Ep 3. The Family Tree

The Family Tree is the third episode of the sixth season of the beloved television drama Little House on the Prairie, which originally aired in 1979. The episode begins with the Ingalls family enjoying a beautiful, sunny day in their garden. Laura (played by Melissa Sue Anderson) is admiring the flowers, while Pa (Michael Landon) is in a tree, pruning its branches. Suddenly, young Albert (Matthew Laborteaux) runs up, out of breath, and delivers a message from Doc Baker: the town's new doctor, Dr. Logan, has arrived and is looking for a place to stay.

The Ingalls immediately offer to take Dr. Logan (played by Charles Siebert) in, and Mary's husband, Adam (Linwood Boomer), offers to show him around town. However, Dr. Logan quickly proves to be a difficult houseguest. He is rude, arrogant, and ungrateful, and soon clashes with everyone in the Ingalls household. Even Laura, who tries to see the good in everyone, is put off by his behavior.

Meanwhile, the Ingalls learn that a pine tree on their property is dying, and they decide to cut it down. As they are chopping away, Laura and Mary (Melissa Gilbert) discover a strange marking on the trunk of the tree. Upon closer inspection, they realize it is a heart with carved initials inside: "A.B. + M.P." The Ingalls are puzzled, but Mary recalls a story her mother once told her about a young couple who had carved their initials into a tree on the property, and whose love had tragically ended.

The mystery of the heart carving becomes a focal point of the episode, as the Ingalls family tries to uncover the story behind it. They visit the town's oldest resident, Mr. Edwards (Victor French), who tells them that the young couple in question were named Amanda Beadle and Matthew Porter, and that they died in a fire years ago. When the doctor overhears this conversation, he becomes interested in the story as well, and soon begins to develop a personal connection to it.

As the story unfolds, we see Dr. Logan soften, becoming more empathetic and thoughtful. He starts to bond with Laura, and even shares a tender moment with her when he confides in her about his own painful past. We also see flashbacks of Amanda and Matthew's love story, which is beautifully portrayed as a tale of young love and tragedy.

Overall, The Family Tree is a heartwarming and poignant episode of Little House on the Prairie. It showcases the values of family, community, and kindness that the show is known for, and also features some standout performances from the cast, particularly Charles Siebert as Dr. Logan. The mystery of the heart carving is a compelling plot device that adds depth to the story, and the flashbacks provide a nice contrast to the contemporary scenes. As always, the show does an excellent job of weaving historical authenticity with timeless themes and relatable characters.