A Wiser Heart

There are one too many William Woestehoff's in this world.

Not one of my favorites. I did like how Laura pushed her boss into the leftover scrap barrel. Eliza Jane sure wasn't herself in this episode being jealous that the professor liked Laura. I don't like how she acted in Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow.

It was sad that the professor came between Laura and Eliza Jane when they had previously got along so well. It is the middle of the episode on my dvd and it has been a while since I've watched it but I am just waiting to see Laura stand up to that professor and her boss at the dishwashing job!

That tussle between Laura and the dishwashing boss is exciting yet is made to seem like nothing in comparison to that dramatic final exam related confrontation. I still insist that had to be based on something that occurred in real life.

Just watched this one, although I had seen it before. It's another one I have sort of mixed feelings about. In some ways, I do like it. Nice to see Eliza Jane again, and it was neat that it sort of maintained continuity with young Laura - remember when she told Mr. Sprague about how much she liked Ralph Waldo Emerson, way back when she was just a little girl? And how he bought books for the school, including Ralph Waldo Emerson's works? Anyway, I thought that was a nice touch and could feasibly be enough a reason for Laura to go all the way to Arizona for this class with Eliza Jane.

But things that bother me about this episode: First and foremost, that Eliza Jane, even when she knew that "William" was a married man, didn't care! I find that pretty hard to believe. And perhaps even harder to believe is that Eliza Jane would just fall instantly in love with William when he knocked her down. I know she is a lonely woman, and William was somewhat dashing, but she just acted so silly in that scene. I could see her thinking that he was an attractive man, and then finding out he was the teacher later, her developing a deeper attraction, but I don't really think she would be just madly in love at the first sight of him.

I also think it strange that Mort would have a hard time retaining a job if he really had graduated from Harvard, Oxford, and then been the editor of the literary magazine! But it was kind of fun seeing him one-upping William. However, I think it was silly that William and he went outside and had their physical fight, with all the adults following them out there as though they were young schoolchildren going out for a playground fight.

Also, why wouldn't Laura be traveling back with Eliza and Mort to Minneapolis and then from there to Walnut Grove? I can't believe there would have been two trains leaving Arizona within 1-2 hours both heading to Minnesota.....and Laura indicated that her train ticket was to Walnut Grove, but Walnut Grove doesn't have a train station, so she would have had to go to some other town and then take the stagecoach to Walnut Grove or somehow get other transport.

One other thing that bothers me about this episode - when Eliza Jane is going on about Laura having everything - a husband who loves her and a teaching job in a town with all her friends and family.....well, it was because of Eliza Jane that those things happened. So now for Eliza Jane to be complaining about this makes me feel like Eliza Jane is not so noble and sacrificial and perhaps really regrets what she did. To me it sort of ruins her nice gesture that she did in order for Almanzo and Laura to be married.

I didn't like the episodes when Eliza Jane came back. The character changed too much.

I agree. They should have just left things with her where they were when she seemed so noble to give up the house and the teaching job so Laura and Almanzo could be together. That was a nice way for her to leave the series and it seems to me that it would have been better if they did not bring that character back.