Adam has been trying to gather up the courage to propose to Mary, after rehearsing his stern, but heartfelt speech in his room, he went next door to Mary's, though I'm surprised she didn't hear him already, and he...chickened out. But wait, he turned around and went back and, while it wasn't the proposal he'd rehearsed, Mary got the gist of it and they were as happy as could be. So was the family in Walnut Grove, at long last Mary was getting married. I find it odd that Adam didn't ask Charles' permission first, knowing how protective of his kin he can be. But no matter, the Ingallses' planned to go out to Winoka very quickly, but due to the cost of train fare, it looked as though Laura, Albert, Grace and Carrie would have to stay home. They didn't seem to mind, particularly since Carrie was willing to change Grace's dirty diapers. So after an uneventful train trip, Charles and Caroline greet the soon-to-be-married couple and go to their room at the Dakota Hotel, now a rundown old hovel. It all went to pot since they've been gone. After that, they join Adam and Mary at the school and share fond memories of Mary getting into all sorts of embarrassing mischief when she was a toddler. Charles even drops a few hints about wanting a grandchild. Whoa, slow down there, Pa, they haven't even said "I do" yet. It seems all this talk about little Mary getting into trouble made the adult version a little uneasy, and when her Ma brought over her wedding gown, she became emotional. Much more than usual. Caroline suggested the bride talk it over with the groom, so he doesn't have to find out the hard way: after they're married.
Letting her doubts and emotions get the better of her, Mary informed Adam that she didn't want to get married. It was out of fear that they might have a child like Mary who will run off, get buried in snow and such. Adam didn't take it well, as you might imagine. Next day was the school picnic, and except for Charles showing off his skills on the harmonica, nobody felt much like having a good time. As the parents of the former bride wondered how to help set things right, they were rudely interrupted by a stampede of cattle and warnings of a dust storm approaching. By the time everybody got back to town, the dust was blowing something fierce. They got all the children into the school, except one: Susan Goodspeed. So Adam and Mary venture out into the storm to search, Caroline tried to guide them, but was wounded, so it was up to the teachers now. Sure this was like finding a needle in a haystack with your eyes closed, but their determination kept them going. Through the howling winds, they heard a little girl calling to them. Adam and Mary followed the screams and found little Susan hiding under some stairs. This gave Mary the confidence she needed to realize she could handle something like this if it happened with her own child, and so it looks as though she and Adam will be getting married after all. So with Charles' help, they all get out of that fierce storm, never happier to be alive. So the next day, after Charles and Reverend Corliss dusted off all the chairs, the ceremony commenced. As the reverend was half way through the service, in came Reverend Alden! A surprise that they were sure would not arrive on time, but he did, and so Corliss gladly let him take over from there. And so, Adam and Mary Kendall were united in holy matrimony.
Very good, very well done from start to finish. Undoubtedly one of the series' best episodes. You knew that soon as Mary said she didn't want to get married that they were still going to, and I like how they handled that whole scenario. They didn't play it out too long, and their reactions were done very naturally, not too over the top. I also think that Mary's fears about raising a child is a bit of foreshadowing, because she will become pregnant twice in the next few episodes and both times, something awful happens to the child. They probably should've just adopted. Charles and Caroline do and sometimes they get lucky. Linwood Boomer and Melissa Sue Anderson were fantastic, Arthur Heinemann did a terrific job on the script and Michael Landon did an outstanding job as director. If you like Adam and Mary and you want to see how they finally tied the knot, then you are invited to The Wedding.
Letting her doubts and emotions get the better of her, Mary informed Adam that she didn't want to get married. It was out of fear that they might have a child like Mary who will run off, get buried in snow and such. Adam didn't take it well, as you might imagine. Next day was the school picnic, and except for Charles showing off his skills on the harmonica, nobody felt much like having a good time. As the parents of the former bride wondered how to help set things right, they were rudely interrupted by a stampede of cattle and warnings of a dust storm approaching. By the time everybody got back to town, the dust was blowing something fierce. They got all the children into the school, except one: Susan Goodspeed. So Adam and Mary venture out into the storm to search, Caroline tried to guide them, but was wounded, so it was up to the teachers now. Sure this was like finding a needle in a haystack with your eyes closed, but their determination kept them going. Through the howling winds, they heard a little girl calling to them. Adam and Mary followed the screams and found little Susan hiding under some stairs. This gave Mary the confidence she needed to realize she could handle something like this if it happened with her own child, and so it looks as though she and Adam will be getting married after all. So with Charles' help, they all get out of that fierce storm, never happier to be alive. So the next day, after Charles and Reverend Corliss dusted off all the chairs, the ceremony commenced. As the reverend was half way through the service, in came Reverend Alden! A surprise that they were sure would not arrive on time, but he did, and so Corliss gladly let him take over from there. And so, Adam and Mary Kendall were united in holy matrimony.
Very good, very well done from start to finish. Undoubtedly one of the series' best episodes. You knew that soon as Mary said she didn't want to get married that they were still going to, and I like how they handled that whole scenario. They didn't play it out too long, and their reactions were done very naturally, not too over the top. I also think that Mary's fears about raising a child is a bit of foreshadowing, because she will become pregnant twice in the next few episodes and both times, something awful happens to the child. They probably should've just adopted. Charles and Caroline do and sometimes they get lucky. Linwood Boomer and Melissa Sue Anderson were fantastic, Arthur Heinemann did a terrific job on the script and Michael Landon did an outstanding job as director. If you like Adam and Mary and you want to see how they finally tied the knot, then you are invited to The Wedding.
