Season 1 Overview

If the audience thought no episode could match the emotional depth and intelligence of the previous one, well, the series has just begun. Even though it may not be as peculiar as that one, it will still pack a punch. Also, this marks the first episode focused on the Vietnam War and its aftermath, with more to come in future episodes.

One curious thing, usually this information is at the end to wrap up but this time it’s probably better to say this now: apparently, this episode was produced on August 1984 (right after To Touch The Moon), and it was chronologically the third episode they shot in the series. However, for some reason, it only aired 4 months later, by the end of November — while usually the episode of Highway were produced about one month before their broadcast. This might actually suggest this episode was originally scheduled to air among the first in the series, but it was eventually postponed up until that moment. Nothing wrong about it: you can enjoy the episode without knowing it. However, there are some minor details that could actually suggest it takes place as an early assignment. Even though, somehow, they can also be seen as matching the conclusion of the previous episode So, it fits both.

And another thing about the production: Michael Landon didn’t work on the script for this episode. And it wasn’t Dan Gordon either (the series headwriter): this time, it’s Paul W. Cooper, a name well-known in the Little House world, as he had written a bunch of episodes for that series, including Little Girl Lost and Blizzard (both some impressive episodes of the third season), but also two episodes in the ninth season, the comical Welcome to Olensoville (harmlessly useless) and Love (better not dwell upon that one any further).

Still, even though in this first season he might be a highwayman, he won’t actually be one, as he’s going to write at least one episode for each season of the show, which makes him a frequent collaborator that actually knows what he’s doing with the story and the characters. Also, he was already notable in Little House, but it’s probably on Highway that he really showed off all his capbilities. Don’t know how he could improve so quickly: he mentioned in an interview that all his scripts are inspired by one that was released in 1984 and that he considered to be the best written script ever, so he basically took cues from that for any of his future works. And this episode, was released that year, so maybe he was already learning form that.

Point is: he wrote some Highway episodes that arguably stand out as the best in the whole series, including the following one.

Assignment: Jonathan and Mark are assigned to help an American family adjust to their new life when a Vietnamese girl moves in with them.

After the introduction, Jonathan and Mark are driving as usual, with no clear assignment in sight. But don’t panic — it’s not going to be like the last time.

Supposedly, they are not in California anymore if Jonathan drove “400 miles in a hour” while Mark was asleep. But of course, that’s just an illusion: the episode was produced in North Hollywood, so they can’t escape from Cali even this time.

However, there is one difference, a subtle one: this was the first episode of the series that was not directed by Landon himself. This time, he gave French the assignment, and it’s going to be one of the few episode in the series to be directed by French rather than Landon.

And look how smug he seems about it: probably as much as when he got his boxing manager card (which he would take one year from then).

He even got a new shirt.

Text reads:

Michael Landon Production

Presents

Highway To Heaven

Starring

Michael Landon

And

Victor French

Usually, Landon’s direction is pretty straightforward while French deployed bolder intuitions — and even though here, his approach isn’t as daring as it was in Little House, it’s still distinguishable.

Back to the episode. Mark gets hungry (nothing out of the ordinary, just a man with needs) and asks Jonathan to stop at a local station.

He’s an angel, Mark, he’s bereft of human needs.

Of course, Jonathan refuses, but this might be already something: I mean, by now, Mark has understood Jonathan doesn’t have to eat nor sleep nor do anything people do, becaus ehe’s an angel. Yet, he still asks for a soda for him, and when Jonathan turns down, Mark doens’t say anything like: “Oops, sorry, forgot you’re an angel and you don’t have to drink” or something like that. So, this might be as well the fisrt evidence that this episode is not theit tenth assignment together (as in the order the episode aired), but it can be chronologically their second, and Mark still doesn’t now that Joanthan is never thirsty.

Or maybe it’s just an oversight by the writer.

Anyway, inside the gas station Mark and some Asian-looking kids ask the owner to change some monet, but the owner just wants to help Mark and turn the kids away

And he explains Mark the reason, showing his racist tendencies.

Mark, having learned a few punchlines from Jonathan over time, drops one.

A subtle reference to Little House’s moral lessons, echoing through time.

As Mark leaves, he notices something different about his car. The way it’s shot reveals what the credits hasn’t mentioned yet: it’s one of the few episode in the series to be directed by French rather than Landon.

Anyway, Mark spots some ladders over his car, and Jonathan suddenly appears behind him, informing him of a new assignment where they’ll work as house painters.

Meanwhile, there is a soccer game that is just another way to introduce the characters.

After the game, the three most relevant one for the asignment come back home.

The two friends are Brad and Larry, and they should be familiar faces.

So, Brad is played by William Jayne (credited here as Billy Jayne), actor and occasionally director as well.

And if the name rings any bell, it’s because he’s not the only Jayne of the show: actually, he’s the elder brother of Robery Jayne (credited as Bobby Jacoby), who played one of Lance’s kids on Catch a Falling Star, remember?

Now he’s a real estate agent and blackjack player, while his older brother William (or Billy), stil works in the industry. No idea why they both chose to change their stage name from William and Robert to Billy and Bobby, and changed their surname from Jayne to Jacoby. Also, they do not look very similar.

One curious thing here: even though this episode aired on Novemeber, two weeks after the one starring his brother, it was actually produced before that (this episode in August, the other by the end of September); so, by the time they produced Catch A Falling Star, they had already worked with one Jacoby. Even though the two brothers were not directed the same way: here, it’s French, while for that one it was Landon’s duty.

But, of course, nobody was implying Landon and French cast Bobby Jayne on Catch a Falling Star just because they had already worked with his brother one month earlier. I mean, this production was serious, unlike the one where they cast actors for their appearances.

And another thing: curiously, this won’t be the last time that two actors and brothers are cast for different episodes of Highway. Actually, theirs sister will also play a role in this season later on.

Next, Larry is played by K.C. Martel, a very familiar face for those who grew up in the 1980s: he played a supporting role in E.T. just 2 years prior Highway.

Then, he had a recurring role in the sitcom Growing Pains and retired from acting right after that.

Back to the Highway, Brad enters home and finds his mom Susan. In the kitchen, of course.

Because while her son and hard working husband are out in the field, she has to stay home and do the chores.

Also, the actress is Jenny Sullivan, who had already worked with Landon for Little House, in one episode — the one that was a plagiarism to Bonanza, if you remember that.

Then, Susan tells her husband Richard they got a letter they’ve been waiting for. So, they ask Brad to sit back for a moment and get ready to discover a family secret.

Basically, while Richard served in the Vietnam war, he fell in love for a local woman and they had a daughter.

Then, he shows his son a picture of her.

That girl is Nguyen, who is now asking to move to the U.S. Richard and his wife are excited to have her. Brad seems confused, especially since all his friends are racists like the shopkeeper at the beginning and he’s worried about what they’ll think of him. But of course he doesn’t tell his parents about it.

That night, Jonathan and Mark show up looking for work, but Richard is hesitant to hire them due to his difficult financial situation.

Jonathan insists that he and his friedns are desperate for a job, so Brad feels basically forced to give them one.

But, of course, Jonathan lets Mark do all the job.

And he got to separate from the A’s for this.

When Jonathan remembers he has to work as well, he uses the Stuff to get his part done quickly.

Landon was not faking his laughing here. I mean, you can definetely see how French and him were having fun themselves on this.

A few days later, Nguyen arrives at the airport, where her family is waiting for her.

And pause right there: right off the bat, there are some problematic aspects.

About her character: first, she is plyaed by Denice Kumagai, and as her surname gives away, she’s of Japanese and Hawaiian origin, not Vietnamese. Because, you know, as long as she looks Asian, there’s no problem. The practice of having foreign characters of a specific nationality played by actors with a different one is not that unusual for a show in the 1980s — but it is in the context of this particular show: that is particularly true considering how groundbreaking some of the future episodes are for the actors — and there’s already been one a few episodes ago — but also the accuracy for the future epsiodes with a similar assignment featuring Vietnamese characters that are going to be played by actual Vietnamese actors. So, this episode just makes an exception to the series. At least they got it right that she is of double nationality.

Moreover, the actress was 28 at the time, though she’s playing a high schooler, and that’s much harder to believe now—unless the producers implied she never attended school in Vietnam and she had to start over here, so the character is actually 28 as well.

Lastly, her name is mispronounced in the episode. I suppose there was no Vietnamese translator available. Curiously, the actress playing Nguyen is never going to pronounce her character’s name.

And yet another thing, about this whole settings: the news reporter there are totally useless. I mean, they had no better sensational story than a Vietnamese girl moving in the US. That’s pretty hard to believe. Also because this won’t be the only episode dealing with Vietnamese people moving to their US relatives, and on that other occasion there won’t be any reporter lurking at the airport.

Now, as they take her home, Jonathan finds Mark dutifully working alone. While singing. In Italian.

Very cultured, Mark.

Anyway, Nguyen comes home and her mother immeadiately takes her to buy some new clothes that will be more fitting to the American settings. However, their car won’t start and Jonathan mysteriously insists on giving them a lift.

Of course, they’ll be using Mark’s car for this. Don’t know how Jonathan could have handled his assignments without his friend’s car. I mean, before they knew each other, he probably had to use the Stuff to create cars out of nowhere and tell everybody they’re from a “Friend” or something.

But Mark doesn’t mind, as he keeps on singing in Italian.

Anyway, as they are gleefuly buying stuff, they are interrupted by Larry’s mother.

This intervention felt quite random.

But Jonathan is not without punchline.

So, that’s why he insisted on coming with them: he was waiting for the right moment to drop this.

Then, on to a family dinner.

And he doesn’t last long.

Then, Nguyen stands up to help her setpmother.

Brad immediately reminds her where they are now.

You know, before his mother has an epiphany and realizes she would rather be served by her children, like they do in Vietnam.

Anyway, the next day Nguyen begins school but some of Brad’s friends, including Larry, bully her and calls her offensive names.

When she returns home, she asks Mark the meaning of that word.

Then she recalls her life back to Vietnam and teaches everybody in the audience a new insult for nthe Asian-American, as if there weren’t enough already.

Finally, she confesses she feels out of place wherever she goes because of natioanility and she doesn’t have an identity anymore.

So, Mark has to take over and leaves her with some punchlines.

So, Nguyen processes what Mark told her.

Well done, Mark.

That night, Mark finds Jonathan mysteriously quiet.

And get ready for a very long, schmaltzy preaching like never before.

Jonathan delivers a heartfelt monologue, preaching about how people should love each other instead of hating.

Well, not sure about the punishment: I mean, parents have to punish children sometimes, isn’t it.

But it’s not the end yet.

Don’t say that, don’t say love.

Mark, come on. You didn’t really ask that.

Really, French is commendable, as he actually looks very serious and carefully listening to Jonathan’s message. But Landon appears quite convincing, too.

Now, besides everything, they went a bit too far here, but it actually fits with the kind of earnest storytelling expected from the series. And it fits good on this episode, too.

The next day, Brad argues with his parents about Nguyen, and at school Larry tells Brad he has to choose between her or him. So, whne Larry picks up on her at school, Brad sides with him and neglects her when she asks for his help.

She is evidently distraught. But she doesn’t report it to her teachers or something.

Instead, she turns around and runs away waving arms like crazy.

It really feels like those Laura’s runs in Little House, isn’t it.

Probably French instructed her to run that way.

Back at home, Jonathan and Mark finish their job and, before leaving, they go to Larry’s house.

Yet another instance of a son with the same name of his father. At least now they are not the assignment.

Anyway, Jonathan begins his preachings.

Well, it’s unclear whether Jonathan uses divine knowledge to make this confession or if he just made it up.

Also, we never actually know if Jonathan actually served in the Vietnam War. If not, I suppose a little white lie is acceptable for a good cause. Actually, since the series begins in 1984, it is possible that at some point before the pilot, Jonathan was involved in some kind of field work or sent to spend some probationary service abroad, like being a war correspondent from Saigon for Heaven or whatever. Either way, this won’t be the last time he mentions his Vietnam War experience.

Either way, the result is effective, as everybody stares blankly around while processing that lecture.

It must have very effective for Landon himself, as his voice seemingly breaks for a moment once he’s finished, like he was maybe suffocating a cry and holding tears or something.

Anyway, notice this whole time Mark is behind them packing up, but after some time into the puchlines he disappears to reappear at the end, still on the same position as when Jonathan left him to teach Larry a lesson. Much likely, French simply thought the audience wouldn’t have noticed his character so he walked away from the car. I mean, there was no need for his character to stay like two minutes in the background waiting for Landon’s to finish his lines.

Now, Larry admits he’s been unfair towards Nguyen and he and Brad resolve to apologize to her. But when they get home, they realize Nguyen is missing and only find a letter in which she thanks everyone for their support and encourages them to be brave, as Mark had told her.

This feels like an implicit nod to Reverend Alden’s frequently misguided or misunderstood preachings on Little House. Really, imagine how many troubles could have been avoided if people had stopped listening to him: Laura wouldn’t have run away to the mountains after the death of her brother, Jenny wouldn’t have tried to drown herself after the death of her father, the Bully Boys wouldn’t have taken advantage of everybody in town so easily because “We need to turn the other cheek” and so on, everything just because of him.

Back on Highway, Jonathan tells Brad he knows where Nguyen is, and they track her down at an Asian restaurant, which doesn’t appear to be Vietnamese at all.

But again, as long as it looks Asian, it’s fine, like the actress.

Eventually, Brad apologies to her and they reconcile.

Of course, Larry too.

And they are observed by Jonathan and Mark, very creepily spying on them as only they know how to.

Mark, smugly tells Jonathan that he loves their job. Who knows, maybe he won’t threaten to quit in future episodes.

Actually, this moment is yet again one of those that possibly reveal this episode is set before others. I mean, it can possibly be that Mark’s comment is related to his love story with Stella from the previous episode or something, like that he needed a good-hearted assignemnt to get over that. Or it may be just a random, casual remarks he felt to make. But, since he doesn’t say that many times during the series, it can be that this was possibly their second assignment and the first one ended pretty tragically, so he just made this comment to further uphold his decision of partnering with Jonathan in the pilot. In some ways, he’s like remarking he has done the right thing and doesn’t regret it.

So, Nguyen agrees to come back home and the family is happy again.

Anyway, Mark asks Jonathan when will they be leaving for the next assignment, and Jonathan replies immediately.

However, this is a bit problematic: the next episode starts with Mark bored in a hotel room, still waiting for an assignment. So, either their waiting was part of the assignment as well, or this episode hints that the series doesn’t show any actual assignments Jonathan and Mark work on. But, maybe, they just misplaced this episode. That way, tehre wouldn’t be no problem with such a sentence.

Anyway, before driving off, the show needs to remind the audience that changing a single neighbourhood isn’t enough—there’s still a whole world out there. Before Jonathan and Mark can leave, two random kids shout racial insults at the happy blended family. You know, like Laura’s “Indians lover” on Little House, just more offensive. But Jonathan seemingly uses the “Stuff” and the kids comically crash their bikes.

And they laugh hysterically.

So, it means that Jonathan can actually use the “Stuff” against his Superior’s wil, unless they wanted to imply the kids deserved it. As Mark put it in the Pilot: if they achieve their purpose bending the rules a little, it means they were allowed to. Or, maybe the assignment is concluded and Jonathan can use it as he pleases now — though it won’t always be the case. Or, again: Jonathan actually shouldn’t have done that and now he will have to face the consequences — as he will do later on.

Either way, “The Stuff” is just “The Stuff,” and there are no strict rules, apparently — or it wouldn’t be called the “Stuff” in the first place, of course.

Finally, they drive away toward their next assignment— even though it’s unclear which one, if this episodes is actually set as it aired, or if the date of its production mattered the most.

So, the episode aired on December and it managed to improve over the ratings of his predecessor (that, remember, is the least watched episode of the season), for some mysterious reason. So, maybe it was a good move keeping this episode for November instead of airing right away, as it was likely supposed to be. Though the reasons are a mystery. But again, if the ratings works, it’s good for the show. And it won’t be the only episode related to the Vietnam war and its aftermath.