Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder: Mary goes to Chicago hoping that John Jr.'s love for her is as strong as ever, but as it turns out, he has been having an affair with another woman and turned out quite different than she expected. She's heartbroken when he reveals that, as she expected to marry him after he finished college.
Broken Pedestal: Charles went from admiring and looking up to the Grange to being disgusted by the corruption going on amongst them. Also, Mary is disillusioned with her great passion, John Jr., when he reveals that he doesn't love her anymore.
Immoral Journalist: The newspaper where John Jr. works only publishes what the Grange approves, as Charles figures out.
Mistaken for Prostitute: When a prostitute shows up at Charles' suite, as part of a bribe attempt to get him to vote no for government control of the Grange, she spots Mary on the bed and assumes she's a younger prostitute, much to their discomfort.
Put on a Bus: Radames Pera makes his final appearance as John Jr, although the character's eventual fate plays a huge part in the season 8 episode "Chicago".
Real Life Writes the Plot: The John x Mary pairing was already threatened by the lack of chemistry between Radames Pera and Melissa Sue Anderson, not to mention Anderson's outright hostility towards the former. Then Victor French (Mr. Edwards) left the show, and with him, the Edwards family was written out, leading the writers to have John and Mary break up here.
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Having learned firsthand about the corruption and under-the-table payments going on, Charles gives an impassioned speech during the Grange convention, stating that he wants no part of it before voting against their "no government control" agenda and storming out.
