As established in the first season, Little House on the Prairie tells the story of Charles and Caroline Ingalls (Michael Landon, Karen Grassle) living in Walnut Grove, Minnesota with their three daughters: Laura (Melissa Gilbert), Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson), and Carrie (twins Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush). After a well received pilot and a first season with solid viewership that left the series thirteenth in the Nielsen ratings, the second season saw ratings slip a bit, ending the season out of the top thirty in the Nielsen’s. While the excitement and grit of the Ingalls’ resettlement is missing here, the second season still managed some memorable moments.

With the Ingalls’ established in Walnut Grove, their neighbors and community become a central part of their lives. People such as Dr. “Doc” Baker (Kevin Baker), Rev. Alden (Dabs Greer), affable Mercantile Store owner Nels Oleson (Richard Bull), his insufferable wife Harriet (Katherine MacGregor), their spoiled, bully of a daughter Nellie (Alison Arngrim), her sniveling brother Willie (Jonathan Gilbert) and the familiar Isaiah Edwards (Victor French) aren’t always key to an episode, but often, someone in the community—“guest townspeople”—for the sake of argument, take that role.

While much of the season feels somewhat lighthearted, a few episodes are standouts, and one, is quite possibly, the best of the series. “Four Eyes” seems to foreshadow Mary’s later blindness when she begins having trouble in school, and learns that she needs glasses. “Soldier’s Return” finds a Civil War veteran (Richard Mulligan) returning to Walnut Grove and dealing with a morphine addiction. In a rarity for the series, the addiction contributes to his eventual suicide. That episode aired the week after “Centennial,” in which Walnut Grove’s Centennial celebrations are threatened with cancelation after taxes are raised. The townspeople are forced to rethink things when a Russian immigrant gives a touching speech about the joyd of living in America.

The absolute gem of season is the two parter “Remember Me, Parts 1 & 2,” featuring Oscar winner Patricia Neal. Neal gives a moving performance as widowed mother Julia Sanderson facing a terminal illness. With no close relatives willing to take in her children, Julia turns to Charles in an effort to find a solution. While the dilemma is ultimately solved in a far too pat manner, Neal’s performance is one not quickly forgotten.

At times, Little House on the Prairie: Season Two wasn’t as strong as the first, but by the end of the season it seems as though the actors were comfortable in their roles—Melissa Gilbert was clearly more comfortable with the camera—and actor/director/writer and the rest of the crew had a better sense of where they wanted to take the series. It comes as no surprise then, that after this season, Prairie would become a solid member of the Neilsen Top 20 (and for several years, Top 10) for most of the rest of its original network run.

Presented in the 1.36:1 aspect ratio, Lionsgate has delivered another strong 1080p transfer. While there are a few specks throughout, the film elements appear strong. Colors are accurate and well saturated. Sharpness and clarity is quite good, though it suffers a bit during nighttime scenes.

As with the first season, Season Two is delivered with an impressive DTS- HD Master Audio 2.0 mono mix. Despite its obvious limited capabilities, it recreates the intended soundscape of the series very well. Dialogue is clean and clear throughout. There are no anomalies to report.

English SDH subtitles are included.

The following extras are available:

  • “In the Beginning. . .” (HD; 15:59) In this second part of an apparent extras documentary series about the show, the son of television executive Ed Friendly and actors Melissa Gilbert and Dean Butler, are among the interview subjects.