Little House on the Prairie The Reincarnation of Nellie (Part I) (Season 8, Episode 1)
TV-PG
TV Episode | 49 min | Drama, Family, Romance

Primary photo for The Reincarnation of Nellie (Part I)

Little House on the Prairie

The Reincarnation of Nellie (Part I) (Season 8, Episode 1)

TV-PG

TV Episode | 49 min | Drama, Family, Romance

Several weeks earlier, Percy and Nellie traveled to New York (with their infant twins, Benny and Jenny) to help run the family's store and hotel after Percy's father, Mr. Cohen, falls gravely ill; the elder Mr. Cohen soon dies. Nellie - ...See moreSeveral weeks earlier, Percy and Nellie traveled to New York (with their infant twins, Benny and Jenny) to help run the family's store and hotel after Percy's father, Mr. Cohen, falls gravely ill; the elder Mr. Cohen soon dies. Nellie - who is never seen on-camera - writes to her parents and tells them that their stay in New York will now be permanent to carry on the family business. This news saddens Nels, but Mrs. Olesen's life virtually comes to a complete stop. She is deeply depressed, refuses to eat and cannot sleep; there are times when she'd rather be dead. Nels and Dr. Baker are very concerned and decide to talk Mrs. Olesen into adopting a 9- or 10-year-old girl. At first, Mrs. Olesen flatly objects, but changes her mind after Cassandra visits with her. The Olesens travel to the orphanage in Sleepy Eye to visit with the young girls; Nels considers one of the well-mannered girls, but Mrs. Olesen rejects them all since none of them are like Nellie. Nels tries to reason with his wife; just when he gives up hope, there is a loud crash and a scuffle involving one of the girls. Mrs. Olesen's spirits immediately perk up, and it isn't long before they find out who this girl is - Nancy, a bratty troublemaker who is exactly the girl Mrs. Olesen is after. Nels tries to get his wife to reconsider, but upon learning that Nancy will soon be taken to a home for behavior-problem children, he feels obliged to adopt the girl for everyone's sake. Willie objects when he meets his new sister, since it will ruin his chance at a normal childhood. As one might expect, Nancy immediately asserts herself as the town's new troublemaker, getting into a first-day-of-school fight with Cassandra and stealing Willie's homework. After the latter incident, Nels wants to reprimand Nancy but Mrs. Olesen interferes. Other stories in the episode involve Adam and Mary planning to move to New York to take over his father's law practice (since meaningful work can't be found in Walnut Grove); and Hester Sue coming to work at Nellie's Restaurant and Hotel (after the state closes the School for the Blind). Written by Brian Rathjen See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
26 cast members

Name	Known for
Michael Landon Charles Ingalls Charles Ingalls See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Karen Grassle Caroline Ingalls Caroline Ingalls See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Melissa Gilbert Laura Ingalls Wilder Laura Ingalls Wilder See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Rachel Lindsay Greenbush Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush) Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush) See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Sidney Greenbush Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush) Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush) See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Katherine MacGregor Harriet Oleson Harriet Oleson See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Richard Bull Nels Oleson Nels Oleson See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Dean Butler Almanzo James Wilder Almanzo James Wilder See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Jonathan Gilbert Willie Oleson Willie Oleson See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Jason Bateman James Cooper Ingalls James Cooper Ingalls See fewer	Arrested Development (2003)
Melissa Francis Cassandra Cooper Ingalls (as Missy Francis) Cassandra Cooper Ingalls (as Missy Francis) See fewer	The Dictator (2012)
Wendi Turnbaugh Grace Ingalls Grace Ingalls See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Brenda Turnbaugh Grace Ingalls Grace Ingalls See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Linwood Boomer Adam Kendall Adam Kendall See fewer	Malcolm in the Middle (2000)
Kevin Hagen Dr. Hiram Baker Dr. Hiram Baker See fewer	The Twilight Zone (1959)
Ketty Lester Hester-Sue Terhune Hester-Sue Terhune See fewer	Blue Velvet (1986)
Matthew Labyorteaux Albert Quinn Ingalls (as Matthew Laborteaux) Albert Quinn Ingalls (as Matthew Laborteaux) See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Allison Balson Nancy Oleson Nancy Oleson See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Ivan Bonar Mr. Case Mr. Case See fewer	MacArthur (1977)
Elizabeth Hoffman Miss Mason Miss Mason See fewer	Dante's Peak (1997)
Melora Hardin Belinda Stevens Belinda Stevens See fewer	17 Again (2009)
Melissa Sue Anderson Mary Ingalls Kendall Mary Ingalls Kendall See fewer	Little House on the Prairie (1974)
Dan McBride Customer #2 Customer #2 See fewer	Coming Attractions (1978)
Dick Armstrong Customer #1 (as Richard Armstrong) Customer #1 (as Richard Armstrong) See fewer	The Winds of War (1983)
Gillian Grant Cindy Cindy See fewer	Knight Rider (1982)
Leroy Sweet Burly Customer Burly Customer See fewer	Trick or Treat (1986)