THE PLOT THUS FAR
Fall in love all over again, with the classic television series that continues to capture hearts around the world and experience the treasured saga with vividly restored picture and sound. Based on the best-selling books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this epic series about the challenges and triumphs of life on the American frontier follows the beloved Ingalls family as they plant roots and foster friendships in Walnut Grove. Starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert in their unforgettable roles as Charles and Laura Ingalls, this special collection celebrates the power of family, faith and the human spirit.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Little House on the Prairie” had a weird obsession with animals in its third season. Well, that and playing up Nellie Oleson as a giant bitch. Basically, an animal was about to get shot in the face or a family member was going to lose something in every other episode. That’s some emotionally taxing material for the mid to late 1970s. I know that “Parenthood” throws some curveballs at you, but NBC rarely has had a drama live up to that emotional boatload of feelings. It’s a shame that younger people don’t dig on it.
Michael Landon is way more passive this season, as if that was humanly possible. The kids and the townspeople get way more screen time, as Landon’s only big showy moment is dealing with the death of his character’s mother. I’m not sure how many episodes Landon directed this season, but it felt more like his push behind the camera. You kinda see the same thing around this time over at MASH. I guess it was part of the Alda/Landon Cold War.
The Blu-Ray comes with a Digital HD copy and casting featurette as the special features. The A/V Quality is sharp for a show of its age. The 1080p transfer shows that the restoration is amazing. Plus, the DTS-HD 2.0 master audio track is period appropriate. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to fans of classic TV.
RELEASE DATE: 09/09/2014