Little House on the Prairie backdrop
Western•Drama•Family

The Worst Episodes of Little House on the Prairie

Every episode of Little House on the Prairie ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst 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

Airs on
NBC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons9

All123456789

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    Little House on the Prairie Season 5 Episode 14 - The Godsister
    5.1/10(483 votes)

    #1 - The Godsister

    S5:E14

    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.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Don Balluck

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Little House on the Prairie Season 6 Episode 7 - The Halloween Dream
    5.2/10(430 votes)

    #2 - The Halloween Dream

    S6:E7

    Albert's imagination starts to get the better of him when he dreams that he and Laura are taken by Indians.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Michael Landon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Little House on the Prairie Season 7 Episode 14 - The Nephews
    5.8/10(353 votes)

    #3 - The Nephews

    S7:E14

    Almanzo's brother, Royal, leaves his two kids with the Wilders while he and his wife are on vacation. Laura and Almanzo have their hands full taking care of these boys.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Chris Abbott

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Little House on the Prairie Season 9 Episode 14 - The Older Brothers
    6.2/10(317 votes)

    #4 - The Older Brothers

    S9:E14

    The Older Brothers is a gang that used to have a notorious reputation. First they hold up Mr. Edwards but end up losing the money. Then they try to get ransom money for Mr. Edwards but that doesn't go very well.

    Director:Victor French
    Writer:Michael Landon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Little House on the Prairie Season 7 Episode 4 - Fight Team Fight!
    6.6/10(334 votes)

    #5 - Fight Team Fight!

    S7:E4

    A former football star moves back to Walnut Grove. He agrees to become coach of the football team. His goal is to win at all costs. This kind of thinking puts Albert in great danger. Towards the end of the show the football coach starts to realize that winning isn't everything.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Don Balluck

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Little House on the Prairie Season 8 Episode 7 - The Legend of Black Jake
    6.7/10(360 votes)

    #6 - The Legend of Black Jake

    S8:E7

    Nels is kidnapped by two crooks. The crooks try to get Mrs. Oleson to pay ransom for her husband, but she refuses to. This makes Mr. Oleson upset and causes him to help the crooks. The kidnappers aren't very lucky. After kidnapping several different people, the crooks decide that they need to try another line of work. They leave without hurting any of the kidnapped people.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Chris Abbott

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Little House on the Prairie

    READ
  7. Little House on the Prairie Season 7 Episode 12 - Oleson Versus Oleson
    6.8/10(362 votes)

    #7 - Oleson Versus Oleson

    S7:E12

    Caroline Ingalls joins in protest with the rest of the Walnut Grove women to try to convince Charles and the other men to sign a petition addressing the injustice of a law that transfers a woman's property rights to her husband after marriage.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Chris Abbott

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Little House on the Prairie Season 8 Episode 6 - Gambini, the Great
    6.8/10(310 votes)

    #8 - Gambini, the Great

    S8:E6

    In an episode about hero worship, Charles and Nels share deep concerns over an aging circus performer's influence on the children of Walnut Grove. Particularly since some of them - Albert and Willie in particular - have tried some of the daredevil's more dangerous stunts, with mixed results.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Jeri Taylor

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 23 - Founder's Day
    6.9/10(427 votes)

    #9 - Founder's Day

    S1:E23

    Walnut Grove celebrates this great day with several different competitions. There are very competitive spirits between the Olesons and the Ingallses.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writers:Ward Hawkins, John Hawkins, Byron Twiggs

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Little House on the Prairie Season 5 Episode 16 - Blind Man's Bluff
    6.9/10(347 votes)

    #10 - Blind Man's Bluff

    S5:E16

    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.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Arthur Heinemann

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 5 - The Love of Johnny Johnson
    7.1/10(545 votes)

    #11 - The Love of Johnny Johnson

    S1:E5

    Laura falls in love with a new student, Johnny Johnson. Johnny, who is a lot older than Laura, is interested in Mary instead. Although Mary is not interested in Johnny, Laura's actions cause tension between the sisters. When Charles finds this out, he is appalled that either of his girls is involved with Johnny.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:Gerry Day

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Little House on the Prairie Season 4 Episode 11 - Meet Me At the Fair
    7.1/10(366 votes)

    #12 - Meet Me At the Fair

    S4:E11

    The Ingallses and Olesons take a trip to the fair. Patrick, a carnival worker and Mary's boyfriend, and his boss, Cass (a balloonist and suave ladies man) vie for Mary's attention; Charles and Nels entering a jackass riding contest; and Carrie has her own adventure.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writers:Arthur Heinemann, Bradley Berwick

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Little House on the Prairie Season 8 Episode 22 - He Was Only Twelve (2)
    7.1/10(421 votes)

    #13 - He Was Only Twelve (2)

    S8:E22

    When Charles refuses to admit that James will likely never recover from his gunshot wound, he leaves Walnut Grove with his adopted son. He builds an altar in the woods and hopes that God will bring a miracle.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Paul W. Cooper

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Little House on the Prairie Season 9 Episode 20 - May I Have This Dance?
    7.1/10(313 votes)

    #14 - May I Have This Dance?

    S9:E20

    No longer a mama's boy, Willie announces his engagement and plans to marry his sweetheart. All this upsets his mother greatly, who makes several attempts to get her way.

    Director:Victor French
    Writer:Chris Abbott

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Little House on the Prairie Season 5 Episode 3 - The Winoka Warriors
    7.2/10(371 votes)

    #15 - The Winoka Warriors

    S5:E3

    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.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:John T. Dugan

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Little House on the Prairie Season 5 Episode 17 - Dance with Me
    7.2/10(348 votes)

    #16 - Dance with Me

    S5:E17

    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.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Paul Wolff

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Little House on the Prairie Season 6 Episode 15 - Whatever Happened to the Class of '56?
    7.2/10(335 votes)

    #17 - Whatever Happened to the Class of '56?

    S6:E15

    During a visit to a farmer's convention in Milwaukee, Charles and Caroline meet up with old school mates. Charles learns that larger farmers are trying to put his small farming friends out of business and urges them to stand up for their profession. Meanwhile, Caroline becomes envious about the financial fortunes of their one-time friends, but she soon learns there's more to their success stories than meets the eyes.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:John T. Dugan

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Little House on the Prairie Season 9 Episode 3 - Welcome to Olesonville
    7.2/10(301 votes)

    #18 - Welcome to Olesonville

    S9:E3

    Harriet finds a bearer bond from Walnut Grove. She uses this to try to get people to follow her suggestions. She tells the town council that if she doesn't get her way, she will cash in the bond which would force the town to pay Mrs. Oleson over $10,000.

    Director:Maury Dexter
    Writer:Paul W. Cooper

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Little House on the Prairie Season 9 Episode 4 - Rage
    7.2/10(311 votes)

    #19 - Rage

    S9:E4

    Mr. Stark has gotten himself so far in debt that he has lost his mind. He goes home and shoots his wife and daughter. Then he goes off and ends up at Laura's house. He mistakes Laura and Jenny for his wife and daughter, but when he sees Rose, he thinks that his daughter has had a baby.

    Director:Maury Dexter
    Writer:B.W. Sandefur

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Little House on the Prairie Season 9 Episode 13 - Sins of the Fathers
    7.2/10(271 votes)

    #20 - Sins of the Fathers

    S9:E13

    When Mrs. Carter's mother dies, Sarah Carter's father comes to town. He tries to get the Carters to come with home back to New York. He wants the Carters to have a better life. The Carters tell him that home sweet home is in Walnut Grove. After a while, Sarah's father begins to understand while the Carters feel this way.

    Director:Victor French
    Writer:Ernie Wallengren

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Little House on the Prairie Season 1 Episode 19 - Child of Pain
    7.3/10(453 votes)

    #21 - Child of Pain

    S1:E19

    When it is found out that a young boy, Graham, is being beaten by his alcoholic father, John, Caroline takes care of the boy while Charles stays with John to try to get him to stay sober.

    Director:Victor French
    Writer:John Meston

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Little House on the Prairie Season 2 Episode 4 - In the Big Inning
    7.3/10(436 votes)

    #22 - In the Big Inning

    S2:E4

    It's time for baseball! After losing badly last year, Walnut Grove expects to win with their star pitcher, Mr. Mumford. People in Walnut Grove are so confident that they are going to win, they place bets on the game. However, Mr. Mumford's wife won't let her husband play because of the gambling. Caroline convinces Mr. Mumford's wife to let her husband play on the condition that any money made from the game goes to the church.

    Director:William F. Claxton
    Writer:B.W. Sandefur

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Little House on the Prairie Season 4 Episode 9 - The High Cost of Being Right
    7.3/10(340 votes)

    #23 - The High Cost of Being Right

    S4:E9

    After Mr. Garvey's barn burns to the ground with the crops inside, his wife, Alice, takes a job at the post office. Mr. Garvey opposes this believing that a man should be able to support his family. He is ready to get a divorce until he realizes what his stubborn pride was doing to his family.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Don Balluck

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Little House on the Prairie Season 7 Episode 8 - Dearest Albert, I'll Miss You
    7.3/10(325 votes)

    #24 - Dearest Albert, I'll Miss You

    S7:E8

    Albert begins writing more frequently to a pen pal of his. He tries to impress the girl he is writing to. The girl also does the same thing. Albert falls in love with her and goes to see her one time. This girl is very reluctant. Albert thinks that she doesn't like him until he sees her in a wheelchair. Both of them promise to continue writing to each other, but this time they would only tell the truth in their writings.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writer:Michael Landon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Little House on the Prairie Season 7 Episode 13 - Come, Let Us Reason Together
    7.3/10(360 votes)

    #25 - Come, Let Us Reason Together

    S7:E13

    Percival's parents decide to pay a visit. Mrs. Oleson and Mr. Percival don't hit it off so well. Mrs. Oleson is strongly against Mr. Percival's idea of raising Nellie's child as a Jew. An agreement is finally reached between the two. A girl would be Christian and a boy would be Jewish. Nellie ends up having twins, a boy and a girl.

    Director:Michael Landon
    Writers:Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"The Godsister" is the worst rated episode of "Little House on the Prairie". It scored 5.1/10 based on 483 votes. Directed by Michael Landon and written by Don Balluck, it aired on 12/17/1978. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Halloween Dream".