When Harriet Olseon's niece, Kate, comes to Walnut Grove for a visit, she has a slight injury which requires her to see Doc Baker. Kate is quite young and very beautiful and the good doctor is certainly as aware of her as she is of him. Soon romance blossoms (mostly against the doctor's better judgement as he sees the age difference as insummountable.) Kate, however, wants to marry him and have a family and finally, the two agree that that is exactly what they will do.
It was pretty obvious from the beginning that the romance was not going to work out but it took Doc Baker (after a chat with Laura) to decide to call the whole thing off. In a way, I'm glad, I really like the doc and am used to him being single (as I'm sure he is too.) Kate was far too young to be his wife but he determination to become so was commendable. When she left Walnut Grove to pursue her future, we all felt pain for our favourite country doctor, but, of course, right from the opening credits, we knew how it would end up, and that was a great shame because the writing for this show is usually so much better than that. Ah well, at least he can still play cards with Mr. Hansen.moreless
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Episode Summary
Harriet Oleson's young niece comes to town for a visit and is immediately attracted to Doc Baker. A whirlwind romance follows, despite their significant age difference, and although their friends and family are concerned, they go ahead with an engagement--until an unexpected event leaves them both with a critical choice to make.moreless
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Melissa Gilbert
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls/Wilder
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Melissa Sue Anderson
Mary Amelia Ingalls/Kendall (1974 - 1981)
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Kevin Hagen
Dr. Hiram Baker
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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Trivia
ADD TRIVIA- "Doctor's Lady" was Kevin Hagen's (Dr. Hiram Baker) favorite episode. Edit
- In real life, Anne Archer (Kate Thurwall) was 27 years old when this episode aired. What makes this interesting is the fact that Doc Baker mentions in the episode that 20 years down the road, Kate will still be a young woman. If her real-life age aligns with her character's age (which we never find out, because Kate's age is never revealed), then she would be 47 years old in 20 years--hardly a "young woman"--and in fact, that's probably about how old Doc Baker was in this episode, and he certainly didn't consider himself young. The character of Kate must have been written as being a late teenager (although her age is never disclosed), but that would be a bit of a stretch, given that Archer was pushing 30 at the time in real life. Edit
- Notice the house that Mr. and Mrs. Olafsen (the couple that have a daughter at the end of the episode) live in. You can totally tell that it's the same as the inside of the Ingalls house. The same fireplace is there, and while they try to clutter it up with props and make it look a different color, it's the exact same sets. Edit
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Notes
ADD NOTES- Filming Locations: Filmed at Big Sky Ranch, Simi Valley and Paramount Studios, Hollywood, California. Edit
- Kate's full name is Kate Thurwall. In Season 2's The Campout, Harriet mentions that she has one brother. Kate must be his daughter, so the viewer can assume that Thurwall is Harriet's maiden name. Edit
- Featured character: Doctor Baker Edit
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Quotes
ADD QUOTES- Harriet: Oh, Kate, you could have your pick of any other man! Kate: I don't want any other man. Hiram Baker is the kindest, gentlest man I know, and if he loves me, then I'm proud of it. Edit
- Doc Baker: It's springttime for you, Kate. It's late fall for me. I'm old enough to be your father! We've told ourselves over and over, "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." But it matters. Edit
- Caroline: Charles, what do you think about the two of them. Do you think it's right? I mean, he being so much older than she is? Charles: Well, if it's right for the Doc, and it's right for Kate, then it's right. It's as simple as that. Caroline: I suppose. I just couldn't help thinking. I mean...well, suppose a man who was older than you was going to marry one of your girls. Charles: That's ridiculous. Caroline: Why? Charles: Well, it just is. They're little girls. Caroline: But they won't always be little girls. How would you feel? Charles: I can't answer that. Caroline: But you just said that what's right for them is right for them. It's as simple as that. Charles: Well, that's them! You're telling me that wouldn't bother you? Caroline: Charles, I'm not telling you anything. I'm just saying-- Charles: I'm not about to call someone who's older than I am Son! It's as simple as that! Caroline: You're right. Good night. Charles: Good night. Caroline: (long pause) Charles...everything is so simple when you explain it. Edit
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Allusions
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