Gold Country

In this conclusion to "Gold Country," we watch Charles really catch the fever. Even when a friend is murdered for his gold, Charles simply moves his family into town and continues on the hunt. Laura learns a very costly lesson about keeping her mouth shut when she reveals a secret that hurts a friend of hers.

Sometimes the lessons we learn are hard, but we usually remember them.

I'm a bit sad that this is the last episode with the Edwards family in it as they are. Soon, we'll see the Edwards again (next season, I believe), but never like they are here. Don't fear, though, because another great family moves into Walnut Grove and makes a bang of an appearance in the very next episode!

I always enjoyed this part. I thought it was a nice break from the dealings with the Olsen's, Pa not having to pennies to rub together, and Mary and Laura going to school all year round. But in truth, traveling 200 miles searching for gold was a bit out of character for the level- headed, hard-working farmer.

I've watched this episode lots of times, but I never realized how unbelievable the rain was. They said it rained for two months if I understand. My eleven year old son saw that part today and asked, "Then where's the flood?" He's right. With that much rain you'd think there would be standing water. Also, when they wake up on the first dry day, the grass seems dry...

The story itself is interesting. The Pioneers travel to the wild West. Opposite of all those 50's and 60's westerns we all love, I think it showed a very rough town. At lease those westerns showed the good side of towns out west. Of course neither Caroline or Grace enjoyed the harshness of the town. I enjoyed seeing the west, though.

Isaiah was pretty cool in this episode. I loved the relationship he and Grace has. The children, of course, were every curious of all the new things and met the old man in the old house who has his own sad story to tell - a story we'll hear more about in the next episode...

Things were always "hard" in Walnut Grove. The families leaving to hunt for gold seemed odd and out of character for the Ingalls. Caroline wasn't 100% on board but yielded to her husband. Those get rich schemes never work. The part of this storyline that could have used better writing was how much they shared with strangers. Also, when Laura shared Zachariah's secrets and it cost him. Her pa telling her it was not her fault was wrong. He should have relayed to her the seriousness and consequences of what she had done. She's was old enough to understand that some times the consequences can't be erased by an apology.