for the ages. Wonderfully acted episode that welcomes back a fantastic character.