I have watched the entire series of 'Laramie' thanks to the Starz Encore Western Channel and I have learned that I prefer the last two seasons over the first two seasons.
The reason for this is the wonderful addition in the third season of Spring Byington as Daisy Cooper, a widow who ends up at the Laramie station only to learn her deceased husband bought a business that didn't exist. Rather than leaving, Daisy stays and makes the best of the situation by making the Laramie station her new home and becoming the housekeeper.
More than a housekeeper though, Daisy is a homemaker and adds a motherly touch to the lives of Jess, Slim, and Mike, who need the care of a woman; and I think Daisy needs men to care for as a widow and a mother whose only son didn't return from war.
What makes the last two seasons better is that once the Daisy character comes on board there is finally no more bickering between the guys as to who has to do the cooking, the cleaning, and the laundry. Daisy is there to fill that role without complaining about her housework duties, which the guys did plenty of in the first two seasons, along with the Jonesy and Andy characters.
While Daisy didn't plan on becoming a housekeeper in the wilds of Wyoming, she found a place where she was needed and so were her skills, not only in homemaking but also in nursing.
After the first two seasons I think the show was aching for a woman's touch and Spring Byington filled it perfectly as Daisy.
Even though the last two seasons are my favorite, I enjoy the series overall, especially because it does a fine job of demonstrating the difference a woman can make in the lives of men when she cares for them as a homemaker.
The reason for this is the wonderful addition in the third season of Spring Byington as Daisy Cooper, a widow who ends up at the Laramie station only to learn her deceased husband bought a business that didn't exist. Rather than leaving, Daisy stays and makes the best of the situation by making the Laramie station her new home and becoming the housekeeper.
More than a housekeeper though, Daisy is a homemaker and adds a motherly touch to the lives of Jess, Slim, and Mike, who need the care of a woman; and I think Daisy needs men to care for as a widow and a mother whose only son didn't return from war.
What makes the last two seasons better is that once the Daisy character comes on board there is finally no more bickering between the guys as to who has to do the cooking, the cleaning, and the laundry. Daisy is there to fill that role without complaining about her housework duties, which the guys did plenty of in the first two seasons, along with the Jonesy and Andy characters.
While Daisy didn't plan on becoming a housekeeper in the wilds of Wyoming, she found a place where she was needed and so were her skills, not only in homemaking but also in nursing.
After the first two seasons I think the show was aching for a woman's touch and Spring Byington filled it perfectly as Daisy.
Even though the last two seasons are my favorite, I enjoy the series overall, especially because it does a fine job of demonstrating the difference a woman can make in the lives of men when she cares for them as a homemaker.