Little House on the Prairie : 'Sylvia'

'Sylvia'

Never saw this two part episode til today. How creepy!
The way they showed the stalker/rapist POV was like a horror movie (Friday the 13th feel).
I was home alone watching it and got scared. I thought, "Why am I scared watching Little House On The Prairie?" Lol
But those episodes were spooky AF!!! Poor Sylvia. She must have been scared to death.

Re: 'Sylvia'


jomccallister (Thu Oct 20 2016 00:13:29)
Poor Sylvia. She must have been scared to death.
Literally.

Apparently, the Sylvia episode (episodes) is considered to be the worst one of the series, though I have a feeling that is more of an opinion vs a fact.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071007/trivia?item=tr2919903
The most controversial "Little House" episode involved a serial rapist in a harlequin mask who stalked (and brought about the death of) Albert's girlfriend. The episode is called "Sylvia", and it came out in 1981 at the height of the Slasher genre, and this was Michael Landon's obvious concession to that trend. The episode caused fans to be outraged at the liberties Landon was taking with the original novels, and it continues to infuriate fans of the novels. It is frequently referred to as the worst Little House episode.

However, doing a google of the episode doesn't really return anything to vouch for that claim. Personally, I thought it was a rather intriguing and well made episode. From a kids perspective, it's about a couple of teens that develop feelings for one another, with a bit of a sad history involved. For adults, there's the slightly more mature aspect to it. Looking at the ratings on IMDb for the episode, part one is #9 and part two is #86 when listing the episodes by rating. This is out of 205 listings, so both parts are in the upper half (above average). Granted, it really doesn't say much, especially when you consider that there are only about 100 votes per episode (minus the pilot movie which has over 800), but among those who have watched the episodes and rated them, that still says something.

Yeah, in some ways it was creepy, but I think it was a great episode. I liked it (not what happens to her, of course) when I first saw it as a kid and I've liked it each time I happened to see it since then. In fact, it's one of the handful of episodes that stick out in my mind anytime I think of the series.

Re: 'Sylvia'

The early 1980s were the time of the "very special message episodes" of popular TV series. Some dealing with drugs, others sexual abuse. Even Different Strokes had one with Child Sexual abuse.

Re: 'Sylvia'

I think what made the episode so "bad" was the fact that she was so young and died in the end. Olivia Barash is a beautiful and very talented actress and her and Matthew Laborteaux had a great chemistry. I always thought that Sylvia should have lived and joined the cast as a regular instead of adding all those kids a few episodes later.

Re: 'Sylvia'


enginejo (Fri Oct 28 2016 06:55:54)
I think what made the episode so "bad" was the fact that she was so young and died in the end. Olivia Barash is a beautiful and very talented actress and her and Matthew Laborteaux had a great chemistry. I always thought that Sylvia should have lived and joined the cast as a regular instead of adding all those kids a few episodes later.
My impression, based on the opinion of whoever wrote that trivia piece, is that there was something wrong with the episode itself. Be it the writing, acting, directing, etc. It had a sad ending, yes, but I always felt that it was well done and thus why it sticks out in my mind. I've always been a bit of a fan of Barash's, and would have been nice if perhaps she had survived but lost the baby and, like you mentioned, joined the cast. Then they could have done follow up stories and references, as well as had an ongoing semi-romance going on between the two. Sort of the way they did with Mary and John, where there were hints of it, but it didn't take away from the main plot of an episode.

Re: 'Sylvia'

Yeah I'm a big fan of Olivia Barash myself, largely because of her performance in these two episodes. I had the biggest crush on her. I would have loved to see her do more roles like this that would have allowed her to showcase her talent and acting ability. Hollywood missed out.

Re: 'Sylvia'

I am sure the highlights in her hair and the mascara she got from the mercantile really helped that,

kith me my wub!

Oh God. Fortune vomits on my eiderdown once more.

Re: 'Sylvia'

My favorite episodes. Except fo how it ended.

😾

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I thought she and the rapist guy made a great couple. Unfortunately for her she had to climb the ladder to nowhere and fell off it killing herself and her unborn bundle of joy. She had a thing for guys in clown masks. She was a very kinky girl. The kind that you can't take home to mother. She was a superfreak!


Jezebel! Flauntin' your flesh in temptation's raiment! You will burn. Oh you will burn!

Re: 'Sylvia'

It was the Little House version of a horror story. It was well done if frightening.

Re: 'Sylvia'

Being the resident LHOTP expert here, I'm going to have to disagree with you about it being a horror story. The House had some fright inducing episodes that would scare the life out of anyone - The Haunted House and The Monster of Walnut Grove (thanks IMDb, you still have some minor use to me) would chill the soul of the most stout hearted!

Word to yo mutha!

Re: 'Sylvia'

Albert Ingalls would disagree.

My password is password

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Like I care what some baby-killing morphine addict thinks! Hummmph!

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Remember when he wore that werewolf costume/makeup to scare the class bully? 😆

My password is password

Re: 'Sylvia'

lol I was gonna say something about the werewolf thing, but I didn't feel like looking for the title of that one too.

Re: 'Sylvia'

The Werewolf of Walnut Grove



My password is password

Re: 'Sylvia'

lol They had an episode named The Monster of Walnut Grove and an episode called The Werewolf of Walnut Grove. then I probably missed the episodes The Vampire of Walnut Grove, The Mummy of Walnut Grove, The Frankenstein of Walnut Grove, and the scariest of all, The Azn of Walnut Grove.

Re: 'Sylvia'

lol at the AZN of Walnut Grove. She crawled out of the Ingalls well? She should have gone after Nancy first.

My password is password

Re: 'Sylvia'

yeah, after Carrie fell down the well for the third time, The Ingalls just said screw it and left her there. When she finally crawled out 30 years later she was the Azn we all know and love.
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