The Olesons come to that realization. For all that they argue and disagree, they just can't live apart.
The Ingalls and Oleson siblings admit to each other that they will miss being schoolmates despite their constant fights when discussing Mrs. Oleson's plans to move from Walnut Grove.
Dude, Not Funny!: Caroline is not amused when Charles starts laughing out loud when she tells him how Mrs. Oleson threw Caroline's basket of eggs at Nels' head, seeing it as a serious sign of their marriage falling apart. After he brings back the incident and jokes that she should take her eggs boiled next time, she can't keep herself from laughing.
Facepalm: Nels — already at odds with his wife over her treatment of the Ingalls several times at this point in the series — has taken to doing this.
Henpecked Husband: This is the first episode to depict Nels as the henpecked, put-upon husband by his overbearing wife, Harriet.
Motive Decay: Nels and Harriette Oleson have separated and Nels is living in the hotel. Doc Baker and Mr. Hanson get the idea that Mr. Hanson should go ask Harriette out on a date. The reasoning is that Nels will get jealous and will want Harriette back. In the next scene, Hanson is wearing a suit and carrying some flowers as he and Doc Baker walk toward the mercantile store. Doc Baker tells Hanson that now is a good time because Nels is out of town and won't find out. This subverts the original purpose, which was to make Nels jealous.
O.O.C. Is Serious Business: When Laura and Mary go talk to Nellie and Willie about their mother planning on moving from town, Nellie is completely devoid of her haughty attitude, and doesn't even try to take out her frustration on Laura as was expected from her. She even admits she'll miss Walnut Grove and that Mary was as close as she ever had to a friend.
Operation: Jealousy: Doc Baker, of all people plans on helping fix the Olesons' marriage by convincing Mr. Hanson to court Harriet in order to make Nels jealous.
