#sylvia webb

[princesstasmine]

Sylvia will always be Albert’s one true love ❤️

[greatprocrastinationgodsledyouto]

I’ve been rewatching “Little House on the Prairie” on TV recently and I came in just before my favorite episode came on, the two-parter “Sylvia.”  This episode may be triggering for some people (these episodes address rape against a young teenage girl), so I’ll put the rest under a read more. 

I just want to say that I am still s o  i m p r e s s e d with how this 1981 episode addresses the issue of Sylvia’s rape. These episodes aren’t perfect by any means, but there are still so many great, sad, and even funny lines and moments in this episode:

*First off, I really appreciate that this is a two-parter episode. Putting it mildly, this is a heavy subject matter, and I’m glad that the writers decided to let the story and characters breathe and grow and develop properly

*Michael Landon’s respectful writing, producing, and directing for these episodes

*Willie saying that he and the boys have a “nature project” as an excuse to, ahem, go see Sylvia

*Mrs. Olesen rightly standing up for Albert when Mr. Webb tries to physically hurt him for spying on Sylvia

*Mrs. Olesen rightly being disgusted when she learns that the boys were peeping on Sylvia 

*How funny Mrs. Olesen is when she asks Willie if he saw “the difference” when he went to go spy on Sylvia 

*Mrs. Olesen rightly calling a board meeting to address the problem going on between Sylvia and the boys (even if by this point, she is incorrect about who’s to blame)

*Despite using the old “boys will be boys” adage, it’s not used to justify that Albert, Willie, and the other two boys peep on Sylvia. Instead it’s used as a reason to explain why it’s necessary to have serious conversations with sons about how to treat women properly and respectfully

*Albert apologizing to Sylvia about peeping, and consistently tells the other boys to be respectful to Sylvia thereafter, and stands up for Sylvia whenever they tease and bully her

*The fake-out suspense that builds up when Sylvia is walking through the woods alone, thinking what she hears is just a flock of birds, but it really is her rapist. (I know that sounds like a weird way to phrase it, but it’s the only way I know how to right now, and I think the way it’s done is pretty important, since it shows that even those looking out for themselves can be attacked like that.)

*This episode may be why I hate clowns

*The episode showing Sylvia right after the rape, so we can see the full picture of how it’s affected her 

*The episode showing how being touched unexpectedly can trigger the memories of rape for survivors

*Dr. Baker and Laura knowing that Mr. Webb lied about Sylvia falling to explain her bruises (a common excuse to cover physical abuse), even if they can’t explain the cause

*Sylvia being open to love, despite her recent trauma

*The innocent summer-like romance that develops between Albert and Sylvia

*How concerned Albert is for Sylvia when she faints after school

*That a 1981 TV episode actually used the word “pregnant.” It’s not a word that would have been used at the time the show takes place, which I think just puts more weight on the violence against Sylvia

*How numb Sylvia is when she asks, “You blame me for this, don’t you? Don’t you?” and the equally cold and shaming reply from her own father, ”You reap what you sow.”

*Pa Ingalls reminding Albert not to hate or judge Sylvia without understanding the full circumstances behind her pregnancy

*The ugly close up of Mrs. Olesen’s teeth when she spreads the ugly news and gossip of Sylvia’s pregnancy and that Albert is the father after listening in on the phone call between Dr. Baker and Mr. Webb

*Albert standing up for Sylvia when Willie calls her a “tramp”

*Willie getting punched in the nose

*Twice

*Albert taking responsibility for Sylvia’s pregnancy, because he loves her 

*”Well, I don’t much care about what other people think, so long as I know I’m doing right.” YOU GO, ALBERT. MY SON IS BECOMING A MAN.

*Except, he’s still not one, no matter how much he tries to convince his parents otherwise

*Pa Ingalls chuckling and saying, “Good for her,” when Ma Ingalls storms out to take a walk when she’s angry about Mrs. Olesen spreading rumors about Albert and Sylvia

*Ma Ingalls’ quiet frustration as she kneads the dough 

*Ma Ingalls shoving the ball of dough into Mrs. Olesen’s face

*Ma Ingalls saying that even God Himself would have shoved that ball of dough in Mrs. Olesen’s face

*”I”ll be back in an hour, Nellie. Make sure your mother isn’t here.”

*Everything about Mama Bear Ingalls

*The continuance of Sylvia’s overactive flight-or-fight responses whenever she’s unexpected touched

*Albert genuinely wanting to care for and marry Sylvia, because he loves her, even if it’s not the right thing to do, since they’re so young (14/15)

*Sylvia pointing out that they’re too young

*Sylvia being open about how much her father’s abusive behavior scares her

*The episode’s portrayal of the negative effects of not believing victims and survivors when we see the betrayal in Sylvia’s face when her father asks, “How can I believe a whore?!”

*I’m sorry, but this time watching the episode, Pa Ingalls reminding Albert needs to wait until after finishing high school, college, and med school to even think about getting married just made me laugh. I mean, it’s the 1880s. What are the odds that Albert would actually get a proper high school education, if he were alive in that time period? Plus, that certain episode that brings Albert’s future into question....

*The Ingalls discussing that Albert, at 14, is not ready to face the commitment and heavy realities of married life

*Queen Mama Ingalls pointing out that loving Sylvia and loving her baby are two very different things

*Queen Mama Ingalls pointing out that, since Sylvia became pregnant through an act of violence, not love, that even Sylvia herself may have a hard time loving this baby

*Queen Mama Ingalls straight up asking if Albert has even asked Sylvia what she thinks of her baby

*Queen Mama Ingalls making Albert realize that he did not have this serious, necessary conversation with Sylvia (or anything beyond the early phases of teen love...)

*Queen Mama Ingalls

*Mr. Webb’s sadness after he lets go of his anger against Albert, whom he thought was the father of Sylvia’s baby

*The genuine panic I always feel when Sylvia’s rapist returns when she’s happy thinking it’s Albert

*Sylvia’s on point fight-or-flight responses. YOU BANG HIM IN THE HEAD WITH THAT WOODEN BOARD, GIRL!

*Sylvia being able to hang on to the dream of having a traditional church wedding

*”Kiss me, my love”

*THE UGLY TEARS I ALWAYS CRY AT THIS EPISODE. ALBERT AND SYLVIA TOGETHER WERE TOO PRECIOUS FOR THIS WORLD!!

I know this is a lot to spend on a tv episode that’s almost 40-years-old now by this point, but “Sylvia” is really a great episode with a respectful story arc, and has some of Matthew Laborteaux’s and Ma and Pa Ingalls’ strongest character moments, and, of course, Olivia Barash is perfect in the titular role. There’s a reason this episode was nominated for awards for its cinematography and Barash’s acting.