| "No Beast So Fierce" | |
| Season 8, Episode 12 #173 overall in Series | |
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| Original air date | January 4, 1982 |
| Episode Guide | |
 IMDb
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No Beast So Fierce |
| Written by | Carole Raschella Michael Raschella |
| Directed by | Michael Landon |
| Episode Chronology | |
| Previous episode: "A Christmas They Never Forgot" |
Next episode: "Stone Soup" |
A boy that stutters gets teased at school, and the only one that doesn't tease him is James. But when James is caught talking about his stuttering and admits there is some humor to the situation, the boy runs away.
James is deeply remorseful but doesn't know how to apologize. Charles takes him on one of his freight delivery trips to help him sort out his feelings and work up the courage, while Caroline eventually helps Gideon's parents find him.
A feral wolf will play a huge role in the outcome of the episode.
Notes[]
This is the last episode where Willie Oleson is portrayed as a complete jerk, being one of the main instigators in the cruel teasing of Gideon Hale over his stuttering. This level of jerkass was no longer the norm for Willie at this point in the run. Neither Willie nor his classmates, who are just as bad, are shown being given a chance to repent or apologize for their actions.
Gideon is said to have been killed in the Great Tornado of 1886, shortly after the events of this episode.
Cast[]
- Michael Landon: Charles Ingalls
- Karen Grassle: Caroline Ingalls
- Melissa Gilbert: Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Missy Francis: Cassandra Ingalls
- Jason Bateman: James Ingalls
- Jonathan Gilbert: Willie Oleson
- Allison Balson: Nancy Oleson
Special Guest Star[]
- Peter Billingsley as Gideon Hale
External links[]
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| A Christmas They Never Forgot | Stone Soup |