Little House on the Prairie: Season 5

1978 · 24 episodes · ★ 7.3

What Season 5 of Little House on the Prairie

Walnut Grove no longer offers a future to its residents, so the Ingalls family moves to Winoka, where Charles works as a hotel manager and Caroline as a cook. The Olesons and the Garveys arrive with them, and they too fail to find the prosperity they were looking for. In a city dominated by Mr. Standish, humiliation and hard work wear down the newcomers. Charles grows attached to Albert, a boy who makes a living shining shoes on the street. Meanwhile, school football games, Adam and Mary's school for the blind and neighbors' arguments add tension to a season defined by the struggle to get ahead far from home.

24episodes

Sep 10, 1978premiered

Mar 18, 1979Latest episode

20.6 hrtotal runtime

Season 5 Episodes

5x01 As Long as We're Together (1)
Sep 10, 1978 · 48 min
Poor economic conditions cause the Ingalls to move closer to Mary. Mary is now teaching at the blind school. The Ingalls move to be closer to Mary, where she helps teach the younger blind students. Laura catches an orphan, Albert, stealing from their hotel. Charles becomes friends with Albert and invites him to Mary's birthday party.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writer: Michael Landon · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Anne Ramsey, Cletus Young
5x02 As Long as We're Together (2)
Sep 17, 1978 · 48 min
Charles even sells his fiddle to buy Mary a gift. At the party, Mary gives Pa his fiddle back. Laura gives Mary a card. Mary is so proud of Laura writing the letter in braille. Almost everyone is in tears, including Mrs. Oleson, when Mary announces that she has nothing to wish for, since she has everything that she could possibly want.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writer: Michael Landon · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Cletus Young, Leon Charles
5x03 The Winoka Warriors
Sep 24, 1978 · 48 min
A blind student feels he is useless. He is reluctant to do anything at the blind school. The student gains self-confidence when he is talked into being the center for the Winoka football team. He is able to throw Albert across the goal line during the game to score the tying touchdown for the Winoka Warriors, keeping the Warriors from losing.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writer: John T. Dugan · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, John Ireland, Leon Charles
5x04 The Man Inside
Oct 1, 1978 · 48 min
Amelia, a new girl that Laura meets in school, is ashamed of her very overweight father. Her father works at the blind school where Mary works. All the blind students like him a lot. They claim that they can see his love. One day, Laura and some other students from school, start making fun of the overweight person, not knowing that they were making fun of Amelia's father. Amelia's father pretends to leave town since his girl is so ashamed of him. He hides out at the blind school. When he is involved in an accident, Amelia reveals to her dad how much she loves him.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writer: Michael Landon · Starring: Cliff Emmich, Hersha Parady, Katherine Woodville, Sam Edwards
5x05 There's No Place Like Home (1)
Oct 8, 1978 · 48 min
Toby Noe wins a lottery of $5,000 and becomes a man of means. He buys the children a cartload of fireworks, for an annual celebration. Standish dupes Toby into losing all his money using cards and drink at the saloon. Everything comes to a head as the fireworks go off in the saloon. The Ingalls, Olesons, and Garveys get tired of the bustling city life during all this (Nels getting drunk and wins a whole pile of money), and they decide quickly to return to Walnut Grove. The Ingalls take Albert along with them.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writer: Michael Landon · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Ray Bolger, Leon Charles
5x06 There's No Place Like Home (2)
Oct 15, 1978 · 73 min
As the Ingalls, Garveys and Olesons return to Walnut Grove they discover a town that is badly in need of repair. With a lot of hard work, from everyone around them, they're able to get the town back to its old self, helping a number of people who feel they are living in a dead town, like Lars Hanson.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writer: Michael Landon · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Kevin Hagen, Karl Swenson
5x07 Fagin
Oct 22, 1978 · 48 min
Laura feels ignored and left out when Charles spends all of his time with Albert and the calf given to Albert. Albert runs away after overhearing Charles and Caroline talking about Laura not feeling that she is part of the family anymore. Laura takes Albert's calf to the fair and wins first place. She dedicates the award to Albert. Albert, who is secretly hiding and watching the show, comes out when he hears Laura's heartfelt words.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writers: Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Kevin Hagen, Kraig Metzinger
5x08 Harriet's Happenings
Oct 29, 1978 · 48 min
Mrs. Oleson's cousin starts a newspaper in Walnut Grove, and she uses the fledgling small-town publication as her forum for gossip. It isn't long before the newspaper creates havoc and embarrassment for the townspeople, leading Charles to take matters into his own hands.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writer: John T. Dugan · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Ike Eisenmann, Alison Arngrim, Kevin Hagen
5x09 The Wedding
Nov 5, 1978 · 49 min
Adam finally asks Mary to marry him. She begins having second thoughts when her parents starting talking about being grandchildren and how hard it was to keep track of Mary when she was little. Mary begins to wonder if she could take care of a child. A blind child gets caught in a dust storm and is found by Mary and Adam. After this, Mary realizes that she has nothing to worry about. They get married by Reverend Alden.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writer: Arthur Heinemann · Starring: Christopher Bowman, Linwood Boomer, Dabbs Greer, Wendi Turnbaugh
5x10 Men Will Be Boys
Nov 12, 1978 · 48 min
Jonathan and Charles allow their boys to prove their manhood by allowing them to take a trip to Sleepy Eye by themselves. Jonathan and Charles secretly follow the boys. The boys end up making the trip with no problems at all. However, the fathers get into some embarrassing situations following their boys.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writer: Don Balluck · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Hersha Parady, Patrick Cranshaw, Merlin Olsen
5x11 The Cheaters
Nov 19, 1978 · 49 min
Andy Garvey's mother is embarrassed by her son's performance at school. She hires Nellie Oleson to tutor him. Nellie reveals to Andy how she gets such good grades. Nellie makes Andy keep the secret of Nellie cheating. Andy eventually admits what he has been doing and his mother makes sure that Nellie isn't able to cheat on the next test.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writer: Arthur Heinemann · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Hersha Parady, Merlin Olsen
5x12 Blind Journey (1)
Nov 26, 1978 · 48 min
When the blind school closes up, the people of Walnut Grove decide to make the old Reverend's house a blind school. Charles leads the students to their new school. Mrs. Oleson comes along on the trip because she believes that a prominent person will be with them.+ This story is in part about racism. It begins with Joe Kagan's membership to the church in Walnut Grove, something Mrs. Oleson is very much against as he is black. Elsewhere, the blind school is forced to close. Charles and Joe Kagan lead the group of blind students through the woods to their new school in Walnut Grove, but not before Harriet has joined them, willing and eager because she hears they will be joined by more blind students and their teacher, who isn't blind, Hester-Sue Terhune. Harriet says the name Terhune is very prominent and it must be a sophisticated woman with a great upbringing. She buys a new dress and even wears a fancy wig. Harriet walks as she refuses to sit next to Joe Kagan on one of the wagons.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writers: Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella, John T. Dugan · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Kevin Hagen, Leon Charles
5x13 Blind Journey (2)
Dec 3, 1978 · 49 min
When Mrs. Oleson meets Hester-Sue Terhune she is very disappointed to discover she is black. Hester-Sue has bought black children to join the rest of the blind school and they all continue the journey onwards to Walnut Grove. In the end it takes the words of a little blind black boy to teach her that prejudice is wrong, and Harriet comes to a crossroads in her life, whilst Adam will have to face his deepest fear as he comes to a crossing of his own.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writers: Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella, John T. Dugan · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Kevin Hagen, Marcus Chong
5x14 The Godsister
Dec 17, 1978 · 73 min
In this episode starring twins Lindsey and Sidney Greenbush, Charles takes a job on a telephone crew that is working in southern Minnesota, which requires him to be away from home for several weeks. Carrie, heartsick for her Pa and craving attention, only manages to get into everybody else's way, so the lonesome tyke creates an imaginary friend, Alyssa, to ease the pain.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writer: Don Balluck · Starring: George D. Wallace, Hersha Parady, Dolph Sweet, Burke Byrnes
5x15 The Craftsman
Jan 7, 1979 · 49 min
A story about bigotry. Albert becomes an apprentice of an old Jew, Isaac. The people in school call Albert a Jew-lover and beat him up. Albert learns a sense of pride from Isaac. Albert and Isaac become the best of friends.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writer: Paul Wolff · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Kevin Hagen, Frank De Kova
5x16 Blind Man's Bluff
Jan 14, 1979 · 49 min
After a boy is in an accident, he pretends to be blind to keep his parents from getting divorced. Laura discovers that the boy isn't blind, but doesn't tell his parents because the boy pleads with her not to. The boy is involved in another accident and has a concussion. The concussion causes him to not remember his pretending to be blind.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writer: Arthur Heinemann · Starring: Kevin Hagen, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Bert Kramer, Ronnie Scribner
5x17 Dance with Me
Jan 21, 1979 · 72 min
Toby Noe turns up again after the Ingalls, Garveys and Olesons decided to leave the town Standish owned (episode 93, There's No Place Like Home (1)). He makes an immediate impact, stirring things up, especially with Amanda. Laura and Albert do some matchmaking for the upcoming dance.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writer: Paul Wolff · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Ray Bolger, Ysabel MacCloskey
5x18 The Sound of Children
Feb 4, 1979 · 49 min
Mary is expecting a child. Mary is able to get Adam closer to his father because of the expectancy of a child. His father even suggests that Mary and Adam come live with him. After Mary has a miscarriage, Mary and Adam really find out that Adam's father only wanted to be with Adam because of the baby. They decide to remain in Walnut Grove.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writers: Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Kevin Hagen, Philip Abbott
5x19 The Lake Kezia Monster
Feb 11, 1979 · 49 min
Mrs. Olesen forecloses on the lakefront property of Kezia, and she, Nellie and Willie cause no end of grief for the elderly recluse. Laura, Andy and Albert hatch a ""get even"" plan by claiming a monster lives in the lake.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writer: John T. Dugan · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Hersha Parady, Merlin Olsen
5x20 Barn Burner
Feb 18, 1979 · 49 min
It all starts when a local farmer, who is hateful and bigoted, refuses to set a fair price for wheat, since black farmers would be entitled to the same price. The whole thing escalates when the farmer assaults Andy and is later accused of setting fire to the Garvey's barn.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writer: Don Balluck · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Jeff Corey, Alison Arngrim, Kevin Hagen
5x21 The Enchanted Cottage
Feb 25, 1979 · 49 min
Mary starts to be able to distinguish light from dark and the Ingalls believe she is regaining her sight. Mary is taken to the specialist only to discover that a brain impulse was causing her to see light when she felt the heat from the sun coming through a window. While Mary is away, Albert and Laura fix up Mr. Edwards' old home. However, the only colors of paint that the mercantile has is pink and purple. Mary returns and talks to Laura in the old Edwards' cabin. Laura tells Mary that her and Albert were building a club house. Mary tells Laura she is glad she can't see the room after Laura tells her what colors they used.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writer: Don Balluck · Starring: Kevin Hagen, Hersha Parady, Ruth Foster, Linwood Boomer
5x22 Someone Please Love Me
Mar 4, 1979 · 49 min
Charles stays with a family while looking for some horses to buy. The children of the family asks Mr. Ingalls if he could possibly do something to keep their parents from splitting up. Thanks to Charles talking to the husband and the wife, they decide to stay together and work things out.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writer: Michael Landon · Starring: Kyle Richards, Jenny Sullivan, Charles Cioffi, Bobby Rolofson
5x23 Mortal Mission
Mar 11, 1979 · 49 min
Charles and Jonathan meet with danger as deadly as the disease they left behind them when they are sent for the medical supplies needed to battle an outbreak of anthrax in Walnut Grove.
Directing: William F. Claxton · Writer: John T. Dugan · Starring: Jonathan Gilbert, Alison Arngrim, Kevin Hagen, Hersha Parady
5x24 The Odyssey Season Finale
Mar 18, 1979 · 49 min
Albert and Laura leave home to run away with their friend, Dhillon. Dhillon, who is dying from leukemia, wants to achieve his life long dream of seeing the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Ingalls catches up with the children, but when he finds out what is going on, he helps them get to the ocean.
Directing: Michael Landon · Writers: Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella · Starring: Kevin Hagen, Steve Shaw, Bill Quinn, Melinda Cordell