Willie Oleson has a standoff with his mother over the matter of marrying Rachel Brown, who he's sure is the love of his life. Harriet's attempt to exert control over her son one last time before he becomes a true man becomes her final and most obstinate effort to get her way over her family.
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: In the episode's final moments, Nels points out that his mother wasn't thrilled about her son dropping out of college to marry Harriet, but reaffirms that he's glad he did, and the two share a dance together.
- Calling His Mother Out: Willie does this more than once when his mother tries to baby him once again. The first time, he declares his intent to manage the hotel-restaurant and marry Rachel Brown, a girl from below the Olesons' social class. When Mrs. Oleson tries to vent to postmistress Ruth Foster that Willie doesn't really love Rachel and he's only marrying her out of pity, Willie quickly finds out what happened and – taking his bride-to-be in hand – again scolds his mother. Nels witnesses both confrontations and is mightily impressed; when Mrs. Oleson scoffs and wonders what's gotten into her widdle boy, her husband tells her, "A backbone!"
- Coming of Age: If it hadn't become obvious that Willie Oleson has come full circle in earlier episodes, it certainly will now when Willie stands up to his mother and tells her to knock off the coddling and pampering – he's gonna marry who he wants to and go into business (as manager of his older sister's hotel) … and he's not going to take his mother's no for an answer, and too bad if she doesn't like it!
- Country Mouse: How Mrs. Oleson disparagingly regards Rachel.
- History Repeats:
- Once again, Mrs. Oleson is a hysterical crybaby at her child's wedding... if that is her.
- As Nels reveals during his conversation with an inconsolable Harriet after the wedding, he did the same thing as their son when they were courting, giving up on college to marry Harriet against his mother's wishes, a decision he never regretted in his life.
- Hollywood Homely: Rachel Brown, in-universe and only in Mrs. Oleson's eyes, as she's not the girl that she wanted her baby, baby son, Willie, to marry. To everyone else, Rachel is beautiful, and no wonder: Sherri Stoner, the actress who played her, is drop-dead beautiful … so shockingly attractive that Disney would later use her as the model for Ariel (of The Little Mermaid (1989)) and Belle (of Beauty and the Beast).
- Last-Minute Hookup: Willie gets hitched very close to the end of the series, and right before the end of Season 9 and the end of the "A New Beginning" era.
- Missing Mom: Rachel's mother is deceased; the series' unofficial bible has it that Rachelle Brown was killed in the deadly Great Tornado of 1886 (the one that also killed Joe Kagan and others).
- Also, in-universe, when Mrs. Oleson announces she's boycotting Willie's wedding. And she actually follows through ... except who is that heavily veiled woman sitting in the front row?
- Next-to-Last Episode New Character: Rachel, Willie's bride. Although she has a sizable part in the "newlywed" story in "Hello and Goodbye" (which aired the following week), the series was canceled. Had there been a 10th season, Rachel's stories would likely have revolved around her becoming part of the town and – assuming Katherine MacGregor continued with the series – learning to get along with her mother-in-law, the dastardly Mrs. Olesen. Alas, her appearances were fairly limited in the follow-up movies, as more time was spent on other characters.
- Parental Marriage Veto: Harriet is furiously against Willie's marriage to Rachel. Averted with Rachel's father, who despite Willie's nervousism as he's about to ask for Rachel's hand in marriage, is very supportive of their marriage.
