Wilder And Wilder

I just watched this epsiode today. It seemed to me like Almanzo's brother Perley was attratced to Laura but the only time Laura would talk to Perley was when she wanted Almanzo's attention. I didn't like when Perley took the horse out and ran him after Almanzo told him not to and then the horse wound up getting hurt! This episode wasn't my favorite but it was somewhat funny.

This episode helps the Laura/Almanzo relationship along. They are drawn closer through caring for the injured horse and then there's the hug at the end! You can't help but feel sooo happy for Laura!

I love this episode for a lot reasons. There is a lot of good humor in it. I really like all the episodes where there is comedic tension between Charles and Almonzo. It's pretty funny when they're arm-wrestling and Laura is cheering for "Manley!" until Pa gives her the death look and she changes her tune for a brief moment and yells "Go, Pa!"

Did anyone else find it a bit odd that Dr. Baker was going to wager $50 without even the blink of an eye? He seems like a pretty level-headed guy. $50 was A LOT of money back then. I'm not saying it's completely implausible, but it was a bit odd to me.

Well Bethers, "Boys will be boys"!

Yeah, the arm wrestling plot was funny. Poor Charles! And then Almanzo says Charles would have won if they kept going... I wonder if he was supposed to be honest or respectful there? Ha!

bethers wrote:

Did anyone else find it a bit odd that Dr. Baker was going to wager $50 without even the blink of an eye? He seems like a pretty level-headed guy. $50 was A LOT of money back then. I'm not saying it's completely implausible, but it was a bit odd to me.

Oh yeah! A small town doctor, who was often paid in chickens wouldn't have $50 to fritter on a silly wager. (Probably wouldn't have $50, period!) That's the Hollywood writers creeping quietly into the storyline.

ingallsfan2008 wrote:

I just watched this epsiode today. It seemed to me like Almanzo's brother Perley was attratced to Laura but the only time Laura would talk to Perley was when she wanted Almanzo's attention. I didn't like when Perley took the horse out and ran him after Almanzo told him not to and then the horse wound up getting hurt! This episode wasn't my favorite but it was somewhat funny.

I always thought Perley Day was only looking to see what he could get from Laura and her family, but never had any real interest in her. This is one of my favorite episodes. Charles is so jealous of Laura's affection for Almanzo that he wants to beat him at arm wrestling; Laura teaching Almanzo a thing or two about horses and where a woman belongs; Perley Day being the one to show Almanzo that Laura is no longer a little girl; and Charles and Almanzo nursing Barnum back to health after Perley Day's reckless behavior make it a fun one to watch. But I really like the end when Almanzo hugs Laura and kisses her on the top of the head without even realizing that he's doing it, as if it's the most natural thing in the world for him to do. This is the start of the change in their relationship, even though it takes Laura going away to teach school to get Almanzo to fully notice all the changes in her.

Savannah wrote:

bethers wrote:

Did anyone else find it a bit odd that Dr. Baker was going to wager $50 without even the blink of an eye? He seems like a pretty level-headed guy. $50 was A LOT of money back then. I'm not saying it's completely implausible, but it was a bit odd to me.

Oh yeah! A small town doctor, who was often paid in chickens wouldn't have $50 to fritter on a silly wager. (Probably wouldn't have $50, period!) That's the Hollywood writers creeping quietly into the storyline.

Wow, I can't even believe this never occured to me! You're so right Bethers and Savannah, this is ODD! He was not a wealthy man, that we know of anyway. I guess it's possible he had a savings somehow, and he didn't have a family to support. I think it's out of character, but I do think it's possible. Hey, and welcome to the board, Bethers!

I see Perley Day like you do Cheryl---I don't think he was truly interested in Laura...his mind was on one thing only and that was to further himself any way he could. I also think it made him feel good to come between Laura & Almanzo in a way. Perley Day was no dummy....I think he knew that Laura had 'eyes' for Almanzo.

I really love this episode too Cheryl. It is FUN!! My favorite parts? Pa muttering about Almanzo in the barn, and then Caroline grabbing the bag that Pa is hoisting, and laughing hysterically. "Do you mind, Caroline?!" Also, Laura's electric looks at Almanzo...um, and I mean the HEATED electric ones, where she's ready to beat him to a pulp! :haha: Melissa is really good in this one, I think. Ah, sigh, and the END, Manly hugging her and saying "We did it Beth. We did it." I love that Pa saw Almanzo's character shine through in this episode. Yes, like you said, Cheryl, this is truly the beginning of the L&A relationship here...maybe he didn't know it yet, romantically speaking, but it was definitely a deepening of their friendship and bond, that's for sure. Laura did seem to act a lot older here. And one more thing, I must say, the actor who played Perley Day was really wonderful! I really did want to punch his lights out!

BTW, Beckie, it's great to see you post again! You've been missed!

Amy wrote:

Also, Laura's electric looks at Almanzo...um, and I mean the HEATED electric ones, where she's ready to beat him to a pulp! :haha: Melissa is really good in this one, I think. Ah, sigh, and the END, Manly hugging her and saying "We did it Beth. We did it." I love that Pa saw Almanzo's character shine through in this episode. Yes, like you said, Cheryl, this is truly the beginning of the L&A relationship here...maybe he didn't know it yet, romantically speaking, but it was definitely a deepening of their friendship and bond, that's for sure. Laura did seem to act a lot older here.

Yeah, I like when Laura's ticked off at Almanzo almost more than when she's pining away for him. It's here that we get to see her fiesty side, like when she takes off with Barnum to show Almanzo who should be training horses. :haha: Not only does Almanzo get a chance to shine through in this episode, I think Charles resigns himself to the fact that Almanzo is going to be part of Laura's life. Maybe resigns is not the right word; maybe Charles is finally ready to "accept" Almanzo's importance in Laura's life. We know from the episode "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" that at some point Charles stopped letting the difference in their ages bother him and I think it starts with "Wilder and Wilder".

The one moment that Laura suddenly seems young to me is when she runs to the house saying she's going to cook all of breakfast. Almanzo is just beginning to see her in a slightly different way and then she loses her head and races off like a school girl. But I also think it was appropriate for her, since she was still in that awkward phase between childhood and womanhood.

Yes and I love the little look between Pa and Ma when Laura and Almanzo have that hug at the end.

And Laura did seem immature when she ran off like that but someimes I still act like a school girl. too! It keeps life fun!

[quote="bethandmanly"]

Amy wrote:

Yeah, I like when Laura's ticked off at Almanzo almost more than when she's pining away for him. It's here that we get to see her fiesty side, like when she takes off with Barnum to show Almanzo who should be training horses. :haha:

Oh yeah! How could I have forgotten that!! That is probably the best scene! SO many great ones in this one little epie!

LOL Holly, I still act like a schoolgirl half the time too! But I know what you mean Cheryl...I think that was written well too, keeping her in character of a young teen, like you said. I distinctly remember that age still be trapped in childhood, but wanting to be a grown up. I was way too goofy to be considered a 'grown up' though, and so is Laura! LOL! That was so funny, "I'm gonna make it ALL!" :sillySmiley: ROFL!!

Amy wrote:

Oh yeah! A small town doctor, who was often paid in chickens wouldn't have $50 to fritter on a silly wager. (Probably wouldn't have $50, period!) That's the Hollywood writers creeping quietly into the storyline.

BTW, Beckie, it's great to see you post again! You've been missed! [/quote]

Aww, thanks Amy.

Nels takes a lot of abuse. He should have given Almanzo a longer fight in that match.

Hey, yeah, I mean Nels spent years lifting all those crates and bags of groceries! He should have been more buff.

I enjoyed seeing another one of Almanzo's siblings in this episode, since his family wasn't talked about all that much, other than the season where Eliza Jane was Walnut Grove's teacher and the couple of times that Royal came to visit

a good episode! a little away from the Laura-Almanzo track, I thought the situation between Albert, Andy, and the new student Penelope was kind of funny. I have to agree with Andy, Penelope did seem sort of stuck up, and I had to laugh when Albert put the pig on her lap and then Andy shoved the slice of watermelon in her face!

I for one was glad that there were some lighthearted episodes from time to time. It gave me a chance to exhale from the emotional dramatic episodes that touched me so deeply. Michael Landon was superb with the body language in these episodes. He had me laughing. each time he would encounter manly.

what a good episodes...his brother was annoying.he just used ppl to get what he want..

highwayangel wrote:

I for one was glad that there were some lighthearted episodes from time to time. It gave me a chance to exhale from the emotional dramatic episodes that touched me so deeply.

I agree. This one came on the heels of May We Make Them Proud, perhaps one of the most dramatic episodes of the show. A main character died; the Kendalls lost their second baby; and Albert ran away because he felt to blame. After that we needed some nonsense.

I have not seen this one for a very long time, but I like it a lot, too. I love it when Pa realizes that Laura chose the better brother. And I do remember the arm wrestling where Laura was cheering for Almanzo but then switched to cheering for Pa!

poor pa must of not liked laura talking about him so much.I think cause he was jelouse or knew he was gonna lose a daughter soon. Glad he started liking him more.

Actually think of how difficult it must have been for Almanzo to live up to Laura's expectations in a man, since she grew up with the "perfect man" for a dad!

I never saw Almanzo in competition with Charles, except when the writers purposely made them compete like in this episode and in The In-Laws. Almanzo seemed fairly secure in his own skin. He had a good deal of respect for Charles, though in Laura Ingalls Wilder he says living with Charles must be tough on Mrs. Ingalls because Laura is so much like her Pa and Laura is stubborn.

good point amy