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Little House Darkest Episode: Suicide Attempts
15 May
Summary
- Mr. Edwards' despair after a logging accident led to suicide attempts.
- The episode's dark themes were considered unusual for its 8 p.m. timeslot.
- Cast members debate if such sensitive content could air on network TV today.
The season 6 episode "The Return of Mr. Edwards" from "Little House on the Prairie," which aired on August 5, 1979, is being revisited by cast members for its exceptionally dark subject matter. The episode, directed by Michael Landon, centered on Victor French's character, Isaiah Edwards, who faced profound despair following a logging accident that rendered him unable to walk.
Edwards' subsequent descent into near-unrecognizable despair included two suicide attempts, a storyline that deeply unsettled cast members like Alison Arngrim and Dean Butler. Arngrim noted that the episode was like a standalone film and expressed doubt about its suitability for today's "family hour" programming.
Butler questioned whether such sensitive material could be produced for television now, with Arngrim suggesting it would require warnings at every commercial break. The cast acknowledged Landon's directorial style of confronting difficult issues directly, even if it meant portraying harrowing content like Edwards' struggles.
Despite its challenging themes, the episode was praised for Victor French's powerful performance. "The Return of Mr. Edwards" ultimately showed Edwards accepting help from Charles and Laura Ingalls, concluding a storyline that remains a notable examination of despair in the series' history.
