Season 1 Overview

Airdate: 03/27/1985

Directed by: Victor French

Now Highway is approaching the conclusion of its first season. One way to tell is that they skipped one week episode in March, as this aired two weeks after the previous one — and usually that’s because a series is about to begin rerun of its past episodes. That was the case here: instead of this new episode, they aired the assignment To Touch The Moon for a second a time, which scored even better than its first time on September, for that matter. Again, somehow the series enjoyed unprecedented success after Christmas. But then, they now went for a new episode.

• Assignment

This assignment is again a family issue and elderly folks: a grandpa gives up on life upon being sent to an elderly home by his daughter in law, who constantly argues with her husband over this decision, while their son feels stuck in the middle. So, yet another family to save for Jonathan and Mark, involving some elderly folks.

By the premise, it’s pretty amusing to consider that it’s all about elderly folks who are sent away by their son’s family, as just the episode before this included a woman (Helen’s daughter) who wanted her mother to move in with her. Of course, that episode sounded far-fetched on this aspect. And it was not the only far-fetched aspect of it. But now, this episode is realistic on that. Also, unlike that episode, now they restored the usual point of view, featuring both Jonathan and Mark’s and the people involved in the assignment as well. At least Jonathan has one, because Mark disappears after some time and comes back once it’s all worked out, eventually.

• Background

This time it’s pretty hard to figure: the episode begins like the very early ones in the series (here an example), where Jonathan and Mark are already working in the job they had to take for the assignment, skipping the driving and the interview part. Also, the episode doesn’t give any clue about it: the retirement home where Harry is sent to apparently it’s the fictional “Parkview Home”, the most general name possible unmatched with actual places.

It could have been named just “Retirement Home” at this point.

Still, it can be worked out that it’s not Los Angeles this time, as the character of Harry claims he’s never been to Hollywood. Of course, it’s not impossible that a resident of L.A. has never been there (yet much unlikely), but when at the conclusion he resolves to go, he says that he has to take an airplane in order to do so. Also, there’s a character at the beginning of the episode who is reading a newspaper that apparently comes from a Nevada editorial, and it can be implied they are on those areas (although the scenery is quite too lush to be there).

Otherwise, considering that the previous episode was likely (not certain) set in New Jersey, if the two episodes were consecutive, then it is plausible to assume this episode takes place around those areas. Either way, surely it isn’t in California (though the setting remains the usual California one).

However, there would be a problem with the conclusion: the last scene of the episode of Jonathan and Mark driving away is a recycle of that in Return Of The Masked Rider, which was actually set in Los Angeles. But it can be justified by considering that it takes place at some point later, once they had already solved the assignment and now they are back to Los Angeles. Still it’s unclear.

Instead, as for the time span, it’s hard to figure too: it seemingly lasts for a couple of weeks, but considering the time-compressing moment of Harry and Matt training for the upcoming race, it’s seemingly impossible to know that precisely. Still, this episode makes a very important revelation for the context of the series: toward the conclusion, when Harry spots a notice of the race, it’s scheduled to take place on March 24, reported as a Saturday.

Now, on the year this episode aired (March 1985), that day was a Friday, while it was March 24 of 1984 that was a Saturday. This implies that the episode takes place one year before it aired.

That’s an important detail for two reasons: one is that, obviously, the Pilot must be set earlier (and, at that point, it’s really plausible it was 1984 as suggested in the map). The other reason is that, considering the second season certainly begins in the summer 1985 (as confirmed in its first episode), this season finale is set over the course of two months, and assuming the episodes are not scrambled among seasons (all the episodes in the first season take place before the second), it means that either there is a one year gap between this episode and the season finale, or this episode actually takes place earlier in the season, and it was placed at the end for some reason.

However, this view is rather problematic, because the episode One Fresh Batch Of Lemonade already took place around March, supposedly (they talked about Spring Dance), and that episode can’t take place on March 1985 (because it involves Scotty, who would be then marrying Diane). Unless they were to imply that, chronologically, the last episode of the first season would be actually A Match Made In Heaven. One sure thing is that now, it’s March 1984, likely way before many immediate previous assignments. Maybe, it’s around the same time as Going Home, Going Home, that wasn’t set in California either, or maybe right after To Touch The Moon (making this assignment the chronological third one of the series), excluding its conclusion, which presumably takes place at some point later on.

• Characters

One peculiar aspect of this episode is that Jonathan will have to work at the elderly facility, while Mark will never be shows working there. It could be implied that he’s working, but it could also mean he’s not. In that case, it would be the second episode in the series where they do not have both to work (As Difficult As ABC was the first one). Actually, Mark is not even shown much in the episode (he does never, ever interacts with neither grandpa nor grandson any moment). That might somehow confirm the assignment is the third one of the series (after the Pilot and To Touch The Moon), and his absence is actually justified because this was one of the very early assignments in his career, so he stays behind Jonathan to observe him and learn how to do the job of being an angel. Also, it could justify that moment in which he hits on a random girl at the marathon filed: in the series, he has never been shown chasing women before, and it would be an unusual behavior of him (especially after the conclusion of Help Wanted: Angel). So, maybe he does that here because this episode is set before that one with Stella, and following that marriage he never went after any girl anymore (at least, not that randomly). Actually, he’ll almost get married a second time in the future, but he didn’t want it.

Anyway, a second important aspect to notice is about Jonathan’s power: this marks the first episode in the entire series (and one of the very few) where Jonathan never uses the “Stuff” a single time, neither to solve this assignment nor to do something unrelated (like annoying Mark). It’s a rather plain, realistic episode in this aspect. Maybe they needed something less edgy following An investment In Caring, where Jonathan doesn’t use the “Stuff” that much, but the assignment had many other less realistic features.

• Actors (Highway Actors, Little House)

In terms of actors, this episode has to be pointed out, as there two actors the audience from Little House is already familiar with. First, Harry, the grandad, is played by Lew Ayres, a famous actor with a career spanning fifty years.

He was quite a peculiar actor in the industry: he began working in the 1930s as the famous Doctor Kildare (whose character will be featured in a 1960s famous TV show, played by a different actor). Then, his career stalled during WWII, when he was drafted in the army but soon became an Objector, an experience that reportedly marked his life.

So, he came back in 1945 and, in an interview the following year, he revealed he was planning to quit acting to “enter the Ministry or medicine” and do what could make him “accomplish something important“; but later he changed his mind, realizing the best achievement for him would be to “provide some kind of uplift to people and their problems“. The experience also reinforced his faith, which played an important part in his career and led him to launch himself on some very unusual endeavor for a major actor at the time, such as the documentary “Altars Of the World“, which accounts different religious ceremonies across the world.

Anyway, he approached the rest of his career with this renovated purpose of uplifting people and, included in those roles that could have helped him accomplish that achievement, there’s Little House too. In particular, he made a guest appearance in one episode of the ninth season in 1982, where he played a senior townsfolk running for mayor.

Then, just three years later, he continued to try accomplishing that achievement with Highway. Also, on that Little House episode he acted with French only, as Landon didn’t appear there, while now he has the chance to be directed by French and act with both.

And Landon must have liked that (and must have admired his career), as it won’t be the last time either: Ayres will be appearing on another episode in the second season and then again in the fifth season (playing each time a different character), making him one of the most recurring actor of the series, with three total appearances. Curiously, his last appearance in the fifth season will also mark the last role of his career: he’d retire from acting shortly after and would die in 1996, some 8 years later. So, he’s a Little House Actor (from the ninth season), Highway Actors (one of the most recurring of them) and even a Highway Lifetime (actors whose last role of their career was in this series): surely of relevant importance for Highway, and it’s better to get familiar with him.

But Ayres is just the grandpa. Instead, his grandson will be played by another Little House actor, a very familiar one: Matthew Laborteaux, who first appeared in a flashback during an episode the third season as a young Charles (but actually a young Landon, with that hair), then again in the fourth season, and eventually joined the series as a character of his own, Albert, the adoptive son of Charles (fictional, of course).

Specifically as the character Albert, he has appeared on over 80 episodes of the series across five seasons. Unlike many Little House actors who made guest appearances on Highway too — Lew Ayres being one of them — Matthew wasn’t just a guest star on Little House: he played a major character (although he never received the credit as such).

Then, he left the series at the conclusion of the eight season, but he would come back for some episodes in the ninth season, with his last work as the character in Look Back To Yesterday, one of the three final movie episodes of the series.

And now he’s back with French, who is going to be directing him on this one just like he did on Albert’s last episode of Little House. And with Landon, of course.

So, this marks the first episode of this series to feature a recurring character from that series, and it’s the third episode so far to feature two Little House actors (compare to the Pilot and Plane Death for the other two episodes, though on those case the Little House actors played a marginal role in the assignment). Also, the episode with Ayres in the ninth season of that series didn’t include Laborteaux; despite their shared history on that other show, they never had a chance to actually work together before.

• Production And Setting

The setting is a California one, just like most episodes. Instead, the script was written on February 1985 by Landon, and production likely took place around the same time for a week (again, as most episodes).

One thing to notice: this episode is the second one after Plane Death that has been written by Michael Landon but not directed by him, who entrusted French the direction — it would be the last time Landon handed off the direction of one of his own scripts to somebody else. It’s unclear why he made such an exception just for these two episodes.

Also, like the previous episode that French directed chronologically, his character doesn’t appear much in the assignment. Actually, Mark is not shown interacting a a single time with neither Lew Ayres nor Laborteaux (though French had to direct them, of course). It again seemingly confirm that he’d rather direct or act, not both at the same time.

Glossary:

Blooper: there are two bloopers in the episode. One is at the beginning: shortly before Ann and Jim start arguing about the grandpa, Jim is reading the newspaper, holding both hands at its back page.

However, the nest moment, the newspaper is suddenly flipped to reveal different page.

The second one is when Matt goes visit his granddad at the facility to bring him a present: as they talk, Matt is sitting on chair with his arms near his head.

However, when the grandpa abruptly stands up, now Matt’s arms are resting on his legs.

Reverse “Cute”: one of the rare instance of it. At the beginning of the episode, Jonathan asks Mark if he wants to join him and Matt running while they talk.

And Mark drops a cunning joke here.

So, Jonathan admits that was a good one.

It’s the second time in the series Jonathan drops a cute (see One Winged Angels for the first time).

Family issue, Elderly Folks: the features of this assignment now.

Hanging On: in the family’s house there is a painting by Margaret Keane, a famous painter at the time.

That won’t be the only time in the series her paintings are featured in one of the character’s home.

The Angel And Mark: when Jonathan introduces himself to Matt for the first time.

You mean Charles, isn’t it.

And that’s pretty unnecessary, considering Mark never even talks to Matt a single time in the episode.

Recycle: the closing part of the episode, the car driving away on a street, is actually a recycle from the final scene of an early episode, just shorter now.

No “Stuff”: this marks the first episode in the entire series where Jonathan doesn’t use the “Stuff” in any instance, neither to carry out the assignment nor to annoy Mark in some way. It could be advanced that Jonathan actually used it when he goes running with Matt and doesn’t even puff a single time, but that could be justified by considering he’s an angel, so he never grows tired for any activity, just like he doesn’t have to sleep nor eat at all (it’s not that he uses the “Stuff” to cancel hose need, but rather he doesn’t have them in the first place). Same goes with his job at the facility: he didn’t use the “Stuff” to get it, but it was just provided as part of the assignment, beyond his will.

So, there are very few episodes where he doesn’t resort to the “Stuff” a single time, and this marks an unprecedented one in the series.

Assignment: Jonathan and Mark are assigned to help an elderly man reconnect with his son’s family, who had recently placed him in a care facility.

An elderly man in bed, Harry, wakes up to find that his sheets are soaked.

What happened is clear, isn’t it.

Then, his grandson Matt notices it and gets worried about what his mother will think of it, so he decides to take the wetted blankets and wash them at school.

However, his mother Anne finds out, and forces hand with her husband to send Harry to a facility.

As Harry settles in and hopelessly wanders in his new room at the facility, Jonathan arrives, revealing that he works there, and hands Harry a magazine about Hollywood.

Of course, Jonathan knew this would spark something in Harry. And that’s what happens: Harry confesses that he had long dreamed of going to Hollywood with his late wife, but something always came up to prevent that.

Here, Jonathan reveals he wasn’t listening at all, as he makes a mysterious remark on that “day you wake up and you’re too old”.

Anyway, Jonathan is dismissed and meets Matt, while training on a marathon field, to inform him of his grandfather’s condition, saying that Harry is feeling very lonely and needs someone to shake him out of his condition him.

Now, I take it that idea that social exclusion can severely impact health is well-known nowadays, but it wasn’t as widely discussed in the 1980s when this episode was aired. Not sure there were so many people in the 80s actually believing that.

Anyway, Matt is called to go back training by his coach and Jonathan joins him — while Mark mocks them.

You’re talking about gambling, and you’re working with an angel.

But it shouldn’t be a problem: it’s thanks to gambling they solved the assignment in the Pilot, isn’t it.

Anyway, Matt decides to buy Harry a pair of walking shoes, hoping to invite him to go for walks. However, Harry refuses the gift and lashes out at his grandson.

Later that night, Jonathan visits Harry.

Actually, he was already home with Mark, but an angel is where he’s needed, isn’t it.

He points out Harry was rather impolite to his grandson, who was only trying to help.

So, Harry changes his mind, apologizes to Matt, and asks him to take a walk together.

Then, when Matt returns home, he tells his family about his grandfather’s improvement and hints that Harry might return to live with them soon. However, his mother reacts harshly.

The next day, Matt decides to skip the scheduled visit to his grandfather, who had been eagerly waiting to see him and take another walk. So, Jonathan confronts Matt at the training field, and Matt reveals that his family is falling apart.

Finally, Pa is back.

Jonathan reassures him that it’s not his responsibility to fix his parents’ issues, and that he should continue visiting his grandfather if he wants to, without being swayed by what his parents might think.

Matt eventually reconciles with his grandpa, and the two take up running together. One day, they find out about a grandfather-grandson marathon some weeks away, and they decide to join it.

Then, Harry’s son comes visit his father, uninvited, and Harry makes a bet.

Then, he argues that it’s because they put him in the facility because they thought he couldn’t take care of himself.

And it doesn’t make really work — I mean, if winning the race proves your independence somehow, then why would you still want to bother your son’s family again. Why not just live independently and visit him whenever you feel like — on Thanksgiving or Sundays or whatever — just like any other family out there.

Still, Jim agrees to the bet, even though he’s aware his wife may not be thrilled about it.

Later, Jonathan goes to a gym and finds Matt.

And he just walked like that, seemingly. I mean, that’s probably a school gym, not exactly the kind of place you can walk in as in a park. Maybe Jonathan used his invisibility power to get there.

Anyway, he somehow got in and approaches Matt, all alone there.

It seems like they could burst out laughing any moment; it’s just too familiar.

So, Matt confesses that he’s torn between committing himself to win the race, which would lead to Harry coming back home but drive his mother away, or intentionally lose it, and shatter his grandpa’s hopes.

Jonathan, unusually, doesn’t have any direct advice for him, and just tells him to do what he thinks is right.

Not exactly what Matt was hoping for.

So, Matt simply notices how hard it is before walking away.

Except that, before leaving, Jonathan wishes him good luck.

Which seemingly implies that Matt should be to try and win the race then.

And it is exactly what happens: the next day, they both do their best and eventually they win the competition.

While he’s celebrating in his room and packing things up, Jonathan alerts Harry that his daughter-in-law intends to leave if he comes back.

So, Harry feels overwhelmed as he realizes his grandson knew about it, but still committed himself to running and winning the race — just to please him.

Eventually, he changes mind and resolves to tell his family that he wants to leave for Hollywood, as he had always planned to with his wife.

So, he actually realized that his bet didn’t make sense.

Now, hold on a second: Harry seems only concerned about Matt, who “Ran his heart out” for him, and he basically wants to leave just because he doesn’t want to hurt Matt by pushing his mother away if he comes back home.

Basically, he’s doing this just as a favor to his grandson, not for his son and his daughter-in-law (or because he realized it was the best thing for everybody), and he is still too proud to accept that he was sent to that facility because he wasn’t able to take care for himself, like a kid. So, by leaving he’s doing the right thing, but for the wrong reasons.

Anyway, they all share a heartfelt hugs and then a car drives off.

But this part is a recycle, just shorter and with a more intense and tragic Rose composition, just because hat other was too merry for this episode.

Also, it’s problematic for multiple reasons: one is that it was produced on Los Angeles, even though the episode doesn’t take place in California. Then, that episode was directed by Landon, while this was by French, so basically one of them copied the other.

But it wasn’t even supposed to be like that: apparently, in the original script, the episode was to conclude with Harry walking out at the door, turning around to see his family and Matt waving at him, and then confessing Jonathan how hard it is to do the right thing sometimes — the same thing Matt had told Jonathan earlier — and then they would go to the airport. However, for some reason, this final part was scrapped, and they just recycled this.

Anyway, this happy Little House pleasing episode aired on March 1985, it was a successful one exactly like the predecessor, and seemed to be the season conclusion. But then two more episodes, which is actually one divided in two parts, aired one month later. And that was the season finale, the official one.