Little House: Look Back to Yesterday

This one holds up still. Given some of the odd timeline issues that the final season had, this one completed Alberts story.

Though it's sort of a "revisit" to an earlier episode, it's still really good. If I remember correctly, Charles Ingalls Jr. basically died from the same thing. I believe they both died from leukemia. It's interesting that Charles didn't mention this when the doctor told me. I half-expected him to say "Not again" or something like that - but he didn't.

So, Albert is just about to start medical school. Charles has gotten a new job and is being sent back to Minnesota for a month. After visiting the University, Albert and Charles head to Walnut Grove to relive old memories.

Walnut Grove is having some sort of baseball tournament. We see all the old cast there - except Harriet Oleson, whom we will not be seeing again because the actress had moved on. Things haven't really changed that much since the ending of Season Nine, but I guess they wouldn't have since (I understand) these three movies were done very soon after the closing of the season. I'm assuming they sort of had to do them since they didn't finish season nine and probably had contract obligations to finish...The baseball game is a side-story. Other side stories: Jason wanting to kiss a girl (the one he tried to impress with the glasses in Season Nine), and trouble with the farmers selling their crops to the grange.

The story is a sad one. I've only seen it a few times because it's just too awful to watch. I'm thankful they ended the movie before "the event."

If my son was dying, I know I would moved Heaven and Earth to be there. I think Caroline would have found somebody to watch the children so she could come be with her dying son. I'm sorry, but I just couldn't buy that. But since Karen Graslie didn't have a contract, she probably wasn't able to play in this episode. I'll be happy to see her return for the final movie.

I love this movie. Every time I see it, I choke up. Matthew & Melissa deliver scenes that would melt the coldest of hearts! Get past the corny music and break out the razors. Tissue paper stock must have gone through the ceiling when this special first aired! My only question would be ... as a fan of LHOTP, Didn't Laura narrate at the end of Albert's morphine addiction episode, that he returned to Walnut Grove as Dr. Albert Ingalls? Watch it and you will understand my question. Why aren't long running series consistent with storylines? I suppose that writers don't look back at previous episodes. Inconsistent, but heart wrenching all the same!

I loved the movie-i've pre-ordered it when it's released on 10/24/06. The part that choked me up the most, was when Pa made Laura except the truth about Albert's illness-the way she broke down, really hit hard-it was an excellent movie-i've seen it many times, and am looking foreward to seeing it many more times. I'm looking foreward to seeing the commentary that Melissa Gilbert is going to give, regarding the series-Look back to yesterday ranks among my favorite little house story I guess i'd better get the tissues ready- I never tire of seeing this movie-it's just as good, as when I first saw it.

Adam

I'm glad somebody else noticed the inconsistent story line too. I asked my wife, "How could he be dead if he came back to Walnut Grove as a doctor later?" Other than that one error, I love this look back at a time before the American people were spoiled and soft, and knew the importance of God and country, hard work, and REAL hard times. Patriotism and unity were the American stronghold. It's sad to think that there may be no more Michael Landons or Victor Frenchs' in Hollywood, to remind us of who we are and how we got here.

I never get tired of Little House, or many of the old re=runs from the golden days of TV.

I was sure that Mathew Labeatereaux would go on to become a renown adult actor, but I called that one wrong. What happened to him?