"CENTENNIAL"

The Independence Day celebration in Walnut Grove is threatened when taxes are increased. A Russian immigrant shows the people why America is a great place. Even though the immigrant lost his land since he couldn't pay his taxes, he was happy to be in America. He considered it to be the best place to live in the world.



This is not an episode I would like to see more than once, lol, but it did have a good lesson in it which is that as long as you have your health and the support of your family, difficult situations are easier to handle.

Yea, I don't like this one as well as others. I've only watched it about 3 times, and it's not one I pick out to watch. But it does have a good lesson in it, like Carol said.

Yes. Not one of my favorites, but a good one.

However, I loved laura's and Carrie's face when they were watching the bengalas in the sky the very Centennial day. I love bengalas!

Vanesa.

Not one of my favorites

I was happy to see the Russian family so spirited and positive even though they were losing their land. I also thought it was pretty neat that Laura and Mary were making the flag!

not my favorited esp lol

A reminder of how much we have to be thankful for!

Yes. It's not one of my favs, as Jacob said...But is worth watching it.

Vanesa.

It has a good message in it..Just find this a little boring.lol

This is so funny because I really liked this episode a lot, but everyone here seems not to like it that well. My preferences must be completely opposite of the people on this forum! But that's okay......

Anyway, the main thing that I did not like was how they said more than once that the USA is the best country in the world. That is so very American-centric. However, I do excuse it a bit because this episode was made really for America's Bicentennial (1976) and the country was going through a difficult time. So, this episode took a modern-day situation and set it back in 1876 very effectively, in my opinion, in order to teach a lesson to whining Americans.

Regardless of the American patriotism so prevalent in this episode, I hope that even those from other countries can appreciate the good lesson to be grateful for what we have, including whatever freedoms we have, wherever we live.

I loved Yuli's positive attitude and how he taught the rest of the town so much!

And Mrs. Oleson was funny in this episode, too.

I thought the fireworks at the end were very cheesy. I'm sure Walnut Grove could not afford a fireworks display like that, especially in those difficult economic times. However, again I sort of let this pass because I realize that the purpose of the fireworks was not really to celebrate the Centennial in the episode, but rather it was LHOTP's way to celebrate the USA's Bicentennial.

I never thought of that that it was meant to coincide with the USA Bicentennial.

I doubt they would have had this episode if it weren't for the Bicentennial.....it was really a big deal back then - "Spirit of '76" was all the rage. I think even Pepsi's theme song back then fit into all of this....it was about having "the Pepsi Spirit" and "feelin' free, feelin' free" if I remember correctly.

It could be. I didn't realize that the episode was aired in 1976...

Vanesa.

In any case, I found this episode very moving and was touched by Yuli's love for his new country even though he got the bad end of the deal. I feel so bad for him that he did not realize that he would have to pay those back-taxes on the new land. It seems that he was taken advantage of just because he probably could not read the English on whatever he signed when he purchased the land.

Isn't the actor who played Yuli's son in a later episode where he is also the son of a Russian? I'm thinking it may be the episode with Harriet's Happenings where she calls the man illiterate because he cannot read English. That kid also played, I think, in ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN.

amyk wrote:

Isn't the actor who played Yuli's son in a later episode where he is also the son of a Russian? I'm thinking it may be the episode with Harriet's Happenings where she calls the man illiterate because he cannot read English.

I remember something like that, too. Didn't he also play Carl in some episode? I can't remember the title of it but I mean the one where Mr. Edward and Grace divorced.

Anyway, this episode is very touching and I like it a lot. Yuli is so sweet - I love it how thrilled he is just because he can make the flagpole for the celebrating.

I don't remember anything about that kid playing Carl, but I do think he was the son of the immigrant in the episode with Harriet's Happenings. I think that Pa even borrowed the Bible of that immigrant man and asked Harriet to read it - of course, she could not because it was in Russian or some other foreign language, so Pa asked her if she was illiterate!

Yes, Amyk, you are right. He did play the son of the immigrant. He did not play Carl in A Promise to Keep, although the boy who did does resemble him.

Yes. He played the son of anoher immigrant; he was not Russian, but German.

Vanesa.

Lori wrote:

He did not play Carl in A Promise to Keep, although the boy who did does resemble him.

Aaa :D Well, my bad ;P

Not my favorite episode.

The actor William Schallert who played Snell on LOTP also played on The Waltons Rose boyfriend Stanley Perkins. If, some haven't know, already.

William Schallert seems to have guest-starred on many different shows. But I know him best as Patty Lane's (played by Patty Duke) dad on THE PATTY DUKE SHOW.

Taxes are a good thing, though. Countries that don't tax probably have poor infrastructure, possibly non-existent health care, etc. It is only if taxes are misused that they are a bad thing, in my opinion.

I think Australia is the best.