Main Character Goes Temporarily Blind for an Episode - Detailed List with Show Names and Episode Titles
I blame it on Bonanza. That’s the show that introduced me to this fascinating, overused, and rather bizarre tv trope. I had no idea just how common it was until I studied classic tv and similar episodes began popping up everywhere. Though the plots differed slightly, I began to notice a pattern, more predictable than a Hallmark movie. Tragic Accident > Self-Pity and Depression > Struggle to Re-Adjust > Pep Talk from Supporting Character > Change in Attitude > Rapid Re-Adjustment > Difficult Task or Heroic Feat That Even Sighted Characters Would Have Trouble Performing > Sight Miraculously Restored. Throw in a heart-pounding fight scene (for the police shows) or an unexpected romance (Route 66 and a few others come to mind) and you have quite a riveting episode. Mind you, not every entry in this trope is well-written, or even watchable (I cringe just thinking about Happy Days’ attempt to cash in on the trend). Despite the inherent corny-ness, I’ve found most of these episodes to be enjoyable and even inspiring at times. The following list is a compilation of what I’ve found so far, from old forums to internet searches and Facebook group discussions. I’ve alphabetized the episodes by show title, starting with A Man Called Shenandoah and ending at Zorro. I hope this list is helpful and brings back some fond memories. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll find yourself yelling at scriptwriters who are now dead or in their nineties (WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??!!)...maybe you’ll even discover a new favorite show (this is how I came across The Big Valley and several others). Enjoy!
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