User Reviews

Willie Oleson, that rambunctious little scamp who frequented the corner in the Walnut Grove schoolhouse has today reached the end of his senior year and is graduating. They grow up so fast. While he prepares for his big speech, Laura has gone to visit an old friend by the name of Mae Flannery, a widow who'd been living in a big house all alone for so long and had decided, when her time came, that she'd will the house to Laura and Almanzo. The Wilder matriarch was flattered beyond compare. And, knowing this show, they may stand to inherit the house sooner than expected; that night, Willie snuck out of the house to go see his new sweetheart, Rachel Brown. They have sort of a Romeo and Juliet relationship as neither one's parents approve of one another. Knowing of his impending graduation and then having to take the entrance exam to the university, Willie had secretly made the decision to stay in Walnut Grove and manage the restaurant. It was a tough choice, but he made it in favor of Rachel, as they stood in the barn kissing...sheesh, get a room, you two. While the night brought happiness for Willie, the morning brought sadness for Laura. Seems Mae was at death's door (somehow I'm not surprised), suffering from the fatal Little House Plot Device Disease, but at least poor Mrs. Flannery can rest in peace knowing that Laura and Almanzo have agreed to take her house.

Mr. Edwards came by to help Laura fix up her new house. Seems she had decided to turn it into a boarding house and rent out the rooms. That will open up the doors for some colorful characters like Mr. Montague, but that's another story. Back at Casa de Oleson, Harriet receives the news she'd been waiting for: the results of Willie's university exam. He failed, and before she had the chance to explode, Willie laid out his plan right then and there: manage the restaurant, marry Rachel Brown and there wasn't a darn thing Harriet could do about it. And for once, Mrs. Oleson was speechless. So as Nels consoles his hysterical spouse, Willie tries to gather up the courage to speak with Mr. Brown, re: his bride to be. After stumbling around his words, he indirectly asked Mr. Brown, and to his surprise, he gave his full blessing. It's official, Willie and Rachel are engaged. Looks like Nels is finally going to get the daughter he always wanted...one who DOESN'T make trouble, and after the wedding, the newly weds will become the Wilders' first boarders. Yep, everything was going great for everybody...except Harriet. She made an ass of herself at the post office putting down Rachel, who was standing right behind her, giving her second thoughts. Well, sir, when Willie heard this he went back to the mercantile and unloaded 17 years of pent up rage on his over-bearing, loud-mouthed mother. He's getting married, Mr. Edwards is his best man, and that was that! So while Harriet pouted in bed, everybody in Walnut Grove gathered for the wedding. Eventually she went, dressed as though she were going to a funeral, and left during the reception. However, Nels followed her home where he professes his love for her, and they share a dance.

I must say, this episode can be considered Mrs. Oleson's swan song. Even though she appears briefly in "Hello and Goodbye", she's absent from the three finale movies, this is the last time she plays the role as the story's antagonist. She's done many horrible things before, and trying to stand between her son and the girl he loves is no exception. Needless to say, Katherine MacGregor brought her A game here, just like she always did. Richard Bull was also on the ball at playing the ever-supportive, long-suffering Nels, but special props go to Jonathan Gilbert. Over the series' 9 years, he really blossomed as a performer. And of course, the lovely Sherri Stoner, beautiful as ever. Who knew she'd go on to write for Tiny Toons and Animaniacs, and quite well, I might add. Too bad they didn't introduce Rachel earlier on in the season and build on their relationship. See how she and Willie met. "May I Have This Dance", well acted, well directed from Victor French, this one is good fun.

I'm surprised they didn't have more episodes featuring Willie. He was a fine actor, as proven in this episode. He finally graduated and ready to go out in the world. But the path he wants to take differs from the one his mother wants. Willie wants to marry a classmate by the name of Rachel and run the restaurant. Harriet wants him to go to college. Knowing it will cause problems at home, Willie still goes with his dreams, deliberately failing his entrance exam to college. After a preliminary argument, Willie asks Rachel's father for her hand (which he allows) and starts making arrangements for the wedding. Which includes reserving a room at Laura and Almonzo's new boarding house they inherited. While going to deliver invitations, Rachel over hears Harriet complaining how she was thinking Willie was throwing away his life marrying Rachel and she accuses her of convincing Willie to fail his entrance exam. Rachel ran off, dropping all the invitations. Willie confronts Rachel and asks her what's wrong. She tells Willie what happened. He's finally had enough and confronts Harriet. He unloads on her and blames her for ruining his life and that Rachel made him happy and made his life better. As he stormed off, he tells her that he's having Mr. Edwards as his best man. Talk about a major burn! Willie definitely had the last word. Nels was astonished and proud of him for standing up to her finally.

Anyway, they wed and Harriet snuck in to the wedding wearing a dark veil. Nels went up to her afterwards and congratulated her for attending. Later on, during the reception, Nels went home to a sad and lonely Harriet. Nels remind her how before they were married, how his mother disapproved of him leaving college to marry her. He told Harriet that was the best thing he had ever done and that he would do it all over again. She was overjoyed hearing that. He then asked her for a dance, which they did.

The only thing I had a problem with is that girl looked a bit too old for Willie. I looked both him and her up and she is in fact 7 years older. They shouldve chosen a girl closer to his age.