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: 4/25/2025Network: CBSStatus: Ended
star
20.00
1 votes

#1 - 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 Children's Carol
star
20.00
1 votes

#2 - 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 Journey
star
20.00
1 votes

#3 - 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 Air Mail Man
star
15.00
2 votes

#4 - 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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star
15.00
2 votes

#5 - The Inferno

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

John-Boy travels to Lakehurst New Jersey to cover the landing of the 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 Stray
star
15.00
2 votes

#6 - The Stray

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

Strange footprints and 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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star
15.00
2 votes

#7 - 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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star
15.00
2 votes

#8 - The Kinfolk

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

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

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star
14.00
2 votes

#9 - 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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star
14.00
2 votes

#10 - 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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star
14.00
2 votes

#11 - 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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star
13.00
2 votes

#12 - 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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star
10.00
1 votes

#13 - Day of Infamy

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

It's Christmas 1941 on Walton's Mountain. 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 Empty Nest
star
10.00
1 votes

#14 - 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 and Erin move to Charlottesville and get an apartment.

Directors: Philip Leacock
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The Fawn
star
10.00
1 votes

#15 - The Fawn

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/8/1973

John-Boy secures a position as rent collector for a hated landlord while Erin, who is disappointed by her knight in shining armor, nurses an orphaned fawn back to health.

Directors: Ralph Waite
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The Ceremony
star
10.00
1 votes

#16 - The Ceremony

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/9/1972

A Jewish family, escaping refugees from Nazi Germany, come to Waltons Mountain for safety. Their 13 year old son loses respect for his father in the son's attempt to maintain his religious beliefs and practices.

Directors: Vincent Sherman
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The Honeymoon
star
10.00
1 votes

#17 - The Honeymoon

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

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

Directors: Jack Shea
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star
8.45
31 votes

#18 - 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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An Easter Story
star
8.00
2 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 heal Olivia in time for the Easter service.

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star
8.00
1 votes

#20 - The Caretakers

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/23/1975

Grandpa and Grandma become angry with the family and move out to care for a friend's house. Everybody soon realizes that their place is back home.

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star
8.00
1 votes

#21 - The Achievement

Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/17/1977

John-Boy goes to New York City after waiting weeks without word on his novel. It pays off and John-Boy talks to an editor who agrees to publish his novel. John-Boy comes back home and tells them the good news. He also tells the family he is moving to New York City.

Directors: Harry Harris
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star
7.44
32 votes

#22 - The Sermon

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/11/1975

Reverend Fordwick asks John-Boy to deliver the Sunday sermon and Miss Hunter asks Olivia to act as the substitute teacher. It proves to be an interesting experience for both as Reverend Fordwick and Miss Hunter plan their wedding and honeymoon.

Directors: Harry Harris
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The Battle of Drucilla's Pond
star
7.00
29 votes

#23 - The Battle of Drucilla's Pond

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/17/1977

Soldiers practice war at Drusilla's pond. Corabeth teaches a tap dance routine to Elizabeth and Aimee. They put on a show.

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The Seashore
star
7.00
29 votes

#24 - The Seashore

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/1977

The Waltons have an encounter with a strange English girl while on a small vacation at the Baldwin sister's beach cottage. Ben stays home alone expecting to live the life of a carefree bachelor.

Directors: Lawrence Dobkin
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star
4.00
1 votes

#25 - The Shivaree

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 1/30/1975

Wedding plans for the daughter of a friend go awry when the mountain custom of kidnapping the groom gets out of hand.

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