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The Best Episodes of Little House on the Prairie

Every episode of Little House on the Prairie ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Little House on the Prairie!

Binge this in 7d 0h•Peaking at 8.9/10

When the big woods of Wisconsin becomes a difficult spot for hunting, Charles Ingalls reluctantly decides to move his family, pioneering west. Their life on the farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Little House on the Prairie Season 4 Episode 22 - I'll Be Waving as You Drive Away (2)
    8.9/10(487 votes)

    #1 - I'll Be Waving as You Drive Away (2)

    S4:E22

    Charles and Caroline sign Mary up for the blind school in Iowa. At first, Mary is very reluctant to learn anything at the school. However, after being with her teacher, Adam Kendall, for a while, she turns her outlook on life around. Mary is such a great student that Adam asks her to help her teach at a blind school with him.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writers:Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella

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  2. Little House on the Prairie Season 2 Episode 1 - The Richest Man in Walnut Grove
    8.8/10(554 votes)

    #2 - The Richest Man in Walnut Grove

    S2:E1

    Hansen's Mill closes when a major customer declares bankruptcy, leaving Lars unable to pay Charles two months' back pay.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Michael Landon

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  3. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 2 - Country Girls
    8.7/10(687 votes)

    #3 - Country Girls

    S1:E2

    Laura and Mary start school for the first time. That is where they meet Nellie Oleson. Since Laura hasn't been to school before, she tries especially hard with her schoolwork. The students have to write an essay to present in front of the class. Laura recites what she would have written on the paper if she could have, instead of what was actually written on it.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Juanita Bartlett

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  4. Little House on the Prairie Season 2 Episode 8 - Remember Me (2)
    8.7/10(479 votes)

    #4 - Remember Me (2)

    S2:E8

    After Julia Sanderson's death, her three children stay with Grace, with help from Mr. Edwards. When Charles is unable to find someone to adopt all three children, he has to make the difficult decision to place them in separate homes. At the very last minute, Mr. Edwards makes a monumental decision: he marries Grace - and they take on all three children.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Michael Landon

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  5. Little House on the Prairie Season 3 Episode 11 - Blizzard
    8.7/10(524 votes)

    #5 - Blizzard

    S3:E11

    The day before Christmas vacation started, Miss Beadle lets the children out early when she notices that a snowstorm is beginning. The children aren't able to make it home before the storm starts. The men of Walnut Grove search for the children while Doc Baker takes care of the frostbitten children that show up at the school.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Paul W. Cooper

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  6. Little House on the Prairie Season 4 Episode 21 - I'll Be Waving as You Drive Away (1)
    8.7/10(477 votes)

    #6 - I'll Be Waving as You Drive Away (1)

    S4:E21

    Mary falls in love with Seth. When Mary's eyesight starts to get worse, Charles takes her to a specialist. He is devastated when the specialist tells him that Mary will lose her sight. Charles is unable to tell Mary for a while that she is going blind. When Mary does go blind, the whole family suffers.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writers:Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Little House on the Prairie

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  7. Little House on the Prairie Season 6 Episode 22 - He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (1)
    8.7/10(396 votes)

    #7 - He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (1)

    S6:E22

    Almanzo asks for Laura's hand in marriage. Mr. Ingalls tells Almanzo to wait until Laura was eighteen. Not wanting to wait, Almanzo forces Laura to choose him or respect her father. Laura respects her father's wishes. Almanzo leaves town and causes Laura a lot of heartache. Harriet hires Percival Dalton to help her in the restaurant. Nellie and Percival fall in love and eventually Percival asks Nellie to marry him. Adam's father dies, which means that a new blind school wouldn't be built in Walnut Grove.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Michael Landon

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  8. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 1 - A Harvest of Friends
    8.6/10(829 votes)

    #8 - A Harvest of Friends

    S1:E1

    The Ingalls settle on the banks of Plum Creek in Walnut Grove. To acquire the deed to his farm, Charles takes several jobs.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writers:John Hawkins, William Putman

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  9. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 7 - Town Party, Country Party
    8.6/10(597 votes)

    #9 - Town Party, Country Party

    S1:E7

    Laura connects with a sweet, shy classmate named Olga Nordstrom, who happens to have been born with a short leg. Charles has an idea that can change Olga’s entire life, but the challenge will be convincing the child’s stubborn widowed father.

    Director:Alf Kjellin
    Writer:Juanita Bartlett

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  10. Little House on the Prairie Season 6 Episode 23 - He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (2)
    8.6/10(377 votes)

    #10 - He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (2)

    S6:E23

    Laura helps Adam and Mary set up a new blind school in Sleepy Eye to try to get her mind off of Almanzo. Almanzo gets very sick.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Michael Landon

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  11. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 14 - Christmas At Plum Creek
    8.5/10(599 votes)

    #11 - Christmas At Plum Creek

    S1:E14

    The Christmas holiday is approaching and the members of the Ingalls family go about their holiday shopping in secrecy. Laura is able to buy her mom a stove that she wanted after she sells her horse to Mr. Oleson.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Arthur Heinemann

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  12. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 15 - Family Quarrel
    8.5/10(550 votes)

    #12 - Family Quarrel

    S1:E15

    After a major disagreement, Nels and Harriet go their separate ways. Many people in town try to get the two back together.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Ward Hawkins

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  13. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 18 - Circus Man
    8.5/10(502 votes)

    #13 - Circus Man

    S1:E18

    A traveling circusman, O'Hara, comes to Walnut Grove and tries to get everyone to believe he has magic healing powders. However, he is really found out when Mrs. Oleson almost loses her life when she tries his healing powders instead of having an operation.

    Director:Victor French
    Writers:Ward Hawkins, Preston Wood

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  14. Little House on the Prairie Season 2 Episode 7 - Remember Me (1)
    8.5/10(513 votes)

    #14 - Remember Me (1)

    S2:E7

    A widowed mother named Julia Sanderson (Patricia Neal) learns she has a terminal illness and, with no close relatives to care for her three children, John Jr., Carl and Alicia, she gets Charles to promise to find the children a new home after she dies. Meanwhile, Laura and Mary rescue some abandoned puppies, and the relationship between Mr. Edwards and Grace Snider begins to blossom.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Michael Landon

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  15. Little House on the Prairie Season 3 Episode 1 - The Collection
    8.5/10(533 votes)

    #15 - The Collection

    S3:E1

    Reverend Alden gets sick while collecting donations. Caleb Hodgekiss, an ex-convict, helps the Reverend by giving him a place to stay and volunteering to get the donations from Walnut Grove. Caleb poses as a friend of the Reverend so that he might get donations which he initially planned to keep for himself.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Arthur Heinemann

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  16. Little House on the Prairie Season 5 Episode 6 - There's No Place Like Home (2)
    8.5/10(389 votes)

    #16 - There's No Place Like Home (2)

    S5:E6

    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.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Michael Landon

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  17. Little House on the Prairie Season 6 Episode 2 - Back to School (2)
    8.5/10(388 votes)

    #17 - Back to School (2)

    S6:E2

    When Laura and Nellie get in a fight about the graduation test, Almanzo separates them and takes Laura home with him. When Charles finds out that Almanzo took Laura home with him, Charles goes to Almanzo's place and punches Almanzo because he fears his daughter was being taken advantage of. Laura yells at the fighting pair and tells them that she is no longer a child.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Michael Landon

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  18. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 9 - School Mom
    8.4/10(543 votes)

    #18 - School Mom

    S1:E9

    After Ms. Beadle sprains her ankle, Caroline becomes the substitute teacher. Caroline takes a special interest in helping an older student, Abel, learn to read. One day Mrs. Oleson shows up and causes Abel to quit school. Because of this Caroline quits, but returns after she convinces Abel to give school another chance.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writers:Ward Hawkins, Jean Rouverol

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  19. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 13 - The Lord is My Shepherd
    8.4/10(556 votes)

    #19 - The Lord is My Shepherd

    S1:E13

    Caroline becomes pregnant. Shortly after the baby is born, he becomes ill. Believing that her jealousy was responsible for her infant brother's death and that her parents would rather have a son than a spare daughter, Laura climbs the highest hill she can find, hoping to get as close to God as possible to ask Him to take her instead and return the baby boy to the family. While Charles and Mr. Edwards desperately search for her, Laura meets Jonathan, a mystical mountain man who seems to have been sent purposely to guide her through this life-changing experience.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Michael Landon

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  20. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 22 - To See the World
    8.4/10(485 votes)

    #20 - To See the World

    S1:E22

    Johnny Johnson leaves to "see the world" and Mr. Edwards goes along with him to keep him out of trouble. Johnny meets up with a girl who is able to trick him out of a lot of money. Mr. Edwards talks to this girl to try to have her convince Johnny to go back home.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Gerry Day

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  21. Little House on the Prairie Season 2 Episode 3 - Ebenezer Sprague
    8.4/10(492 votes)

    #21 - Ebenezer Sprague

    S2:E3

    Charles and Hansen build a bank in Walnut Grove. The banker is Mr. Sprague, a cold and heartless man. Laura becomes friends with Mr. Sprague without knowing who he really was. Mr. Sprague believes that Charles sent Laura to him to try to persuade Mr. Sprague to give a loan to Mr. Ingalls.

    Director:Victor French
    Writer:Hindi Brooks

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  22. Little House on the Prairie Season 2 Episode 18 - The Long Road Home
    8.4/10(436 votes)

    #22 - The Long Road Home

    S2:E18

    Charles, Mr. Edwards, and two other men take a job that involves handling and transporting explosives. They must deal with many things along the road, including prejudice.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:John Hawkins

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  23. Little House on the Prairie Season 3 Episode 2 - Bunny
    8.4/10(428 votes)

    #23 - Bunny

    S3:E2

    Nellie falls off of Bunny and pretends to be paralyzed. Mrs. Oleson blames Laura for this and wants to destroy Bunny.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Michael Landon

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  24. Little House on the Prairie Season 3 Episode 4 - Little Girl Lost
    8.4/10(422 votes)

    #24 - Little Girl Lost

    S3:E4

    Carrie, having tagged along on Laura and Mary's classroom assignment, falls down a mine shaft, providing an alcoholic ex-miner a chance at redemption.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Paul W. Cooper

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  25. Little House on the Prairie Season 4 Episode 12 - Here Come the Brides
    8.4/10(428 votes)

    #25 - Here Come the Brides

    S4:E12

    Adam Simms and his son Luke move into town. Adam falls in love with Miss Beadle, while Luke and Nellie Oleson fall for each other. After Miss Beadle talks to Nellie about love and marriage, Nellie and Luke decide to get married.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writers:John T. Dugan, Robert F. Metzler

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Best Episodes Summary

"I'll Be Waving as You Drive Away (2)" is the best rated episode of "Little House on the Prairie". It scored 8.9/10 based on 487 votes. Directed by William F. Claxton and written by Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella, it aired on 3/13/1978. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove".