User Reviews

It's so hard for me to put into words---and I'm sure I've said this in other reviews for this series---but for me, the best episodes are the simplest. What I mean is: there is nothing "big" or "large" about the story. There are no important guest stars; there is no life-changing message to be learned; and the script does a great job at not hitting me over the head with its message.

Sure, there are things learned by some of the principals during the course of the episode. But it's all done so simply, in a beautifully simple way. These kind of episodes are my favorite......as though I'm just THERE, taking part in the simple beauty of what it means to be among The Waltons.

Ralph Waite really shines again. I DO think that he is my favorite actor on this show. He displays such a quiet, humble majesty....well, most of the time. However, his character has been known to blow his top; and this episode is no exception.

From start to finish, it's a great slice-of-life episode. I guess that is what makes it a sterling episode in my book.

Grandpa and John Sr are 2 of my fav characters and they really shine in this episode. It was a true quintessential Blue Ridge Mountain life story.

Grandpa and John Sr are so funny when they get annoyed and it's such a nice balance against the sometimes over the top uptight righteousness of Olivia . Yes people freak out and yell in real life!!

Ben was Ben and although a large part of the story is about his "growing pains" the best part if the story is about the rest of the Walton men.

Great show!

Even our favorite shows have episodes that are clunkers, and this episode of The Waltons falls into that category. Everyone behaves out of character and often cartoonish. This is the only Waltons episode helmed by this director, and thank goodness for that. Transforming some of the most beloved characters in television history into this bunch of annoying caricatures is a feat you don't want to see more than once.