***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?
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?