User Reviews

Looks as though Mary Ingalls has had herself a very prosperous day. Not only did she win the essay contest at school, but she received a letter from her old beau, John Jr. in Chicago. She read his soppy love letter in the loft as Laura pestered her. John Jr. talks about the cotillion and wishes Mary could be there, which made her feel bad. But wait, there's more: Charles had been selected to go to the annual grange convention in the Windy City to represent Walnut Grove.. What does this part have to do with Mary? Easy, Charles and Caroline can bring her up to speed on every single, solitary aspect of the man's life since he left the Grove. Caroline had a better idea: have Mary go in her place. Charles was surprisingly agreeable to this, and you can imagine how happy it made Mary. Well, after some mother-daughter bonding, it's off to Chicago! They got the first-class treatment on the train, a comped lunch and everything, not to mention a hotel room, or rather the presidential suite. Seriously, you could fit their house in there, and all booked and paid for by the grange. That was awful darn nice of'em. I hope there isn't a catch. Afterwards, Mary is happily reunited with John Jr., and Charles went off to his first grange convention. All in all, the Ingallses' first trip to Chicago was shaping up nicely.

John Jr. and Mary do some catching up, he introduces her to a brand new invention: chewing gum, but then he's called away for a meeting with Miss Lawrence and let's his horny friend Wesley Cox walk Mary back to the hotel. Ms. Lawrence wasn't a teacher, but rather, if you can believe his, his girlfriend. What a sleaze! That night, Charles learns of another accommodation offered by the hotel: complimentary prostitutes. What kind of a hotel is this? He politely sent her on her way and left for the convention dinner, but he left after the place became overrun with drunks, floozies and corruption. Charles deserves a medal for all this. Next day, he read a false article in the paper about the grange and went to confront the editor in chief, and John Jr.'s boss, Fletcher Hancock. He basically said that he lies to cover the grange's rear and what his readers don't know won't hurt them, not to mention he covers up for the railroad. Falsified news by the media, it happened back then too. Charles told him where to stick it and left. That night, Mary prepared for the cotillion. She looked absolutely beautiful. She met a dapper John Jr. at the dance, who almost immediately let Wesley cut in so he could go dance with Claire Lawrence... this guy is pure slime! You know what, Wesley is the better guy for Mary. He seems to care more about her than John. Let's check in with Charles at the grange. Finally fed up with the corruption and pay-offs, Charles made an impassioned speech about how he didn't want any part of it and leaves. You tell'em, Ingalls! Next, he went to the cotillion, and one thing he did not expect to see was John Jr. kissing another woman! Charles showed monumental restraint by not kicking the boy's ass. He admitted that he didn't really love Mary, blaming it on distance and such, and so he had to go admit to her that he was a cheating, lying S.O.B. Mary has a good cry, and they get back on the train to Walnut Grove, where Mary meets a handsome young man named Bobby Brady--I mean, Patrick. Seriously, that IS Mike Lookinland. He's going to school in Walnut Grove. Could he be the one?

We see Patrick one more time in Meet Me at the Fair, but played by a different actor. Mike must have been busy with the Brady Bunch Variety Hour or something. This was a well made episode, well photographed, well written by Michael and Carole Raschella and Bill Claxton did a fine job directing. Michael Landon was fantastic. Melissa Sue Anderson was so convincing, and Radames Pera really brought it home as that sleazy John Jr. This is the last we'll see of him, because when John Jr. is next discussed, it's in Season 8 where he's murdered. I suppose John's jilting Mary was a mixed blessing, otherwise she never would have met Adam...well she would have, but they wouldn't have fallen in love. From what I understand, despite their on-screen relationship, Pera and Anderson didn't get along. I've heard him say that she was cold and standoffish to him, but that's what most of Melissa's co-stars have said about her. I don't know her so I can't really say for sure. Anyway, Little House fans, I strongly recommend Times of Change. Great locations, great acting, it's just an all around wonderful time to spend 60 minutes!

Last season, we said goodbye to John Jr. as he headed to the big city to take classes in writing. We see him now all dressed up nice and spiffy,but has he really changed that much?

Oh yeah!

Since Charles has to represent Walnut Grove in the annual grange meeting, he takes Mary with him so she can see her boyfriend/fiancé, John Jr. Of course, John Jr. is surprised to see her at first, and soon we learn why. It seems John Jr. has done a lot of changing. He seems a lot older and is dating a very mature woman. I'd say there's a lot of interesting things John's learning about...

Charles doesn't have a very good time at the Grange. It seems like there's a lot of paying under the table to get favors and votes. Some farmers are being paid off to vote no on state regulation, and Charles let's his voice be heard. He rejects the prostitute that shows up at his door to give him a good time, and he finally just walks out on the grange meeting, deciding he'd had enough.

Oh, but wait! It's gets worse - much worse! You know that girl I was talking about? Well...let's just say John Jr. gets caught in the act - and he's lucky to have any hide left after a very protective father gets through with him!!!

Of course, Mary's heart is broken She'll never look at another man again. She'll never...oh wait! Who is that on the train?

We'll see him in another episode involving a scary ride in a hot air balloon...

Sadly, this is John Junior's final episode - though another episode is ABOUT him...

This story had to be a way of writing the John Jr character out of the show. It was John who originally told Mary that he loved her, and wanted to marry her. Now, after being in Chicago for a while, everything is changed. When Charles confronts John about the other girl, he admits that he doesn't love Mary. However, John didn't say that he loved the other girl, either. What a creep! Mary would be better off without him. Mary looked particularly cute in this episode, perhaps emphasizing what that idiot was giving up. On the train back home, Mary meets a young man played by Mike Lookinland. As a trivia note, Melissa Sue Anderson previously appeared on the Brady Bunch. She played Millicent, who kissed Bobby, and caused him to see skyrockets. Well, that was another story.

This chapter is excellent, the contrast between the noble peasant values that Carlos and María bring to Chicago, with the vices, bribes and customs of the big cities is notable. And by the way, finally the mask of that clumsy and selfish John falls, who writes very beautifully but only lies, lies and lies. I'm glad he stopped cheating on the beautiful and noble Mary who was in love with someone who didn't deserve it. She shamelessly confesses to Charles that she does not love her, lies to him, and on top of that, lacks the courage to tell him personally, preferring to write to him! Excellent chapter, Caroline's nobility in giving up her place to Mary is made black and white with the trickster John and his "golden pen." Mary's pain is necessary, she cannot stay next to a guy as lying and cowardly as John.