6.2 /10 1 Votes
5/10 TV Country of origin USA First episode date 9 March 1988 Number of episodes 14 | 7.4/10 IMDb Genre Drama Original language(s) English Final episode date 25 May 1988 Number of seasons 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Written by Jeff BaronSteven BaumChristopher BeaumontWilliam BlinnRena DownBob GaydosNeil Levy Directed by R.W. GoodwinNoel NosseckRobert Scheerer Starring Merlin OlsenBelinda MontgomerySamantha MathisErin ChaseScott CurtisKathleen YorkJessica WalterChristopher Gartin Cast Similar Father Murphy, Our House, Hell Town, Almost Grown, A Year in the Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aaron s way
Aaron's Way is a 1988 American family drama series that aired on NBC. The series stars Merlin Olsen as Aaron Miller, the husband and father of an Amish family that moves to California. The series follows the attempts of family members to adapt to Californian culture while retaining their personal values. Also appearing on the series were Samantha Mathis and Belinda Montgomery.
Contents
Synopsis
Aaron Miller's eldest son, Noah, has left the Amish community for the world, but Aaron kept in touch using a post office box. Aaron then learns that Noah died in a surfing accident, and goes to California for the funeral. While there, he learns that Noah had been living with a woman, Susanna Lo Verde, who owns an orchard and is pregnant by Noah.
Aaron returns to Pennsylvania to consider what to do. His wife is surprised that he kept in touch with Noah, and then a relative of Susanna arrives by motorcycle. He relates Susanna's difficulties, and Aaron expresses his opinion to his wife that they needed to go help Susanna.
To Susanna's surprise, the family arrives, and begins helping out while trying to cope with the unfamiliar society and technology. Susanna's mother asks Mrs. Miller if she could make scrapple for breakfast; after tasting it, mother gushes with appreciation, but privately tells Susanna that she didn't care for the dish. The three Miller children are enrolled in the public school system.
Subsequent episodes of this short-lived series deal with the continuing clash (and sometimes complementary meeting) between the Millers and their worldly hosts and neighbours. Aaron's stubborn insistence on the values of integrity and justice bend a few dishonest people their way.
Criticism
The show was described by one scholar as "a pretentious variation on the Beverly Hillbillies;" while former Amish viewers are reported to have called it “disgusting.”