Season 8

Harriet adopts Nancy, a Nellie look-alike with an even meaner streak. Mr. Edwards returns, Almanzo suffers a stroke, Rose Wilder is born, and the season ends with James fighting for his life. It was Michael Landon's last season as a series regular. Season 8 aired on NBC in 1981–82 and has 22 episodes. Pick one below for a full synopsis.

1. 1The Reincarnation of Nellie (Part 1)First aired October 5, 1981Nellie and Percival move to New York with their twins, and Walnut Grove feels the loss, especially Harriet.
2. 2The Reincarnation of Nellie (Part 2)First aired October 12, 1981Nancy wastes no time causing trouble.
3. 3Growin' PainsFirst aired October 19, 1981James is struggling to fit into his new life with the Ingalls family.
4. 4Dark SageFirst aired October 26, 1981Dr.
5. 5A Wiser HeartFirst aired November 2, 1981Laura takes a college course to further her teaching, and she finds herself fending off unwanted attention from her professor.
6. 6Gambini the GreatFirst aired November 9, 1981An aging daredevil, Gambini the Great, comes to town, and Albert is starstruck.
7. 7The Legend of Black JakeFirst aired November 16, 1981Nels Oleson is kidnapped by a pair of bumbling outlaws who demand a hundred-dollar ransom.
8. 8ChicagoFirst aired November 23, 1981Mr.
9. 9For the Love of NancyFirst aired November 30, 1981Nancy manipulates Elmer, an overweight classmate, into thinking she likes him, then humiliates him.
10. 10Wave of the FutureFirst aired December 7, 1981Harriet is sure she has found the future of business: she signs a franchise deal that turns her restaurant into a "Mrs.
11. 11A Christmas They Never ForgotFirst aired December 21, 1981Mary, Adam and Hester-Sue travel home to Walnut Grove for Christmas, and the whole family is together again.

12. 12No Beast So FierceFirst aired January 11, 1982Gideon, a shy boy with a bad stutter, is mocked by his classmates, and it hurts all the more when James laughs along with them.
13. 13Stone SoupFirst aired January 18, 1982A brutal drought scorches Walnut Grove.
14. 14The LegacyFirst aired January 25, 1982Charles discovers he has a real gift for building fine tables.
15. 15Uncle JedFirst aired February 1, 1982James and Cassandra's Uncle Jed, a wealthy man from Minneapolis who once turned them away, comes to Walnut Grove wanting to take them home with him.
16. 16Second ChanceFirst aired February 8, 1982Hester-Sue's ex-husband, Sam, turns up in Walnut Grove claiming he has changed his ways and wants her back.
17. 17Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow (Part 1)First aired February 15, 1982Almanzo is struck with diphtheria, and before he has fully recovered he is caught out in a violent hailstorm and suffers a stroke.
18. 18Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow (Part 2)First aired February 22, 1982Laura gives birth to their daughter, Rose, but even the new baby can't pull Almanzo out of his depression.
19. 19A Promise to KeepFirst aired March 1, 1982Mr.
20. 20A Faraway CryFirst aired March 8, 1982Caroline goes with Doc Baker to a remote mining camp where influenza is spreading.
21. 21He Was Only Twelve (Part 1)First aired May 3, 1982James goes along on a trip to Sleepy Eye and walks straight into a bank robbery.
22. 22He Was Only Twelve (Part 2)First aired May 10, 1982James lies in a coma, and the doctors hold out little hope.