User Reviews

Sometimes in life, there is only so much a man can take. When that happens, he's just got to throw up his arms and proclaim, "I give up." Now in this case, Nels Oleson is the man who's had just about all he can take. Day after day he's hounded by Horrible Harriet and their rotten kids. Willie can't stop pilfering the candy jar and Nellie, unable to cook for her own restaurant, expects Nels to do it for her. These people are just plain lazy. They cannot accomplish anything for themselves, they expect Nels to do it for them. Finally at his wit's end, the Oleson patriarch does what he should have done years ago: go into business for himself and get the hell outta Dodge, or in this case Walnut Grove. He became his own mobile merchant, pedaling goods along the countryside. After a solid day of traveling, Nels decided to stop at a local boarding house. He meets the jovial proprietor, Molly Reardon, who shows that hospitality is her middle name. She made Nels feel right at home. So much so that when she asked if he were married, he said no. This surprised him later on, however I don't think I would admit it if I were married to Harriet Oleson either. Anyway, it seems Nels and Molly really hit it off. She tells him gut-bustingly funny stories and even teaches him to dance an Irish jig. After that lovely bit of fun, Nels had to stop back home at the mercantile to load up on goods. Harriet and Nellie were thrilled to see him, mainly because they have their own personal cook back. As Nels prepared to hit the road again, Harriet acted as though she really missed having him around, but he paid it no mind. The road was calling and he had to answer.

After a prosperous day of peddling, Nels happily came home to Molly and gave her a cameo as a show of appreciation, and then they started kissing passionately. Of all the worst possible times, who should walk in at that moment but Charles Ingalls. He was on a freight run and looking for a place to crash for the night, but after this awkward introduction, he decided to leave. Fortunately Charles would never tell Harriet, however I think she might find out sooner or later. Especially that night as Nels and Harriet go over inventory and she notices an expensive cameo gone. As if Nels couldn't be any less discreet, Harriet next walks in on him trying on a hair piece. She laughs like a hyena, he storms off in a huff, saying he didn't know when of if he'd be back. As he walked into Molly's, he saw she had a male visitor. Turns out this man, Dan Reardon, was her father. That's right, she's available, Nels, and I assume you are now too. However, after seeing how Molly and her father get along, Nels comes to a realization that the reason Molly seemed attracted to him is because she sees so much of her father in him. It was then that Nels had to break her heart, admitting to being a married man in the process. Leaving the distraught woman all alone, Nels ventured back home and to his surprise, Harriet had prepared a candlelight dinner complete with a stone roast. Nels realized just how happy he was to be home and so he and his beloved take a lovely night stroll.

This episode can really give a viewer mixed feelings. On the one hand, we're glad to see Nels Oleson finally get away from his rotten wife and kids (though this wouldn't be the first time) and be with someone who actually seems to like and respect him. But then as Nels and this new woman become closer, we remember he is married and our thoughts turn to Harriet. Sure she's a nagging she-demon, but she's a person with feelings. Finally, our feelings go with Molly when Nels has to break her heart and admit to being a married man. So, who was trying to fool who here? Anyway, Richard Bull was great, as usual. Not too many Nels-centered episodes, but the ones that do exist are very unique. Katherine MacGregor was also good as Nels' better half, showing a compassionate side here, another rarity for the series. Suzanne Rogers was also good as the peppy Molly. Though this episode isn't too memorable or doesn't stand out really, it's still a good one and worth checking out. If you like Nels and you are still not convinced that he'd be better off without Harriet and those bratty kids, then this episode is all the proof to the contrary that you'll need.

I was never a big LHOP fan as a kid but in later years watching reruns as an adult I got to appreciate it more. I always thought Richard Bull was sexy and handsome as Mr Oleson and he gets to show more of his excellent acting chops in this episode.

Here he has finally had enough of his wife and kids taking advantage of him and hits the road to sell his wares. He ends up taking a room at a boarding house run by an attractive young Irish woman named Molly. She is everything Mrs Oleson is not , kind compassionate and enjoys cooking for Nels. Over the course of the episode, Nels and Molly obviously are growing attached to each other(he also lies and tells her he's not married) . Then in an awkward scene, Charles Ingalls walks into the boarding house looking for a room for the night as he'd been working in town and catches Nels in an intense lip-lock with Molly in the kitchen which makes Nels look like he's scene a ghost.Charles decides against the room and apologizes, (obviously after seeing Nels making out with another woman is not something he wants to be around)so he leaves. This of course causes Nels to panic , and after telling Molly he has a headache rushes after Charles. He explains to Charles how he feels and that Mrs Oleson must never know. Charles does what I think most friends would do and that's stay out of it and tells Nels that it's not he who Nels needs to explain things too and of course Nels knows this and is confused as to what to do with his life next.

He does continue to see Molly and we see in between these visits that his relationship with his wife has become strained. In the end ,Nels decides that he has to break it off , She assumes he is going to pop the question at some point but he tells her that he cant marry her and at first tells her that she has one father in her life and that she does not need another, that does not discourage her and she tells him that she loves him , he says hes flattered and honored and cares for her deeply but that he is already married and that he is sorry he lied and when she asks him why ,he responds that he doesn't know , 'i guess I'm just a foolish old man". He then leaves her sitting there broken hearted and returns home to his wife and kids.

I felt bad for Molly ,she really loved him and one can only hope she got over it and found someone. What I really hated about this episode was the fact that the only time Harriet shows any concern for him is when he threatens to leave Walnut Grove and only when he's gone does she seem to miss him. And his kids are just lazy, Nellie has a restaurant and a hotel and she is totally incompetent without any cooking skills or manners,always needing Nels to bail her out ,Willie is just a little weasel who always eats all the candy. I just cant see any decent man wanting to be with a woman like Harriet -warranted looks aren't everything but she is an ugly bitter person on the inside and for a charming man like Nels to have wanted to marry her and father her children is something that could only exist in the world of a fictional TV show. Too bad the brains behind the show never got bold and explored the possibility of Nels actually leaving her and the kids for good. Too many shows shied away from divorce as to keep it wholesome and family friendly.

Real world it ain't. Still though Bull shines as he is the star of this episode and his range of expression and emotion is spot on. Always will remember him as the sexy Nels Oleson , may he RIP>

Every man deserves a woman like Molly ... or Caroline, and Harriet certainly never deserved Nells, but he made the right choice by the end.

This is one of my personal favorites and I think one of the best episodes as the show moves to more Wilder-based story lines. (Almonzo never grows on me and Liza Jane is a nut.) Nels Oleson is one of the consistently best characters on Little House and this episode let's that fact shine. Through the entire show's run, you can count on Nels to either be the hen-pecked husband, the kind man behind the Mercantile's counter, or the man who stands behind reason and compassion in the town. However, we get to see his character do all three in this episode while also carrying the story line on his own. It's a sweet story and one that's long overdue for Nels as we see him with Harriet, Nellie, and Willie. Only Nels can get away with Charles walking in on him with Molly - who is a great character too - and not immediately be seen in a negative light because we're happy for Nells and know that he won't really stray or abandon his family, he just needs a break! And Harriet gets some perspective! Charles sees this too and because he's Charles doesn't shame Nels or tell anyone. I always finish this episode happy - for the story, the love of Nels and the a Olesons, and as a break from Laura going gaga for Manly (ugh...). 😊

I am going to disagree with the majority of colleagues who have given their opinion. I don't have a bad impression of Harriet Oleson. We all have defects, and her defect is vanity and that is why she always wants to present herself as superior to the rest. But I don't see her as a bad person: she doesn't kill, she doesn't steal, she takes care of her children (and even spoils them), and she was always faithful to her husband. Apparently he mistreats Nels, but couples have their rules and they must be interpreted within that couple's agreement. I know thousands of marriages where someone pretends to mistreat another because the supposed victim ultimately enjoys that treatment (masochism), which is a treatment agreed upon within the couple.

It is understandable that any man would be attracted to Molly or a well-mannered young woman, but it is a long way from assuming that Nels could have made a financially prosperous life with him as he did with Harriet.

Charles' appearance at the most inopportune moment is another of the many "miracles" or "strange coincidences" seen in the series.- Everyone's performances in this episode were fantastic.