Her criticism of this episode could be why Melissa Sue Anderson was demoted to the closing credits for this episode for the only time in the series.*In fact Melissa Sue Anderson was also demoted to the end credits for her last ever appearance in A Christmas They Never Forgot.
Ironically, Alison Arngrim's replacement was also named Allison: Allison Balson. She played a character named Nancy; which basically fulfilled the same function with plot in terms of being the villain and pushing the conflict along. She wore Allison's same blonde wig; and her character was almost identical to Nellie in every way.
Melissa Sue Anderson criticized Michael Landon for "catering to the lowest common denominator" when he did the episode "The Reincarnation of Nellie"; getting a lookalike (Allison Balson) actress to play a character named Nancy after Nellie/Alison Arngrim's departure. She also criticized Melissa Gilbert for "breaking the fourth wall" in that episode and addressing the audience in a cloying way.
This is the first and only episode in which Harriet acknowledges out loud that her daughter Nellie had been mean, spoiled, and conniving as a child.
The opening theme tune in season 8, now plays as a faster tempo.