Kelly Mielke from The Dr. QuinnCast Podcast returns to help me dive into this hilarious episode!


Title: Wave of the Future
Season/Episode: Season 8, Episode 10
Air Date: December 7, 1981
Director: Maury Dexter
Writer: Don Balluck

In “Wave of the Future,” Harriet Oleson, lured by Major Guffey’s promise of riches, transforms Caroline’s restaurant into a franchised “Mrs. Sullivan’s Kitchen,” complete with a rigid menu of pan-fried steak, beef stew, or roast chicken. The military-style efficiency backfires, overworking Caroline, Hester-Sue, and Harriet while alienating customers craving variety. Nels, skeptical from the start, teams up with Charles to open a rival restaurant, exploiting a contract loophole to sabotage the franchise. The plan works, and Guffey, revealing “Mrs. Sullivan” as a paid actress, terminates Harriet’s contract. Harriet, humbled, returns to running a family restaurant. The episode, a satirical jab at corporate greed, ends with a humorous nod to history as Harriet dismisses a pitch for a fried-chicken-only restaurant, unaware it foreshadows KFC. It’s a heartwarming reminder that community and authenticity trump soulless progress.
10 Heartfelt Quotes I chose:

“It’s nights like this I wish I was somewhere else. Anywhere else.”
“I know what you mean.”
“The job, I can’t handle it. I’m here all day, I stay late.”
“I’m worn out when I get home in the evening, I never even see my family.”
“I don’t want to put you in a tight spot, but I have to give my notice.”

 














 




The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission.









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The post Revisiting Wave of the Future first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

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