Bears Are Bad News: A bear mauls Isaiah while he's out to hunt with John Jr, and he yells at the latter to shoot it, but he can't. He later feels guilty for that upon seeing his father's state.
Never Learned to Read: Although John Jr. thinks his adoptive father didn't care about the heartfelt letter he'd written, it's later revealed that Isaiah is illiterate and didn't want to admit it to him, though it's implied at the end of the show that he decided to start learning how to read (and years later, is seen reading the aforementioned letter as he drunkenly mourns John's death at the beginning of season 8's "A Promise to Keep").
Poor Communication Kills: An almost literal example. John Jr. decides to write a heartfelt letter to explain to his new Pa why he couldn't hunt, but Isaiah can't read and, not wanting to admit it because he wants his son to be proud of him, pretends he read it and doubles down on his plans to hunt, causing John Jr. to think he just didn't care about what he wrote, and leading to the bear attack in which John can't bring himself to shoot the animal to protect his Pa. When he learns the truth and reads his letter to a convalescing Isaiah, he has a much warmer reaction.
Ridiculously Human Bear: The "bear" that attacked Mr. Edwards was none other than Michael Landon in a bear suit.
