Line #10 Recap/LittleHouseOnthePrairieS8E17APromiseToKeep


1	!! Tropes present in this episode:
2	* TheAlcoholic: Mr. Edwards. Fueled by [[DrowningMySorrows his grief over John Jr.'s death]] earlier in the season, Edwards – who early in the series had a drinking problem – as with John Jr.'s death, fueled by the death of his wife and young daughter during a smallpox outbreak – but had sobered up thanks to Charles' influence. However, John Jr.'s death made him [[OffTheWagon fall off the wagon]]. Later, after Charles breaks off the friendship – following an accident a drunken Edwards had caused that resulted in Albert sustaining a compound fracture to his leg, made worse by not immediately seeking medical treatment – Edwards stays sober while staying with Laura and Almanzo, but almost falls off again when he learns that Grace has initiated divorce proceedings.
3	* AmbiguouslyRelated: There's been speculation that Grace's new paramour, Nathan Simms, whom she mentions in her letter to Isaiah, is related to Adam Simms, the farmer who married Miss Beadle and his son Luke (the one who almost married Nellie). Some believe Nathan and Adam are brothers, in which case, Grace and Eva Beadle would become sisters-in-law.
4	* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Their deep-seated love and devotion for each other obviously goes beyond Isaiah teaching her to spit when she was a child, but Laura (half-jokingly) cites this as why she offers to help her old friend recover, even after his own family and best friend Charles have washed their hands of him.
5	* BittersweetEnding: Isaiah eventually goes sober for good, Albert will recover from his injuries caused by his alcoholism with no lasting damages, but Grace has started procedures to divorce Isaiah and found a new love, meaning he won't be able to salvage their marriage and provably won't see his children, whom he left in a bitter tone, for a long time.
6	* DarkReprise: A darker take on Mr. Edwards' "Old Dan Tucker" {{Leitmotif}} is heard during his alcoholism sequences.
7	* DarkSecret: Mr. Edwards' reignited alcoholism, which has destroyed his marriage, business and life.
8	** The Reverend Alden reveals that he was in the same boat as Isaiah years ago, before he found God.
9	* DrunkDriver: It wasn't until the 1910s when the automobile became affordable for the common man, and the 1930s -- after Prohibition was outlawed -- that drunk driving became a national concern. Yet, despite being adapted to the 1880s, the consequences of alcohol-impaired driving are nevermore clear than here: A drunken Edwards recklessly drives the delivery wagon down the street, as a sober Albert desperately tries to get control of the reins. The wagon drives over a curb, Albert falls off and is run over, suffering a compound fracture, but due to Edwards panicking and not immediately seeking medical treatment for Albert, his injury is aggravated and puts him at risk of losing his leg. Albert recovers by episode's end and (presumably) forgives Edwards.
10	* GriefInducedSplit: Isaiah's descent into alcoholism, fueled by the loss of his and Grace's eldest son John, destroys their wedded life and, after it ruins Carl's birthday, she tells him to GetOut. She later informs him by a letter that she started divorce proceedings and found a new paramour.
11	* HeelFaithTurn: Mr. Edwards walking into the church at the lowest point of his life, realizing that his own faults had led him to this point, and he asks God for his guidance and support. He gets support from Rev. Alden, who reveals that he, too, was once in Edwards' shoes.
12	* HeelRealization: When Mr. Edwards realizes the accident he caused while driving his buckboard drunk nearly resulted in tragedy.
13	** He has another earlier during a fight with his wife as she asks him to leave, and he drunkenly starts grabbing her, she says hitting her is the only thing left he hasn't done yet. The realization of what he was causing his family is what convinces him to leave peacefully and move back to Walnut Grove.
14	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Edwards, when he realizes he was responsible for Albert's injuries.
15	* OffTheWagon: Mr. Edwards is largely able to keep his drinking under control and/or stay sober until John Jr.'s violent death. The after-effects of those drinking binges – as this episode opens, it's apparent they've been taking place for months – become all too real for his family.
16	** Literally, for Albert, when Edwards drives over the curb, causing Albert to fall into the street and into the path of another stagecoach. Although the ensuing collision causes a compound fracture to his leg, which is made worse due to lack of immediate medical treatment, the limb is ultimately saved and Albert suffers no permanent damage.
17	* PrayerIsALastResort: Positively portrayed, as Mr. Edwards finally admits his weaknesses and failures, and need for a higher power to guide him through troubled times. His conversion comes after learning that his wife has initiated divorce proceedings and a desperate attempt to buy alcohol fails. As he is trying to shake open the doors, he sees the church and realizes He is calling.
18	* UndyingLoyalty: Isaiah, at the lowest point ever in his life, has been abandoned by his wife, children, and best friend Charles. Laura, who was granted the nickname "Half-Pint" by Edwards long ago (and named him godfather to her baby girl) steadfastly refuses to shun Isaiah and (with Almanzo's blessing and support) takes him into her home and helps him recover his health and well being.
19	* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Narrowly averted when a letter from Grace arrives for Isaiah, informing him that she has a new paramour and is starting the procedures for their divorce, leading a sober Isaiah to seek for alcohol and nearly relapse--Thankfully, the Mercantile wasn't open and he sees the church, and goes in there to seek divine help instead.

Context Recap / LittleHouseOnthePrairieS8E17APromiseToKeep