The Family Tree

Season 6, Episode 3, Aired
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Episode Summary

Albert finds himself unsure of his identity when Miss Wilder assigns the students a family tree project. The trouble is, just as the Ingalls are getting ready to officially adopt him, Albert's long-estranged biological father shows up and demands custody of him.
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Fan Episode Reviews (2)

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  • Miss Wilder's class project on the subject of geneology has serious consequences for Albert.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By Lady_Lancaster, May 10, 2011 Report Abuse
    Miss Wilder assigns a project whereby each member of the class must draw up their family tree. Everyone is excited about this except Albert because he doesn't really have a family of his own. The teasing of the other children only adds to his predicament.

    Discussions in the Ingalls household lead Charles and Caroline to decide to legally adopt Albert but there is a major hurdle when his biological father turns up in the courthouse to claim him.

    From the outset, it is clear that Mr. Quinn, Albert's father, only wants the boy to use him as a farm hand but the law says that Charles has no choice but to hand him over. Albert, however, has learned a thing or two from living alone andby his wits for so long. When he meets his father (alone) all he has to do is pretend to be blind and his father can't sign away his parental rights quick enough!

    A very good episode and one that finally settles Albert's future and makes him a fully-fledged member of the Ingalls family.moreless

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  • Albert saves the day! No, really. He does.

    9.1
    "Superb"
    By cherrytree34, May 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    Although I love this show, I must admit that a large part of its charm lies in its surplus of poor acting and corny lines. In this episode, however, Matthew Laborteaux (Albert) does an excellent job of demonstrating his emotions. Albert clearly recognizes that his biological father does not really care about him, and he decides he wants to stay with the Ingalls. Even so, after Albert tricks his father into believing that he is blind, he conveys a sense of his hurt and loss to the audience. It is subtle, yet undeniable, and it adds a dose of reality to a show that is often unintentionally hilarious. Well done!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Look closely at the Wilder "family tree" posted on the blackboard by Miss Wilder in the opening scene. The name of her and Almanzo's younger brother is misspelled. It's supposed to be Perley, not Parley. Edit
    • In the flashback scenes, when Albert is portrayed suffering at the hands of his abuser at the orphanage, he looks exactly the same as he does at the present, and much older than he was when the Ingalls first met him and took him back to Walnut Grove. This was unavoidable due to production order, but it's still worth pointing out. They could have at least tried to make Albert look a bit younger. Edit
    • When Albert wakes up yelling from his nightmare, his face is an absolute pool of sweat. However, seconds later, when Charles comes up, Albert is not nearly as sweaty. Edit

  • Notes

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    • Lucy Lee Flippin and Dean Butler were credited as townsfolk from this episode onwards. Edit

  • Quotes

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    • Harriet: (laughing to Nels as she gestures to their new toilet) As I'm sitting here, I shall feel like Queen Victoria! Edit
    • Nellie: (holds up a skinny little twig from a tree branch) This is about as much of a family tree as you've got, Albert! (smiles and walks away) Laura: (to Albert) Don't you pay her any mind. She'll never change. She's just talking her usual nonsense. Edit
    • Nellie Oleson: Willie told me all about your class project. How's yours coming? Laura: I haven't started it yet. Nellie Oleson: I see. It must be very hard tracing all your relatives' names and everything, having to spend all that time in the forest or wherever it is you're from. Laura: It's called the Big Woods, and I'll manage, thank you. Edit

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