Walnut Grove sees a new arrival in the form of eccentric jack-of-all-trades Sherwood Montague, and an unexpected departure when Matthew's estranged father tracks down his son after overcoming personal hardship, now able to play a part in his life.
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Culture Clash: What Michael Landon and his team hoped to accomplish with the new character of Sherwood Montague. Only this episode and the 1984 Christmas movie devoted sufficient time to his character of the London native adjusting to life in a small town in the Midwest.
- Daddy Had a Good Reason for Abandoning You: Matthew's father, Philip, explains that he and his wife had to give up their son because living in poverty due to a major drought was taking its toll on Matthew, and they wanted him to have a better life; unfortunately, the boy ended up with an abusive couple who just wanted him as a farmhand and forced lye down his throat, rendering him mute, then sent him to the workhouse, where he was subsequently taken in by the evil Dr. McQueen. Initially angry at Philip for abandoning him (and the horrific abuse he suffered as a result, which his father was completely unaware of), Matthew gradually comes to realize that times were tough for his parents, and accepts his father's gift of a Bible that belonged to his late mother; despite it being heartbreaking, Isaiah realizes that Matthew wants his biological father in his life and allows Philip to reclaim him, thus setting the stage for Isaiah to move into the Wilders' boardinghouse after the pair depart for Philip's home in Minneapolis.
- Last Episode, New Character: With there likely being every intent on renewing the beloved Little House on the Prairie for an incredible 10th full season, the character of Sherwood Montague, an eccentric Englishman who settles in Walnut Grove, was conceived. Undoubtedly, his plots would have involved the clashes of culture and adjusting to life in small-town Minnesota (playing off Mr. Edwards' character) had the series continued, but alas the series was canceled. With the three follow-up movies, Sherwood's time is limited in both "A Look Back to Yesterday" and "The Last Farewell," although he does make a sizable appearance in "Bless All the Dear Children" (a plot centering on his cynical attitude toward Christmas softening, thanks to little Jason Carter).
- Odd Couple: With Mr. Edwards moving into Laura's boardinghouse after Matthew and his father leave, the final dinner scene where the sophisticated and polished Mr. Montague finally meets his match in the former mountain man and dirt farmer makes it clear that the writers were planning on using this trope as a plot device, had Little House been renewed for a tenth season.
