Previously on Little House, James was shot, Charles went out with Albert and Edwards to find the crooks. They beat the hell out of them and turned them in. Now, James lay in a coma, having survived the operation but still unresponsive. Doc Baker dropped in on him twice a week at Charles' insistence, but the doctor knew the case was hopeless and tried to tell Charles, who would have none of it and told Baker to get lost. It seemed the Ingalls patriarch was in dire need of a miracle, so he goes to the church and prays nightly. Finally, Reverend Alden notices and as they discuss miracles, the reverend admits to having never seen one. But Charles knows they somehow exists and despite Alden's protests, telling Charles to let it go and trust the doctors, he was going to put all of his trust in the Almighty, because he knew a miracle was in the works. Reverend Alden offered to help him pray, but this was between Charles and God, as he put it. At home, poor Cassandra was effected the most over James and all Charles' talk about miracles and such didn't help her none. Even Caroline was becoming fed up with all of Charles' philosophies, so the only thing left to do was go out with James and find that dad-blamed miracle where it may be. So after selling his father's watch to kindly Nels, who gave him $50 for it, Charles set off with his ailing son. Was this trip in vain, or is there really a miracle in them thar hills? We shall see.
The ride was long and bumpy, but James never complained once. They arrived out in the wilderness, where he read from Exodus 20:25 and followed suit, building a stone altar. By the time it was finished and the cross was mounted upon it, Charles had grown a fake beard. James was conscious to a certain degree. He could open his eyes, but still couldn't speak or move and wasn't entirely aware of where he was. But Charles wouldn't give up, he prayed day and night at his altar. One morning, he was joined by a kindly old man classified as Old Man. He stayed a bit, complimented Charles on the altar and then vanished into thin air...wow; Edwards located his friend and tried to reason with him, but Charles would not budge. So, was he getting a sign? Was this a holy place, or was Charles just losing it? Maybe all of the above. Edwards prepared to set out that night with Caroline, despite their being a storm, to try and persuade Charles to come home, when the Old Man appears out of nowhere and warns him against it, then he disappears along with the storm...I'd do as he says, Isaiah; Old Man reappears with Charles and tells him to take James to the altar. Quick as a flash, it was struck by lightning. When Charles came to, James was completely recovered. It was a miracle! So, James and Charles were reunited with the family, faith strong as ever. This proves one thing: miracles do happen, you just gotta know where to find them.
I have to say, I think I enjoyed Part 1 of this episode better than Part 2. It just felt the plot was just stretched out further than it needed to be. This could have been a one part episode, and it comes across as a rehash of "The Lord is My Shepherd: Part 2", which also didn't really need to be in two parts, in my opinion. It's just drawn out and the plot made little to no sense. But regardless, Michael Landon and Victor French were fantastic as always. Don Beddoe was great as Old Man, sorry he couldn't have a name, and it's unclear as to why he's there and who he is in the first place. But anyway... this episode marks the final appearances of the following: James, Cassandra, Carrie, Grace, and Caroline, although she reappears in the made-for-TV movies following the finale. This is also the last regular episode before the show became Little House: A New Beginning; My overall rating of "He Was Only Twelve: Part 2": not bad, worth seeing, especially if you saw Part 1.
The ride was long and bumpy, but James never complained once. They arrived out in the wilderness, where he read from Exodus 20:25 and followed suit, building a stone altar. By the time it was finished and the cross was mounted upon it, Charles had grown a fake beard. James was conscious to a certain degree. He could open his eyes, but still couldn't speak or move and wasn't entirely aware of where he was. But Charles wouldn't give up, he prayed day and night at his altar. One morning, he was joined by a kindly old man classified as Old Man. He stayed a bit, complimented Charles on the altar and then vanished into thin air...wow; Edwards located his friend and tried to reason with him, but Charles would not budge. So, was he getting a sign? Was this a holy place, or was Charles just losing it? Maybe all of the above. Edwards prepared to set out that night with Caroline, despite their being a storm, to try and persuade Charles to come home, when the Old Man appears out of nowhere and warns him against it, then he disappears along with the storm...I'd do as he says, Isaiah; Old Man reappears with Charles and tells him to take James to the altar. Quick as a flash, it was struck by lightning. When Charles came to, James was completely recovered. It was a miracle! So, James and Charles were reunited with the family, faith strong as ever. This proves one thing: miracles do happen, you just gotta know where to find them.
I have to say, I think I enjoyed Part 1 of this episode better than Part 2. It just felt the plot was just stretched out further than it needed to be. This could have been a one part episode, and it comes across as a rehash of "The Lord is My Shepherd: Part 2", which also didn't really need to be in two parts, in my opinion. It's just drawn out and the plot made little to no sense. But regardless, Michael Landon and Victor French were fantastic as always. Don Beddoe was great as Old Man, sorry he couldn't have a name, and it's unclear as to why he's there and who he is in the first place. But anyway... this episode marks the final appearances of the following: James, Cassandra, Carrie, Grace, and Caroline, although she reappears in the made-for-TV movies following the finale. This is also the last regular episode before the show became Little House: A New Beginning; My overall rating of "He Was Only Twelve: Part 2": not bad, worth seeing, especially if you saw Part 1.
