Little House on the Prairie (TV Series) May We Make Them Proud: Part I (1980) User Reviews

Shows that tragedy can happen at any moment

[garrard · 8/10 · 6 October 2006]

Originally aired as a two-hour installment, "May We Make Them Proud" features one of the series' most spectacular use of pyrotechnics in the show's eight-year history. A carelessly discarded pipe, left by Albert (Matthew Labyorteaux) and a friend, starts a fire that engulfs the blind school. Though most of the residents and teachers escape, Mrs. Garvey(Hersha Parady) and Mary's (Melissa Sue Anderson) baby perish in the inferno.

When it is discovered that the fire had been caused by a careless smoker, Albert becomes the doting brother to sister Mary who has completely withdrawn as a result of her child's death.

As a whole this is one of the series most dramatic installments. The scene wherein Mrs. Garvey tries to escape by breaking a windowpane, while holding the baby, is truly heart-wrenching.

The Most Famous Little House Ever...

[mrwiseman-1 · 7/10 · 22 August 2013]

***Spoilers ahead***

This episode was, and always will be, the most talked about episode of Little House on the Prairie. To be honest, the show never did shy away from controversy. Here Albert's bad choice to smoke leads to the death of Mary's baby and Mrs. Garvey. (The actress who played Mrs. Garvey did NOT want to leave the series...but was given one of the most famous death scenes in TV history). The series also tied up the historical problem of Mary having a baby when the real Mary never married or had children.

Heartbreaking, the episode deals with how even minor mistakes can have major repercussions. Difficult to watch for today's more sensitive viewers, LHOTP taught empathy to my generation...I wish more kids today would watch the series.

Discussions afterwards could include: 1. Do you think if they fire had not happened that Albert would have thought his sneaky pipe smoking was 'no big deal'?

2. How would you have handles the situation if you had been Albert?

3. Could you forgive Albert if you were Mary? Would you want to be forgiven if you were Albert?

4.Fire safety: What is our family's plan if there is a fire in our house/apartment?

Nightmares

[drexmaverick · 8/10 · 13 June 2019]

I had forgotten all about this. I didn't need the reminder of Mrs Garvey and the baby. There were too many mistakes. Very stupid mistakes that should have never happened. Then I couldn't believe Mary and Adam didn't immediately take him out of the crib ...

One of the Toughest Episodes of the Series to Watch

[spasek · 30 November 2017]

I was eight-years-old when this episode first aired. The scene with the fire were especially vivid and poignant for me. Even seeing the episode in re-runs didn't make it any easier. Alice screaming from the room where she's trapped in and then inadvertently smashing the baby into the window as blind panic sets in, are still to this day, not an easy thing to watch.

This was an especially powerful episode that dealt with shock/denial, depression, and guilt surrounding the loss of family members due to a tragedy.

Mary is finally pushed over the edge. Having already lost a child due to a miscarriage, she suffers the loss of yet another child. Rather than being able to accept what has happened, she believes that everyone is conspiring against her.

Jonathan is so hurt by what has happened, that he uses alcohol as his means of dealing with the incredible pain and depression that he's bearing. Not to mention taking out his anger on his son due to his inability to grieve and let go of the pain.

Still, the incredible performance of this, and the subsequent episode must go to Matthew Labyorteaux. For a young actor, to so deftly show us a young man wracked with immeasurable guilt, is truly something to behold. Virtually the entire cast, in a number of interviews, have talked about Matthew's ability to show any emotion when asked.

People are quick to blame Albert. He's a kid, and yeah, kids have all done some pretty dumb things. Perhaps not all kids have done what Albert did to that magnitude, but I'll bet there are some who could tell stories.

Just stop and imagine for a moment what it would be like to be in Albert's shoes; to know that you are partly responsible for what happened. How does a kid that age, deal with something of that magnitude?

I agree with other reviewers about one of the glaring problems of this episode. No mother would ever knowingly leave their baby behind. It just wouldn't happen. The set-up might have worked better if Mary and Adam were both somehow stuck downstairs and unable to get up to their bedroom. Something of that nature would have worked better than what was ultimately used.

In any case, this is easily one of the most memorable episodes that the series produced.

Mary

[ClementineTyson · 8/10 · 10 April 2016]

I don't understand the trouble about that Mary had enough problems to overcome already, they are the main characters in this series, so off course a lot happens to them.

When Adam tell Mary she needs to come because there is a fire, she don't grab the baby (even when it is right next to her) and they both just walk away outside, not her or Adam think about the baby, so it is kinda her own fault, and she do suddenly remembers the baby is in bed and someone else go get her, and is trapped inside the fire, now there are 2 dead, what could had be prevented if Mary did not forget her baby. It is bad enough that Albert was smoking there, and now all those blind children are stranded where they had a good home.

Dramatic Episode

[teacherbe33 · 9/10 · 29 June 2014]

I have watched LHOTP since it first premiered in the 70's. I remember being a family of 1 TV only, being able to tune to CBS (2) at 8:00 PM and watch the show every Monday. In those days, especially with episodes like this and The Lord is My Shepard, it was so annoying to have to wait a whole week to watch the next episode. Anyway, this episode was a very dramatic one, especially as a kid, but even as an adult. Watching a character be killed off in such a way. While Mary was the Jan Brady of this show where she was overshadowed by Melissa Gilbert, one could not help but feel bad for her. The writing was good but unlike the works of Michael (a talented actor and director).

I know life in those days were hard enough without having to experience things like this but, they get through it as usual with a lot of LOVE and FAITH. Perhaps killing of a character to make sure they could not return later (you do see certain actors being brought back as different people). I do think that overall it was a good episode but could have done it in a less dramatic fashion.

Some serious problems with the plot

[chezcabaret · 9/10 · 17 September 2012]

Just discovered LHOTP more than 30 years after the series originally ran. It is like manna from heaven. Like a good book I can't put down. The directing, varied story lines, cinematography, score,set, acting, all of it with Michael Landon's sure hand on it. Unapologetic religious and family values, patriotism, the core of what it is to be human. No one would dare create a series like this today for network TV. My understanding is that the plots reflect the Ingall Wilder books. Hence all the terrible tragedy.

I've savored most all the episodes until May We Make Them Proud, part one. It's not the high drama and tragedy that bother me. It's the glaring holes within the plot that strain credulity. Two big problems, the first of which has already been mentioned: It makes no sense for Mary to have run out of the room leaving her baby in the middle of this threat. Not believable. And not acceptable for a series so well written. Or if that's what actually happened in the Wilder books, then her neglect has to be mentioned as part of her grief. Second: How is it that Hester Sue found the two boys in the basement smoking without ever smelling the smoke? Not believable. Not acceptable. Not real. The tragedy could have been averted right there. The writers obviously needed her down there to identify Albert and his friend. But they left the question of Hester Sue's role in this off the table. Considering the graphic depiction of the fire's reach and destruction, this lapse in plot is very disappointing and eventually detached me from the dramatic line.

Where there's smoke...

[gregorycanfield · 9/10 · 27 January 2022]

Albert and a friend experiment with smoking in the basement of the School for the Blind. Couldn't you just guess that this would start a fire? This is highly emotional episode that will push the obvious buttons. To have Alice Garvey die inside the burning house was bad enough. Having Mary's baby die was in questionable taste. There was also a clear lapse in logic, in that scene. Why didn't Mary or Adam grab their own baby, rather than leaving it to someone else? Carolyn would have been less concerned for herself than for any one of her children. What kind of a mother was Mary supposed to be? In this episode, something about Mary didn't sit right with me. She didn't look as pretty as usual, or seem as nice as she usually comes across. More insight into this, in part 2.

The darkest episode of the series.

[awarlock-17703 · 7/10 · 28 July 2023]

I am not going to get into the motive of this episode, as many have here did. Just going to get into the meat and potatoes. What started the whole thing was a picnic outside the blind school. Albert's friend stole a pipe from an old guy who was bragging to Doc Baker about how chewing garlic helped him retain his teeth. Albert and his friend went in the basement to fire up the pipe and take a few puffs off it. Their coughs caught Hester-Sue's attention. She went down in the basement and startled the kids. Albert threw the lit pipe on what looked like an old American flag. Anyway, Hester-Sue told Albert to go outside because they were about to serve dessert. So both Albert and his friend ran up the stairs and out of the basement, leaving the lit pipe and now smoldering flag.

Scene jumped to the evening, were blind kids were bedding down and Mary, Adam, Alice and Hester-Sue were in the kitchen having tea. Adam smelt smoke. Hester-Sue first thought it was the tea kettle, then notice smoke coming from underneath the basement door. She opened the door and there were flames everywhere. In their haste, they all went upstairs to get all the blind kids up and out of there. They past Mary's baby's crib and Alice told them to get out and that she would grab the baby. Most people are saying this is a flaw in the writing. But think about it. Would you trust a blind woman with a baby in a burning house? I wouldnt. Anyway, Mary and Adam got out and Alice went to grab the baby, then heard a cry for help by James who was trapped in the bathroom behind a stuck door. Alice set the baby down in the crib, then went to the bathroom to help James get out. After freeing him and sending him out, Alice proceeded to the crib, at which point there were flames everywhere. Alice rapped the baby up in blankets and frantically started running and screaming for help, trying to avoid the flames. The door was engulfed in flames, so she ran to the window. But they were on the 2nd floor, way above the ground. Alice broke the window, just as the flames engulfed her and the baby. Everyone was looking up in horror.

It jumps to the next scene, where Charles has the baby's remains, Mary insists on holding and Andy and Jonathan Garvey are with Alice's remains. Dr. Baker is rummaging through the debris and finds the pipe Albert dropped. Charles walked up and Dr. Baker told Charles he found what caused the fire. Dr Baker told him that they just threw it away.

Next scene, Charles is in the kitchen with Laura and Albert. Charles tells Albert to close the blind in his bedroom so Caroline wouldn't get disturbed by the sunrise. While doing so, Laura asked "why pa" Charles replied he didnt know . But added he knew what caused it. He told her it was a pipe. Overhearing it, Albert was shocked. He just stood there. Charles asked if he was alright. Albert replied that he was tired and was going to sleep.

Throughout the rest of the episode, Albert became more and more depressed. He got to the point where he just couldn't bring himself to go to the baby's funeral. So Charles let him stay home.

In the last scene of the episode, Albert offered to watch over Mary as Caroline went to run an errand. Albert sat and began reading a book by 1 of Mary's favorite authors. Soon after he began reading, Mary began humming a lullaby. Albert just stared at Mary, as his eyes began to tear up. The episode ends.

Can't do it...

[mitchrmp · 9/10 · 9 September 2013]

This is probably one of the most controversial and most famous two-part episodes ever. I know I never saw this episode until I was an adult. When it originally aired, my Mom wouldn't let us watch it. It never came on with reruns - that's how controversial this episode was. The two-part episode is okay, though tear-jerking if you are a Mary or Albert fan. This episode as a horrible scene in it that is just very, very difficult to watch...

Reviewing these episode, I started with the first and dreaded the day I would make it to this episode. I finally realized...I just cannot do it! I've watched this one several times and every time it leaves me emotionally unsettled. Last night, when I realized it was time for this episode, I decided something: I just cannot do it - not even to find some quotes to put in IMDb! So I'm writing this review based on memory.

Really, there are several things disturbing in this episode. It starts out okay. They are having some sort of picnic at the blind school. A pipe is found and some boy joins Albert to smoke it in the basement. Why they do so is beyond me - Albert had the whole pipe-smoking experience in a previous episode. Anyways, when somebody opens the door to the basement, the boys jerk up and throw the lit pipe onto the cushion. As they are leaving, the fire starts.

It's later that night - why it took so long for the fire to consume the basement is unclear - when Caroline (I think), Mary, Adam, and Alice are sitting at the table. Jonathan and Andy had already gone home. Hester Sue (or is it Alice?) gets up to get something and smells smoke. She opens the door to the basement, sees the fire and runs to warn everyone. Things are going smoothly until the baby is remembered. I never understood why Mary, the mother of the baby still in the burning building, went out and left his safety to Alice without even a thought. A mother would NOT do that! She would insist her baby's being rescued before she was taken from the house! Anyhow, Alice SITS DOWN on the bed and takes the baby up in her arms. She takes a lot of time getting this baby - so much time that...her way out is blocked.

The scene is horrific. What is shown will leave a person with nightmares. My heart races as I'm just thinking of the scene. I'm not going to describe it - I'm sure it's on You Tube like most of the other episodes for you to watch - but Alice and the baby do NOT survive! In fact, the wrapped bodies are seen outside later. Mary is given her baby's burned corps to hold - another part that is a bit unbelievable. A burned corps - I've heard - would have a bad stench, right? And a mother who is having such a hard time...this would make things even worse, I would think.

Anyway, Dr. Baker and Charles work at figuring out what happened. They discover a pipe.

I'm not sure where this part ends and the other begins - so sorry if I get into the next part here, but Albert learns of the cause and is shaken. It's his fault! He can't stand this and is suddenly withdrawn and very quiet. The family knows something bothering him, but he won't talk about it. Then when Charles takes him to Sleepy Eye (or Mankato) with him, Albert sees a music box that plays the same tune as the one Mary would play for her baby and buys it instead of the rifle. Charles is a bit puzzled, but goes along with it. When Mary hears it, she screams.

That's the episode in a nutshell. It's well worth watching, but I'm just warning it's very graphic. Being made in the 1970's I'm really surprised it made it on network without editing some of the graphic scenes. But we must say goodbye to a beloved character - Alice Garvey.

Nothing good ever happens to Mary.

[endora60 · 6/10 · 18 April 2008]

Can we all agree that Mary Ingalls Kendall is one of series television's most unlucky characters? When young she's constantly the goody-two-shoes overshadowed by her more interesting little sister; as she grows up, she goes blind, miscarries a baby, is robbed of an infant by her brother's carelessness, loses her husband to the sighted world, and eventually just disappears. Yeah, don't stand next to this woman in a thunderstorm.

This is the "robbed of an infant by her brother's carelessness" episode. Albert's smoking in the basement and mindlessly leaves his pipe to smolder and catch fire, burning down the blind school. With all those blind kids, a sighted adult woman and Mary's baby are the two who die. Mary goes nutso and then goes catatonic (which gives her father the opportunity to do a Scientology-like slam against psychiatry). Poor girl never wins.

This would be a very intense story--hard to watch, actually--if Melissa Sue Anderson could act her way out of a paper bag. God, she's awful. Her utter lack of talent isn't so big a deal usually, since the show's focus is generally on either Michael Landon or Melissa Gilbert. Those few "Mary episodes" are uniformly lousy, not because the character is the repository for all kinds of misery but because Anderson is such a dreadful actress. Too bad about it this time; "May We Make Them Proud" could've/should've been a fantastic episode.

The Flames of Eternity...

[ExplorerDS6789 · 8/10 · 4 December 2010]

Well, folks, this is it. This is the big one. The most controversial episode of Little House on the Prairie ever made. Brace yourselves, people, and grab the Kleenex. Here we go... life had been good to Mary Ingalls, except for her going blind, but that was a bittersweet occurrence, for she met the love of her life, Adam Kendall, and with his help, she fulfilled her dream of becoming a teacher, and they had a beautiful son named Charles Adam Kendall. Yep, things were going great...but little did anybody know or could they even begin to comprehend the sheer horror and macabre that would be experienced that one awful, bright and sunny day at the school's first annual charity picnic. Everybody was having a great time, so Albert and his hooligan pal Clay slip away down to the basement and take a few hits off of a pipe (tobacco pipe), but they're soon caught by Hester-Sue, and they scurry back upstairs...UH OH! They forgot to put out the pipe! That could start a fire. And brother, that's exactly what it did. While Mary was putting the baby to sleep with a musical lullaby box, Adam had tea with Hester-Sue and Alice, when they smelled smoke. Noticing it coming from the basement door, Hester-Sue went to investigate and saw the basement was engulfed in flames. Did they coat it with kerosene or something? How could a fire spread that quickly?

Panic spread throughout. Adam rushed up to get Mary and they ran out...hey, you forgot your baby, you idiots! Doesn't matter if you're sighted or not, you don't leave your child behind! So, as Alice and Hester-Sue helped evacuate the children, Alice suddenly remembered Mary and Adam's baby. Good to know somebody still has all their brains. She procured the infant, but by now the entire building was a blazing inferno, and Alice had no way out. The window! Alice tries to break out...no, that's a baby, stupid, not a battering ram! So, Alice and the baby burned to death, and by morning, the building was a pile of cinders. Charles and Doc Baker soon discover the culprit: a stupid pipe. Needless to say, the Ingalls', the Garveys and the Kendalls were traumatized by this, especially Mary, who had suffered a deep shock. Albert also felt extreme guilt...gee, I wonder why. While at Nellie's hotel, Mary experiences temporary amnesia and when it comes back to her, that her baby was gone, she absolutely flipped her wig. Yeah, Mary was hurting. Jonathan, meanwhile, had lost his faith and turned to the bottle to drown his sorrows, and he lashed out at Andrew for no good reason. Everybody was hurting, and sad as things were now, this was only the beginning...

This is the grand champion of dramatic, tear-jerking Little House episodes. If you can stomach this one, you can take anything. But as dramatic and sad as this episode is, it's also ridiculously over-the-top. Why does it even exist? Why did Michael Landon think this was a good idea? Killing off Alice Garvey and Mary's baby in such a brutal way? I'm sure Hersha Parady wanted to leave the show, but did they have to kill off her character? What's disturbing is that even to this day, Parady jokes about that scene of her using the prop baby to break the glass window. That's weird. Plus, it's beyond stupid that Mary and Adam would abandon their baby to save themselves from that fire. Just beyond stupid. It's also impossible for a fire to turn from a smoking patch to a blazing inferno in only a few minutes without the aid of chemicals. I wouldn't really recommend this one. It's over-the-top, overly dramatic, and it can really make you angry. May We Make Them Proud? Try harder. Stay tuned for Part 2.

forgot the baby?

[scooterbreeze · 5/10 · 22 December 2021]

It's a ridiculous story line that Adam and Mary both walked out of their room without the baby. Anyone would make sure they got their baby out of a burning building. Just because they are blind doesn't mean they would just forget the baby. It's a bad storyline and should not have been written this way.

There was a legit reason for this FIRE episode to happen.

[xtiansldr · 3 December 2019]

Some do not understand the meaning of this episode. The actress who plays Alice Garvey wanted to leave the show, despite Michael Landon's disapproval. She insisted, so he made sure she wouldn't be able to "return" somehow. He was quite disappointed as I think he felt a bit of betrayal for her wanting to leave something still going strong. Needless to say, Melissa S. Anderson also wanted to leave the show, so I think Landon handled their decisions to exit, quite well, by writing such a serious and heartfelt (for that time especially) episode. When I heard him discussing this show in an interview from back then, it sounded as though he may not have fully trusted himself not to be swayed into bringing them back if/when they changed their minds. He really knew what worked in a show, including characters and content, and was not happy when that was compromised- all for what he believed to be for selfish reasons. Any drastic character changes in a hit show, must have been worrisome- I empathize with his dilemna and decision. Most all of us LHOTP fans still love all the episodes equally- (Maybe some moreso than the other). ;)

This episode made me forever despise Albert.

[LaverneandShirleysucks · 10/10 · 6 September 2021]

I never really cared for Albert to begin with, but after they had him kill Mary's baby that character was despised by me forever. When the Ingalls' found that lowly street urchin in Winoka, they should've just left him there.

I still rate this episode a solid 10 for the drama and acting and how it makes me cry every time. Poor Mary must be the most tragic character in television history and you can't help but feel her pain.

Very disturbing episode!!!!

[babygiraffe123 · 5/10 · 18 April 2007]

I love Little House On The Prairie, but I cannot force myself to watch this particular episode again. I was crying and shaking so much the first time I saw it, I had to change the channel mid-episode. But if you're emotionally strong and seeing people die in a fire doesn't disturb you, then I suggest seeing this. Little House On The Prairie is a wonderful show, but some of the episodes can really hit you and break down even the strongest souls. It's a shame they don't show the re-runs on TV currently, but maybe they will again, someday soon. It's definitely one of my favorite shows, and it had a formidable cast and crew. Another DVD collection I will be starting.

Alice Garvey

[Hendry2 · 5/10 · 23 January 2019]

I agree with the other review - the episode, in particular the death of Alice Garvey, was VERY disturbing. Perhaps because my own life and my family's life was changed by a large house fire right across the street from us when I was Albert's age, seeing Alice in the window about to be burned alive was too much for me, and when I did notice the episode was airing this evening (1/22/19) I switched channels until the terror was past.

The only way I'm able to smile - a little - was the fact that when they wrote Alice out of the show they did, lock, stock and barrel!

I could see a smokey death, so to speak, because that was used on many shows over the years, but to make it VERY obvious that she and the baby burned alive and to hear her screaming was I thought too intense for a family show. May he rest in peace, Michael Landon was known for taking creative liberties with his shows, and for certain he did here...

Writing Adam and Mary into a corner

[lukefan · 1/10 · 24 April 2016]

I watched this episode in its original broadcast and felt so sucker- punched as a kid. I rewatched this episode recently as an adult and still wonder what possessed Michael Landon into writing this story. Short answer: Networks Sweeps Month. After having Mary first miscarry and then become pregnant again, seemed way too cruel to have her lose the 2nd baby as well so soon after its birth. Unless Michael Landon was trying to prove that bad things happen unexpectedly...these bad episodes happen every once in awhile on LHOTP.

I wonder if it was discussed what long term effects there would be on Adam and Mary's storyline. Killing off their 2nd baby meant they weren't going to play out the concern Mary expressed in "The Wedding" about raising a sighted child. It's as if the setup occurred for a great Mary and Adam storyline with no follow through.

Also silly that the school had to burn down and later when Adam's father is supposed to donate to the rebuilding...because of the his father's money mismanagement...all that's left is that silly plaque in Alice's and Adam Jr.' name.

And agree with all the opinions that Mary and Adam leaving their baby in their room and putting their other students before their own baby's safety was plain stupid! This is pretty much the episode that made me hate Michael Landon as a writer for the show.

Also since Albert was the one with Clay to play with the smoking pipe...I don't see how easily Adam and Mary could forgive the loss of their precious 2nd baby without a long long long healing period.

Not realistic at all and seeming to favor the cliché of guilt ridden children running away only to be later rescued by Pa and told they don't have to feel bad anymore and everything is okay?? Strange strange episode! A good example of a badly plotted and poorly thought out episode.

Why??

[jmeeker98 · 5/10 · 1 April 2010]

I agree with the other reviews, particularly the previous one - WHY did they take the story in this direction?? I get that the show's trying to show how the Ingalls deal with the hardships of life, and persevere to survive on the Prairie, but really, haven't they (in particular Mary) had enough?? She lost it for a while when she went blind, then again when she lost her unborn baby. Now THIS?? I have to admit that this episode really pulls you in and is gut-wrenching at times. The vision of Mrs. Garvey trying to save the baby in the fire just really got to me. Anyone with a child of their own (or anyone with a heart) would find that excruciatingly hard to watch. I just don't understand WHY the show had to kill off those 2 characters, especially like that!! And like the previous reviewer stated, no one likes to see people die in fires, and no one likes to see babies die, period. What was the point? I don't see how it moved the storyline forward for the show. It was hard enough when Charles & Caroline lost their son, but this is just pointless... I rated this episode 5 out of 10 because it's an extremely well-done episode, one of the most touching I remember seeing, but it left me sad and angry and confused. (NOT the best one to watch at 1:00 AM before going to bed!)

The plot just not make sense

[nnojarova · 1/10 · 31 March 2020]

Adam and Mary had been through a storm saving a blind child before, but they will just leave the baby in a burning house and wait outside, not even visibly concerned until Alice started screaming in the house? No parent would do that. Also, Alice just stands in the bedroom and scream instead of covering and runing through the fire? And in her last scenes she hits the window with the baby? Yea, sure. They did not even close the door to the pantry/basement when they saw the fire there, and let it spread faster due to oxygen. Now, fine, 150 years ago people might of not had all the science, but they knew how to deal with fire better than that. Just soooo irritatingly dumb written. All those characters are way smarter and stronger to act so irresponsibaly even under the shock of the surcumbstances.

Little House on the Prarie Review spoiler.

[hasheart · 1 December 2014]

This contains spoilers. In the episode may We Make Them Proud , in my opinion was a way of teaching kids the dangers of smoking,

but not in the usual way. I also felt that Albert showed poor judgment on buying a music box that Mary used with her baby. Didn't he think at all in this episode. I don't think he did this to get her to get out her extreme despair. I think he was , just not thinking. Any way, the show originally started on Wednesdays, not Mondays, and it was on NBC, not CBS. Furthermore, this episode was broadcasted in 1980, not the 1970's. this episode made me afraid of smoking and of fire. I don't know if this episode had w warning when it was originally broadcasted or on the DVD, but I think it should.

The worst episode...

[lazerliina · 1/10 · 11 December 2007]

I think this is the worst episode so far (I am watching them in the right order) Its cruel and hard to watch.

Wasn't it enough that Mary lost her unborn baby? And that Charles and Caroline lost there son? For me this was totally unnecessary and as far as I know not based on the truth (Well not much in the series are though)

Some of the reasons for me not liking this episode is: I don't like fires, I don't like when people die in fires and I don't like when babies dies

But I still really like the show. But I wish they hadn't turn the story this way.

Hmmm... Some good, some bad

[MGDelerium3 · 26 April 2023]

To me, this could have been a real stunning story. But like other said, it is unrealistic that two blind people knowing there is a fire would not worry about getting their own baby out of the house and the way Mary acts like she forgot when running by the room is really plastic. The scene when Alice gets to get the baby and the fire explodes around her is terrifying and epic and frightening. The screams she lets out.. whoa. Realistic. The outside scene where she's smashing the window ... i wish I had been blind not to see that horrible moment. The emotional scene with Albert later crying by the river saying he didn't want to go to the funeral was very well acted. Even made me emotional. Boy should have won an award for that scene. But some of the scenes were just too long and drawn out and I feel they could have cut this down.

You just have to have a few fully healthy adult male employees when running a school for blind kids in late 19th century

[muratmihcioglu · 6 December 2023]

Even after what happened in the earlier episode, how three ruaway convicts took hold of the place, these people still don't get it: If the whole idea behind gathering blind kids together for education, you just have to have under hand a few seeing, young, healthy men. Heck, even if the kids are NOT blind, you DO have to think of the worst! That's how SAFEGUARDING works! How can only two seeing women be left in a boarding school to watch out for blind kids and the blind couple teaching them? This doesn't make sense at all!

But alright... Suspension of disbelief is the name of the game, so we'll have to skip the logical inconsistency and evaluate the story from the perspective Michael Landon wants us to take.

Yes, life is hard... Yes, responsibility and guilt are horrible to bear... Yes, Little House on the Praire gives great lessons while making you wonder if they're exploiting our most innate fears.

These stories are just oo hard-hitting. Especially the scenes with Mary. She's the magnet for every horrible thing to happen in the series. God's favorite, that's why she's being tested so cruelly?

This is legendary TV on the one hand. And on the other, it borders agitation in my opinion.

And much as I can suspend my desbelief, I can't wrap my head around the fact that none of these intelligent people, from Charles to Hiram, wake up to the fact that it's been a horrible idea to run a school for blind kids without extreme supervision at all times - not even after living first-hand multiple tragedies as a result of obvious neglect!