The BEST episodes of The Waltons

Every episode of The Waltons ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Waltons!

In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, during the Great Depression, the Walton family makes its small income from its saw mill on Walton's Mountain. The story is told through the eyes of John Boy, who wants to be a novelist and go to college. The saga follows the family through depression and war, through growing up, school, courtship, marriage, employment, birth, aging, illness and death.

Last Updated: 4/24/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Founders' Day
star
9.07
14 votes

#1 - Founders' Day

Season 7 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/22/1979

Jason tries desperately with his music professor to meet the course's requirements of an original composition. He composes Appalachian Portrait while he plans the piece.

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The Search
star
8.93
15 votes

#2 - The Search

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/1/1976

Olivia and the two youngest children, Jim-Bob and Elizabeth, go up on Walton's Mountain and become lost. They experience many challenges. Jim-Bob saves the day using woodsman skills taught to him by Grandpa.

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The Outsider
star
8.76
17 votes

#3 - The Outsider

Season 7 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/1/1979

Ben comes home in the middle of the night with his new wife Cindy and they set up housekeeping in the shed. The early years of marriage aren't easy until Grandma steps in.

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The Inferno
star
8.76
17 votes

#4 - The Inferno

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/10/1977

John-Boy goes to Lakehurst New Jersey to travel to cover the landing of Hindenburg and is deeply affected by its crash. Curt tries to figure out how to have more private time with Mary Ellen.

Directors: Harry Harris
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The House
star
8.73
15 votes

#5 - The House

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/19/1976

Esther wants to save an old house from being torn down. Grandpa wants the contract to destroy it for the old wood. They both argue until Zeb realizes that house holds sentimental memories for grandma.

Directors: Harvey Laidman
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The Carousel
star
8.73
11 votes

#6 - The Carousel

Season 9 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/12/1981

Cindy's father gets killed and Cindy finds out she is adopted when she goes through some old papers. Cindy goes to find her Mother. Elizabeth and Drew have problems.

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The Air Mail Man
star
8.69
26 votes

#7 - The Air Mail Man

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/13/1973

An air mail pilot, due to engine trouble, lands his plane in the Walton's meadow. With the help of John, the plane is repaired and Olivia receives a surprise birthday gift, a plane ride!

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The Stray
star
8.63
19 votes

#8 - The Stray

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/22/1977

Strange foorprints & a stringer of catfish lead the Waltons to find 12 year old Josh a runaway in the barn hiding.He attaches himself to John immediately

Directors: Harry Harris
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The Children's Carol
star
8.47
17 votes

#9 - The Children's Carol

Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/8/1977

Two British children, separated from their parents due to the war, come to stay with the Baldwins. Jason is not sure he can fight in the war. Jim-Bob uses a short-wave radio and makes an amazing connection on that 1940 Christmas morning.

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The Kinfolk
star
8.47
15 votes

#10 - The Kinfolk

Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/27/1979

Rose arrives for a visit which is extended with Serena and Jeffery, her grandchildren. Jim-Bob and Ike Godsey build an air raid siren big enough for Richmond.

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The Empty Nest
star
8.43
21 votes

#11 - The Empty Nest

Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1978

Everybody mourns the death of Grandpa Zeb and Flossie Brimmer. John struggles hard to fill a huge lumber contract and Mary Ellen & Erin move to Charlottesville and they get an apartment.

Directors: Philip Leacock
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The Theft
star
8.35
34 votes

#12 - The Theft

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/4/1973

A wealthy widow, Mrs Clayborne, accuses John Walton of stealing antiques while working in her mansion. John needed new tires and he hocks his wedding ring to buy them. He refuses to tell anyone where the money came from. The mystery is finally solved when the Clayborne son admits to selling the goblets to raise money for his family.

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The Honeymoon
star
8.33
24 votes

#13 - The Honeymoon

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/10/1974

Olivia and John go on a late honeymoon at Virginia Beach while John-Boy & Marcia Woolery try to come to an understanding in their relationship.

Directors: Jack Shea
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The Fulfillment
star
8.32
25 votes

#14 - The Fulfillment

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/7/1974

The Waltons bring home an 8 year boy named Stevie who is an orphan so he can experience a family setting. Stevie meets Curtis Norton a blacksmith and an immediate bond occurs. Curtis and his wife take in the boy.

Directors: Nick Webster
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The Boondoggle
star
8.30
23 votes

#15 - The Boondoggle

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/9/1975

Porter Sims, a reporter from New York, comes to get material for a guide book on Virginia. John-Boy takes him to see the Baldwin sisters who allow him to look through the late Judge Baldwin's private papers. These reveal that their father was accused of treason for harboring Yankee soldiers during the Civil War. Deeply shocked and hurt, they decide not to leave their house ever again.

Directors: Ralph Waite
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The Journey
star
8.28
40 votes

#16 - The Journey

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/13/1973

Maggie McKenzie would like to see the ocean once more. John-Boy takes her but must miss an important dance. Grandpa helps the children save an injured bird. Earl Hamner makes his only appearance in the series as Maggie's husband. The director of this episode, Harry Harris, who would eventually direct almost 50 episodes, was nominated for an Emmy award.

Directors: Harry Harris
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The Thanksgiving Story
star
8.27
33 votes

#17 - The Thanksgiving Story

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/15/1973

Thanksgiving time on Walton's Mountain means a turkey shoot, a school play about early settlers, and the big meal. One year it also included a rekindled love affair and a life-threatening accident. John-Boy anticipates a visit from his girlfriend and is pending a college scholarship exam. He has an accident in the sawmill and his vision is blurred. He is unable to finish his test and eventually must undergo surgery.

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The Job
star
8.26
19 votes

#18 - The Job

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/21/1974

John-Boy gets a job reading to a young blind woman. The woman is hostile towards him and the world in general. She goes to Walton's Mountain and realizes she has much more for which to be thankful.

Directors: Ivan Dixon
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An Easter Story
star
8.24
34 votes

#19 - An Easter Story

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/19/1973

The entire family suffers a crisis when Olivia is stricken with polio. Dr Vance prescribes the accepted treatment, but Olivia does not get better. John-Boy learns of a new treatment practiced by sister Kenny and the family tries it to success in time for the Easter service.

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Day of Infamy
star
8.24
17 votes

#20 - Day of Infamy

Season 7 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/7/1978

Christmas 1941. Mary Ellen says she will be going to be with Curt in Hawaii. News from Pearl Harbor comes and the Waltons are told that Curt is dead.

Directors: Harry Harris
Writer: Paul Savage
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The Best Christmas
star
8.22
50 votes

#21 - The Best Christmas

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/9/1976

The 11 members of the Walton family are together for Christmas This would be the last time that all of the Waltons would be together

Directors: Lawrence Dobkin
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The Triangle
star
8.21
19 votes

#22 - The Triangle

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/20/1973

John-Boy experiences a heart ache because Miss Hunter, his teacher, starts dating Reverend Fordwick.

Directors: Lee Philips
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The Literary Man
star
8.20
35 votes

#23 - The Literary Man

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/30/1972

John-Boy's truck breaks down and he meets the author, A.J. Covington. John-Boy jeopardizes a timber contract badly needed by the family.

Directors: Philip Leacock
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The Heritage
star
8.20
20 votes

#24 - The Heritage

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/17/1974

An investor talks John into selling the mountain as a tour center. John thinks it over but realizes what the home means to the rest of his family and turns the ofter down.

Directors: Harry Harris
Writer: Dale Eunson
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The Roots
star
8.17
29 votes

#25 - The Roots

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/11/1973

Harley Foster and his son Jodie are introduced to the series. Harley roams the countryside doing odd jobs. Jodie has had no formal education. Verdie Grant takes a strong liking to Harley and eventually persuades him to stay on Walton's Mountain.

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