User Reviews

This episode opened with a confusing long ride home. Olivia is painting by a bridge and John Boy pulls up in his car. He surprises her as he's not seen her paint before. He drives her home and seems like 3 miles. Did Olivia walk that long distance to paint? Later he convinces her to learn to drive and go into Charlottesville for art lessons, all happening so quickly but it's only an hour show.

Grandma has never been more crabby thinking Olivia is just wasting her time. Someone should have told Grandma to shut up and go fold clothes. She also tries to supervise MaryEllen, who only wants to go on innocent walks with her latest beau who shares her interests.

Enter one Joshua Williams, art instructor. He seems to be captivated upon seeing Olivia, is it because his other students are all over the hill? Was Joshua a great painter, could he not sell his work and needs to teach night school? What is his background? I think we were asked to believe he has never been in love before he saw Olivia. Does he fall for all his students?

Joshua spends all his time with her on a class trip to a Richmond museum watching her admire painters and when he mistakes her enthusiasm of art as a mutual attraction, Olivia is shocked and I might add a bit naive. When he wants her to run away with him to Paris does he really mean it? As a viewer we're asked to accept whatever they tell us about him, which isn't much. I think if we had seen his work, watched him teach and saw his talent we might appreciate this character. Unfortunately very little is apparent about him.

When he comes to see Olivia to convince her to come back to class, I'm surprised John was so cordial. After all he professed his love to his wife knowing she was married. This would have been more believable if we knew the backstory on Joshua but all we see is a man trying to seduce a woman away from her family.

David Selby certainly showed a young man in love but we needed to know more about him.

I liked the idea of Olivia wanting to try something different. As portrayed right at the beginning, she was happily spending some time painting a scene of the mountain. But she didn't think she had any talent. John-Boy convinces her to take a free night class, offered at "the high school in Charlottesville." But first, he has to teach her to drive his car, so she can get there. After a comedic beginning behind the wheel, Olivia studies and practices and obtains her driver's license. She proudly starts off for class, which is taught by a handsome younger man, who is most helpful and encouraging.

Right away the viewer gets a hint that he might be developing feelings for Olivia, but there is nothing concrete. While having coffee with her after class one night, he speaks about desiring to go to France and become a real painter. He says, "Olivia, what would you say if I said I'd like to take you with me to Paris?" She laughs it off, apparently not thinking he could possibly be serious.

With every scene at home, Grandma expresses her view that the whole thing is a waste of time for Olivia. She seems to think the only thing she should consider studying is something she could make money off. This is inconsistent with her often shown love of music, and encouragement of Jason learning to play the piano and guitar and more. She clearly appreciates the "arts" and understands they bring joy to people. Sometimes they make her be too crabby, just to provide a contrary voice, I guess.

The subplot involves Mary Ellen and a boyfriend who is studying to become a doctor. She gets the idea here that she'd rather become a doctor than a nurse and argues with him, and with Grandma, as both are quite against her trying to become a doctor. This plot was too much of a 1970s-style women's lib debate to be off much interest.

One day he organized an outing for several of his students--a long drive to Richmond to tour an art museum. Not wishing to spoil too much, I will say that he makes his emotions more clear after returning to Charlottesville. Olivia is flattered and confused as to what to do.

To me, this was a slow-paced episode. Olivia's reactions to the instructor were real and understandable. I guess I knew all along she wasn't going to run off to France (you can't call that a spoiler) nor was she to become rich by painting landscapes and apples.

There just isn't much here for me to give it a score higher than a 4.

Never found Michael particularly attractive, just functional as the old fashioned trad mom of loads and loads of kids.

Caroline Ingalls on the other hand ....

Here we have a young art teacher being drawn to Michael..yeah right.

Guess this episode was to ensure we don't forget that Michael is a home maker, a cook , nurse and advisor..who Ralph Waite fancies a lot.

Ok. We get it.