Little House on the Prairie: The Pilot
November 2003 Reviewed by: Anthony Di Marco Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

There was once a time when food, clothing, and shelter were most important to human survival. When a person’s word defined his character. And when family and spirituality gave substance to a mortal’s existence. I know many would laugh at such an overly simplistic and arguably naïve view of the world. Today people measure success by how much money they make or how many rooms make up their home. Over a century ago the world was a much different place. A person’s life expectancy was shorter; bartering was accepted in lieu of money, and if you were lucky, you may have had glass windows and a solid door to keep out the elements.

For those who are not familiar with Little House on the Prairie, it chronicles the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her experiences as a young girl in the American Midwest during the late 1870s. Based on the Little House collection of books, the show, which was produced by and starred Michael Landon, dramatized the survival of the Ingalls family during some of the toughest times in America’s history. I had the pleasure of reviewing The Pilot, which follows the family’s journey from their home in Wisconsin to the fertile flatlands of Kansas, as well as episodes from the first and second seasons, when the Ingalls family finally finds a home in the small town of Walnut Grove.

They leave Wisconsin, not because they had grown tired of the scenery, but because the area was becoming overcrowded and the food supply strained. The family moves for one simple reason: survival. But the journey is not an easy one. Today a family may move from one end of earth to another to improve its standard of living. They would need a plane, or a train, and they would probably have a moving company relocate their possessions. If they decided to drive cross-country by car, this family would undoubtedly consult maps and carry a cellular phone. And when they became hungry, food would be no more than a few exits away. The Ingalls family had no such luxury. They simply packed up their canvas-covered wagon and made their way across unfamiliar terrain. All they had was each other and their instincts.

I found out quickly that Little House on the Prairie was not afraid of tackling some tough issues or drawing a line regarding what constitutes moral ground. Unlike the majority of modern programming, the show was not crippled by political correctness or shallow characterizations. Some of the storylines may come across as a little corny and overly simplified, but they always deliver a clear message. When Indians threaten the Ingalls, there is no apology for the way they are portrayed. At first the Indians are uncivilized and frightening. This gives the story weight and creates dramatic conflict, which leads to a profound statement about how fear and racism are connected. When Charles Ingalls offers his pipe to the Indian Chief, we see courage and openness winning over fear and close-mindedness. The peace-pipe device is simple, and some may even say a cliché, but the message is concise and free of any political double-talk: communication and understanding are required for cultures to peacefully coexist.

Gender roles are also free of ambiguity. Judged against today’s standards, some may consider the marriage between Charles Ingalls and his wife Caroline unbalanced and rife with sexist overtones, but looking closer reveals a relationship full of mutual understanding and support. Caroline and Charles are parents who care deeply about providing for their family. Charles takes pride in working hard to keep a roof over their heads, while Caroline takes comfort in keeping their home clean and secure. Family is life, and although their gender roles are traditional, neither Charles nor Caroline allows the other to take advantage. When an exhausted Charles Ingalls commands his wife to get him his supper, Caroline puts him in his place. Charles may be working three jobs, but his wife works just as hard and does not appreciate her husband ordering her around. When Caroline questions Isaiah Edward’s decency, Charles points out how some church-going people would not be as giving of their time as Mr. Edwards has been in helping them settle down. Neither individual is perfect, and while Charles may exhibit some level of patriarchal control, Caroline is not shy about managing her husband when he gets out of line.

I laughed when I read the DVD case, which proudly points out that the film was restored using "state-of-the-art color correction, picture enhancement, and noise-reduction technologies." What DVD isn’t? No doubt someone at NBC figured he or she had to add some impressive buzzwords to make a 30-year-old show appear up to date. And although blacks are on the murky side and video noise is a bit distracting, the video quality is pretty good. Colors are nicely saturated, while the print is free of scratches and dust. Audio is simply OK. Dynamics are fine, but the soundtrack lacks adequate weight. As a result, music and voices sound thin and harsh at times. The soundtrack is supposedly stereo, but more than likely it is two monaural channels in disguise.

You know the features are lacking when the DVD jacket lists interactive menus as an extra. Beyond still photos of the show and cast bios, Little House fans can test their knowledge with a series of trivia quizzes. I understand that many of the original cast and creators have since passed away, but it would have been nice to have a retrospective documentary with remaining cast members like Karen Grassle and Melissa Gilbert. Better yet, have the women from the series comment on how they felt their characters were portrayed in comparison to men.

When I first heard about the DVD release of Little House on the Prairie, I was expecting a show with expired sensibilities. What I got was a collection of stories that are as timeless as Aesop’s Fables. Little House on the Prairie is classic because it represents a simple philosophy that boils life down to its essentials, placing the importance of family and community at a level that eclipses a human’s need for food, clothing, and shelter.

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