"Little House on the Prairie" Times Are Changing: Part 2 (1982)

Director:

Maury Dexter

Writers:

Laura Ingalls Wilder (based upon the series of books "Little House" by) and
Michael Landon (writer)

TV Series:

"Little House on the Prairie" (1974)

Original Air Date:

4 October 1982 (Season 9, Episode 2)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Romance | Western

Plot:

Almanzo's brother, Royal, has a serious heart condition. He dies and leaves Jenny devastated. She tries to drown herself so she can go to heaven to be with her poppa. |

Plot Keywords:

House | Teacher | 19th Century | Author | Blindness

Cast

Melissa Gilbert	...	Laura Ingalls Wilder
Dean Butler	...	Almanzo James Wilder
Scottie MacGregor	...	Harriet Oleson (as Katherine MacGregor)
Richard Bull	...	Nels Oleson
Victor French	...	Isaiah Edwards
Kevin Hagen	...	Dr. Hiram Baker
Dabbs Greer	...	Reverend Robert Alden
Jonathan Gilbert	...	Willie Oleson
Allison Balson	...	Nancy Oleson
Stan Ivar	...	John Carter
Pamela Roylance	...	Sarah Reed Carter
Lindsay Kennedy	...	Jeb Carter
David Friedman	...	Jason Carter
Shannen Doherty	...	Jenny Wilder
Leslie Landon	...	Etta Plum
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nicholas Pryor	...	Royal Wilder #2
Jennifer Steffin	...	Rose Wilder (uncredited)
Michelle Steffin	...	Rose Wilder (uncredited)

Directed by
Maury Dexter

Writing credits
Laura Ingalls Wilder		(based upon the series of books "Little House" by)
Michael Landon		writer

Produced by
Marvin Coil	....	associate producer
Michael Landon	....	executive producer
Kent McCray	....	producer
Gary L. Wohlleben	....	associate producer

Original Music by
David Rose

Cinematography by
Ted Voigtlander		(director of photography) (as Ted Voigtländer)

Film Editing by
John Loeffler

Casting by
Susan McCray		(as Susan Sukman)

Art Direction by
Walter M. Jefferies

Set Decoration by
Donald E. Webb		(as Don Webb)

Makeup Department
Lillian Barb	....	hair stylist
Lynn F. Reynolds	....	makeup artist (as Lynn Reynolds)

Production Management
Miles Middough	....	production manager (as Miles S. Middough)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Buck Edwards	....	second assistant director
Reid Rummage	....	assistant director

Art Department
Glen R. Feldman	....	property master
Michael P. Hunter	....	assistant property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Anthony F. Brissinger	....	sound recordist
Vince Gutierrez	....	sound effects editor
M. Curtis Price	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Luke Tillman	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Farmer	....	gaffer
Ron Housiaux	....	key grip
Kenneth Hunter	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael R. Faeth	....	costumer: men
Linda Taylor	....	costumer: women

Editorial Department
Edward P. Ancona Jr.	....	color consultant (as Edward P. Ancona)
Kay Suffern	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Fred Prior	....	music editor

Other crew
Don Balluck	....	executive story consultant
Tim Engel	....	production controller
Blanche Hanalis	....	developed for television by
Duane Toler	....	script supervisor
Kevin King	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ande Lamb

Produced by
Winston Miller	....	producer (7 episodes 1974)

Makeup Department
Lynn F. Reynolds	....	makeup artist (7 episodes 1982) (as Lynn Reynolds)
Gladys Witten	....	hair stylist (8 episodes 1977 and 4 episodes 1981)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Buck Edwards	....	second assistant director (episode "Chicago (1981)" and multiple episodes 1982-1983)
Robert Enrietto	....	assistant director (7 episodes 1982-1983)
James B. Greer	....	second assistant director (6 episodes 1979-1980)
Ronald Martinez	....	assistant director (11 episodes 1982-1983) (as Ron Martinez)
Reid Rummage	....	assistant director (21 episodes in seasons 6, 8 and 9)

Sound Department
Donna Anderson	....	utility sound
Marty Church	....	foley mixer
Barry Thomas	....	sound recordist (13 episodes 1977) (as Barry D. Thomas)

Stunts
Bob Herron	....	stunts
Chuck Hicks	....	stunts
Whitey Hughes	....	stunts
Loren Janes	....	stunts
Gene LeBell	....	stunts
Jack Lilley	....	stunt coordinator
George Orrison	....	stunts
Neil Summers	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Cardarelli	....	key grip (1979-1980)
Ron Housiaux	....	key grip (1979-1983)
Kenji Takama	....	camera intern

Casting Department
Dottie O'Brien	....	extras casting
John O'Brien	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dallas D. Dornan	....	costumer: men (17 episodes 1982-1983) (as Dallas Dornan)

Music Department
John Massari	....	orchestrator (1980-1983)

Other crew
John T. Dugan	....	story consultant (9 episodes 1978)
Bill McCamey	....	on-set nurse
Michael Thomas Slifkin	....	kid's talent coach (1979-1981)
Shirley Ulmer	....	script supervisor
Erika Wernher	....	script supervisor (4 episodes 1983)

Production Companies

• Ed Friendly Productions
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1982) (USA) (TV)

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Ed Friendly Productions

Goofs:

Factual errors: This episode is set in/around 1887. The real Royal Wilder passed away in 1925.

Stand By Your Family!

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

We begin on the local children Willie, Nancy, Jason, Jenny, and the rest going swimming, but Jeb was reluctant. Why? He couldn't swim and was afraid to learn, but he didn't want it to get out. But because of Nancy's constant pestering, Jeb just had to try and prove her wrong. Well, his attempt at diving into the water from a tree failed, resulting in a broken arm. Jeb's first attempt at trying to impress the women. Not bad; Royal was feeling better so he decided to take Jenny on a picnic. He wanted Jenny to be happy in Walnut Grove, and needless to say, she was. Well another misguided forecast resulted in a downpour on the Wilders' picnic and as they dashed back to the house, Royal suddenly keeled over from a heart attack. They managed to get him back home where he and Jenny have one more tender moment, and then...Royal Wilder was gone, and Jenny was absolutely crushed. For days on end, she was distant. Didn't talk to anybody, or want to be around anybody. But one Sunday, she did agree to accompany Almanzo and Laura to church where, following the service, she has a talk with Reverend Alden. They discuss Heaven and the reverend assures Jenny that when her time comes, she would be reunited with her father, and her mother, and others loved ones long passed on. Sadly, she took his message the wrong way, for as soon as she got home, she refused an invite for a picnic and instead made out, of all things, a suicide note.

Before Jenny could carry out her misdeed, Jeb and Jason Carter drop by to show her one of Jeb's homing pigeons and gives it to her in hopes that she'll send an "air mail" his way. En route home, Jeb realizes he forgot to give Jenny the accompanying cylinder for the message, so he goes back to find the house empty. Fortunately he discovered her suicide note and ran off to the pond where he knew she might be. Sure enough, he got there just in time to see Jenny trudging out into the middle of the pond. A sudden rush came over the boy as he jumped into the water, swam out and rescued Jenny. Alright, Jeb! Naturally you'd think the little girl would be grateful for this boy risking his own life to save her, right? Nope, she actually wanted to die. But thankfully Laura finally stepped up and put Jenny in her place, letting her know who she hurt in all this, and it wasn't just herself. And so, from that day on, Jenny Wilder was good as new: she returned to school, and afterwords, she went swimming with Jeb and the others. Of course, Nancy doesn't resist the urge to tease Jeb about his fear of swimming, but he sure does prove her wrong, and even proves that beyond the shadow of a doubt that Nancy Oleson really is all wet...literally. So now it's official: Jeb Carter kicks ass.

Great finish to this gripping two-part drama. Shannen Doherty and Lindsay Kennedy really took center stage and showed real talent in conveying their characters' emotions and feelings. Nicholas Pryor was a very convincing Royal as well, and finally, Melissa Gilbert really shined as Laura trying so hard to reach out to Jenny, and when she gave her that speech towards the end, that really drove it home. The Carters and Jenny are here to stay, and we're very glad to have them. It's too bad the series didn't run longer so we could see this new generation of kids grow up. So, watch both parts of "Times Are Changing" and enjoy Little House: A New Beginning for what it is: a good season.