Day's of sunshine.part 2

Almanzo becomes bitter/depressed.He gives up hope.Kind of like he gives up on living cause of his crippling illness.

I'am glad Eliza Jane finally reaslied it and said how she acted was wrong. I was glad when Almanzo started to walk again and build the new home.

The first part of this epie is heartbreaking...I felt very sad for Laura and Manly when they were menaced of loosing their property, Manly was hit by illness and later a tornadoe left them without a roof.

The second part, tough, shows us that there's always some hope behind the apparent darkness of a bad moment.

Vanesa.

This one is an absolute tear-jerker...

One of the best LHOTP episodes!!!!

Vanesa wrote:

The first part of this epie is heartbreaking...I felt very sad for Laura and Manly when they were menaced of loosing their property, Manly was hit by illness and later a tornadoe left them without a roof.

The second part, tough, shows us that there's always some hope behind the apparent darkness of a bad moment.

Vanesa.

I must agree

Ruth wrote:

This one is an absolute tear-jerker...

One of the best LHOTP episodes!!!!

I agree

Gosh.....I cried with this episode.

Poor Laura and Almanzo. First Almanzo had a crippling stroke, then Laura learns he morgaged the house and they were going to have it taken away from them, then it got destroyed by a tornado. She became depressed. I'm happy Almanzo came around and had Charles help him learn to walk again and build a new house.

Spanky wrote:

Poor Laura and Almanzo. First Almanzo had a crippling stroke, then Laura learns he morgaged the house and they were going to have it taken away from them, then it got destroyed by a tornado. She became depressed. I'm happy Almanzo came around and had Charles help him learn to walk again and build a new house.

Yes. This epie is heartbreaking, but true. It always comes that "when it rain, it pours".

Vanesa.

I really felt for them too

I watched this last night and thought of the weight of living in those times although today tornadoes wipe out homes also (although insurance helps a little with monetary issues, emotions are the same)

I did think it was a bit odd that Laura left her new infant to get the cat when she knew the tornado was so close..and then it got away anyway when she fell. I would think (and I love animals) that leaving your baby was not what most would do, especially so helpless.

I also realized how this show was really episode by episode in many ways, no real looking back except for some remembrances when the writers dictated. For example, not once when Almonzo was whining about his crop did Charles say, "I know how you feel, I lost my crop by hail the first year in Plum Creek". "I had a tornado take my crop one year also, you have to fight back", etc. It was like the history is there when they want it, but not other times.
I just kept expecting someone to mention it wasn't the first time a farmer got hit by bad times, Laura lived through it many times, but nothing.
Maybe they didn't want the comparison between him and Charles, because no matter how hurt he was, even when he broke his ribs, he fought, it was when he was older, he got tired. Although it was glossed over, he even went to do dangerous work for Almanzo and Laura in this episode to help him pay his mortgage. I know Almonzo had a big health issue, but the giving up so fast wasn't something I expected. Charles was right, he got his arms back but just didn't seem to want to work on walking.

I'm glad Almonzo came around in the end an watching them all eat in their new "home" was sweet.

littlehouselover wrote:

I did think it was a bit odd that Laura left her new infant to get the cat when she knew the tornado was so close..and then it got away anyway when she fell. I would think (and I love animals) that leaving your baby was not what most would do, especially so helpless.

I always thought that was odd too. But, then, Mary left her child behind during the blind school fire.

littlehouselover wrote:

I also realized how this show was really episode by episode in many ways, no real looking back except for some remembrances when the writers dictated. For example, not once when Almonzo was whining about his crop did Charles say, "I know how you feel, I lost my crop by hail the first year in Plum Creek". "I had a tornado take my crop one year also, you have to fight back", etc. It was like the history is there when they want it, but not other times.

I wonder if that was partially intentional. Laura and Almanzo’s relationship was an important focus of the show. This is the first true test of their marriage. Perhaps making Charles relatable to Almanzo wasn’t important at that moment. In addition, as bad as things were for Charles, he never faced the possibility of being permanently disabled.

littlehouselover wrote:

I know Almonzo had a big health issue, but the giving up so fast wasn't something I expected. Charles was right, he got his arms back but just didn't seem to want to work on walking.

I always thought it was way more than that. Almanzo got in way over his head based upon his being able to bring in a good crop. He mortgaged the house without telling Laura and placed his family in a horrible predicament. When his health suffered, he couldn’t believe things had gone so wrong. His guilt must have been overwhelming. That, on top of everything that was happening to him, probably put him in a very dark place. It isn’t until he realizes Laura needs him that he begins to think of someone other than himself.

Yes, I can see how he was depressed, I just thought the writers had him whine a little too much, it seemed odd to me he gave up so soon exercising, it seemed like one time. I know deep depression can make you just want to do nothing though. Even a slight depression can do that.
When Charles went to earn money and then the house was destroyed, I would think the mortgage still had to get paid. I don't think that was a focus either because you never see them discuss it.

The most profound moment for me was when Laura took Grace to her old home and saw it destroyed, that was very moving...although I hoped Grace could find her way home when she ran off!

I felt for them both!

What I'm wondering is why was Grace left behind when the entire rest of the family went into town? I mean they even took Baby Rose but not 4-year old Grace.

The ending of this epie was so heart wrenching!!!! Manly (finally) came to his senses, and started over. I loved the look on Laura'a face when she saw the skeleton of the house. I almost cried!!      

The ending of this part of the episode was the happy ending that I needed. It was heartbreaking to see Laura so upset after seeing her house destroyed, and sad to see little Grace bravely running home after Laura broke down. I was so happy to see Almanzo find himself again and get back the strength and courage to fight to get better. I sort of hoped that this half of the episode would be longer as well as part 1 of the ep. was over an hour and a half long.