Little House on the Prairie (TV Series) The Wild Boy (Part One) (1982) User Reviews

Not so wild

[mitchrmp · 8/10 · 26 November 2013]

In this first of two part episode, we meet Matthew. He is kept in a cage and made wild by a deranged, sick man who needs to be executed. He finally escapes and follows Jenny home. Almanzo isn't happy with the fact that Jenny wants to befriend him, but she talks him into letting him stay. But he can't stay at their house. Isiah takes him in.

It's discovered that Matthew suffers from morphine addiction (not the last time we'll hear about this drug playing a part this season), and his withdraws is what kept him wild.

I'm really happy with the turnout and the way most of the citizens of Walnut Grove have given into taking care of him. But someone is just about to make big trouble for Matthew!

There's a New Kid in Town!

[ExplorerDS6789 · 8/10 · 29 December 2010]

A word of warning: if you happen to see a wagon with "Dr. Joshua McQueen: Medicine Show" on the side and the driver calling for your attention, do not, I repeat, do NOT go up to him. Do not pay him any mind, just go about your business! Dr. McQueen is a vile man and a swindler. Today his tent was set up in Sleepy Eye as the bad doctor tried to peddle his Wonder Elixir, as well as give the citizens a look at a creature "unlike anything in the world today". So after the gullible folks paid $0.50 to go inside the tent, they catch a glimpse of the creature McQueen talked about: it was a young boy, unable to talk and very much in distress. He was dirty and wore rags for clothing. McQueen treated him very badly and abused him often. He's the REAL monster. His assistant and often audience-plant, Luther, felt bad for the wild boy and snuck him some food, against orders. Well, after swindling Sleepy Eye, Dr. McQueen brought his show to Walnut Grove. Gullible Harriet was thrilled at the Elixir and awaited customers flocking to the store, because as you know, Harriet only cares about money. Speaking of which, $0.10 was wasted here and there for folks to see the wild boy in the tent. Thankfully Etta Plum came to coax the children back to school, and not a moment too soon! After school, bratty Nancy dares Jeb, Jason and Jenny to sneak into the wild boy tent while the adults were eating. They go for it, naturally. Nancy and the Carter boys were scared away, but Jenny noticed that the boy was literally reaching out to her. What if this boy was indeed human?

Late one night, the wild boy manages to break out of his cage, so McQueen forms a posse to round him up. However it was Jenny who found him hiding out in the Wilders' barn. It was there that she learned of the boy's predicament: he wasn't wild, just a mute. He could hear, but could not speak. So until Jenny could figure out what to do, she kept the boy hidden in the barn and brought him food. She learned his real name was Matthew, and he's actually quite gentle. So after Almanzo and Edwards walked in on them, scaring the poor boy half to death, Jenny spelled it all out for them. While they pondered what to do with Matthew, Edwards stepped forward and agreed to take him in. You go, Isaiah! He would raise Matthew as his own. So, after struggling to get him to take a bath and cutting his long hair short, Matthew was like a new person. Sadly, this couldn't shake the nightmares of that monster McQueen poking and prodding him with a cane and dashing him with water and everybody laughing at him. The poor boy flipped out! Doc Baker diagnosed him with having Morphineism, common in those who abuse morphine (you can ask Albert Ingalls all about that), so it was apparently Dr. McQueen forced morphine on Matthew to he could control him. Not only that, but Matthew had also been given Lye forced down his throat, causing him to be mute. Good lord! But thankfully, Laura stepped in to teach Edwards and Matthew the art of sign language so the boy could better communicate with those around him. Matthew learned fast and became a hard worker around the farm. Unfortunately, blabbermouth Baker was heard talking to Almanzo regarding Matthew, by none other than that little bitch in training, Nancy. Uh oh, I sense trouble a-brewin'! Lord knows she'll tell Harriet and then the manure will really hit the fan.

This episode was pretty good. Excellent direction and of course acting from Victor French. Isaiah Edwards is truly a saint, stepping in to take in Matthew when Almanzo and Laura were all ready to call up McQueen. Oh, that McQueen is one cruel bastard. Anthony Zerbe goes above and beyond the call of duty at portraying that heartless monster. Special shout-outs to Shannen Doherty as precocious Jenny Wilder and Jonathan Hall Kovacs as Matthew; so if you can stomach child abuse, then I guess this episode is for you. It may be tough to watch, but it has it's heartfelt moments, as well as funny, like when Edwards tries to give Matthew a bath. A terrific entry in the Little House series, it should not be missed! Stay tuned for Part II!

The final 15 minutes!!!

[Quinn4077 · 10/10 · 2 January 2022]

I find no reason to review any aspects of Part One or Two of The Wild Boy because of the AMAZING monologue given by Mr. Edwards at the end of Part Two. After watching Little House on the Prairie reruns for almost four decades (and the last few years on a streaming service), I somehow never caught or paid attention to the last 15 minutes of The Wild Boy. Victor French just blew me away with Mr. Edwards's final monologue of Part Two. He tries to make sense of what is supposed to be the conclusion of Matthew's - "The Wild Boy's" - story in Walnut Grove and in the process gives a philosophical argument for what is considered "normal" while using members of the town as examples. Acting classes should use it for material. So if you watch all of both episodes, you will walk away thoroughly impressed.