The Waltons: The Best Christmas (1976)
Season 5, Episode 12
7/10
Maybe should be called just A Good Christmas
17 July 2021
Olivia is hoping for this family Christmas to be the best one ever. Between John-Boy perhaps leaving home in the near future, and with Mary Ellen being married, she fears this may be the last Christmas in which all members of the family are gathered together in person.

But her wish is threatened by a winter storm that causes some destruction, and leaves some members of the family and community stranded.

As typical for Waltons episodes of this period, it's punctuated by warmth and just the right dramatic moments.

But I do have one objection. There's nothing unrealistic or unbelievable about this episode. But several disasters occur (although sharing the one central cause of the winter storm) just when Olivia is especially hoping for the best Christmas. And the obvious question is: will they in fact all come together as a family for Christmas? It feels like a bit of a contrived situation.

For that reason, I can't rate this as one of the best Waltons episodes. There are others that are more complex, less predictable, and better written. But It does hit the right notes that any loyal Waltons fan rightly values.
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