Ep 15. The Craftsman

The Craftsman" is the fifteenth episode of the fifth season of Little House on the Prairie, which originally aired on NBC on January 26th, 1979. The episode was directed by Michael Landon and written by Lawrence and Charles Pierce.

In this episode, Charles Ingalls (played by Michael Landon) hires a man named Gideon Finch (played by David Doremus) to be the handyman on his farm. Gideon is a skilled craftsman who can fix just about anything, but he's also a bit of an oddball who doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the community.

Despite Gideon's quirks, Charles is impressed by his work and decides to take him under his wing. He teaches Gideon how to properly farm the land and how to be a part of the community. Along the way, Charles also learns that Gideon is actually a talented artist who creates beautiful wood carvings.

As Gideon becomes more ingrained in the community, he begins to make friends and gain the respect of his neighbors. However, trouble arises when a group of local men destroy one of Gideon's wood carvings. Gideon becomes distraught and decides to leave town.

Charles and his family are saddened by Gideon's departure and try to figure out a way to bring him back. They eventually come up with a plan to have Gideon's carvings showcased at the town fair, which brings Gideon back to town and helps him to regain his confidence.

Overall, "The Craftsman" is a heartwarming episode that focuses on the themes of community, acceptance, and creativity. The episode highlights the importance of accepting differences and the power of art to bring people together.