Surprising Secrets from the Set of Little House on the Prairie

According to Alison Arngrim, the writers originally planned for Mary Ingalls and John Sanderson’s romance to end in marriage. It was supposed to be one of the show’s heartfelt love stories, giving Mary a happy ending after years of hardship.

However, Melissa Sue Anderson and Radames Pera, who played the couple, didn’t have much on-screen chemistry. Because their relationship didn’t feel believable, the writers changed direction — instead sending Mary down a more dramatic path by having her go blind and leave for school.