The BEST episodes of The Waltons season 1

Every episode of The Waltons season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Waltons season 1!

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: 11/2/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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An Easter Story
star
8.19
36 votes

#1 - 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.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Literary Man
star
8.19
37 votes

#2 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Bicycle
star
8.09
32 votes

#3 - The Bicycle

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/1/1973

Local blacksmith, Curtis Norton has John-Boy write letters to his bride-to-be. When she arrives on Walton's Mountain, life and Curtis are much different than she expected. Meanwhile, Olivia is feeling new pangs for freedom and something "different" in her life.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Ceremony
star
8.07
42 votes

#4 - 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 sons attempt to maintain his religious beliefs and practices.

Directors: Vincent Sherman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Reunion
star
8.00
41 votes

#5 - The Reunion

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/14/1972

The Baldwin sisters and The Recipe play a pivotal role in this story involving their unscrupulous scheming cousin, Homer Lee Baldwin.

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The Minstrel
star
8.00
41 votes

#6 - The Minstrel

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/21/1972

Mary Ellen meets a traveling troubadour, Jamie and neglects her responsibilities of helping pick fruit.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Foundling
star
7.95
133 votes

#7 - The Foundling

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/14/1972

When a young girl is left on the doorstep of the Walton's home, they take her in. Not Before learning she is deaf after taking her to the doctor. One night while the Walton family listen to the radio John boy takes matters into his own hands when Holly (the deaf girl) runs up to her room crying. He teaches her sign language...or really Sign spelling! This new skill comes in handy when the youngest of the Walton family gets locked by accident in a box in the Haunted House, which later turns out to be the house of which Holly lives!

Directors: Vincent Sherman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Calf
star
7.92
63 votes

#8 - The Calf

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/28/1972

The Family cow, Chance gives birth to a healthy calf but John announces that it must be sold to make ends meet. Elizabeth and Jim Bob hide the Calf to save it. John relents and the family keeps the calf.

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Actress
star
7.91
44 votes

#9 - The Actress

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/4/1973

When her car breaks down, the famous extravagant actress, Alvira Drummond finds herself stranded on Waltons Mountain. The Children, especially Mary Ellen, are fascinated by her "Hollywood" ways.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Love Story
star
7.89
44 votes

#10 - The Love Story

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/18/1973

John Boy falls in love with Jenny Pendleton who returns to Walton's Mountain. Jenny's father and new step-mother follow her to the mountain. Her father is killed in an auto accident and Jenny returns home with her step mother. John-Boy suffers his first lost love.

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The Carnival
star
7.85
78 votes

#11 - The Carnival

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/21/1972

A Carnival troupe comes to Walton's Mountain. When the manager absconds with the money, four members are stranded at the Walton house. They thank the Waltons with a private performance.

Directors: Alf Kjellin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Courtship
star
7.79
38 votes

#12 - The Courtship

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/25/1973

Olivia's uncle Cody Nelson comes to visit with the Waltons and finds love with a woman who has been divorced four times.

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The Boy from the C.C.C.
star
7.77
47 votes

#13 - The Boy from the C.C.C.

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/2/1972

Gino, a boy from the slums of New York City runs away from a CCC Camp and learns about trust and love from the Waltons.

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Deed
star
7.74
31 votes

#14 - The Deed

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/8/1973

It seems that the Waltons never officially registered the deed to Waltons Mountain. In order to help pay the legal fees, John-Boy leaves home for a job in the city. He meets new friends, gets mugged and earns a reward to help the family keep their home.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Sinner
star
7.74
50 votes

#15 - The Sinner

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/26/1972

The Reverend Matthew Fordwick comes to Walton's Mountain and upsets the family with his strict and forceful preaching. He innocently samples "the recipe," and John helps him to be accepted within the community

Directors: Philip Leacock
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Townie
star
7.73
30 votes

#16 - The Townie

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/8/1973

John-Boy's friend Sarah sees him as a way to escape her "trapped" life with her demanding mother. When John-Boy rejects her advances, she runs off and plans to elope with a townie.

Directors: Jack Shea
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fire
star
7.70
44 votes

#17 - The Fire

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/11/1973

A young girls father objects to Miss Hunter's teaching Evolution. During a drunken rage he burns down the school and is killed in the fire.

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The Star
star
7.68
53 votes

#18 - The Star

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/19/1972

When a meteorite falls on the Baldwin's house, Zeb believes his time has come. The Baldwin sisters are hoaxed by their cousin until Zeb and John come to the rescue.

Directors: Alf Kjellin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Typewriter
star
7.67
55 votes

#19 - The Typewriter

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/12/1972

John Boy borrows an antique typewriter from the Baldwin sisters so he can send a story to a magazine. Mary Ellen mistakenly sells it to a junk man, but through diligence, gets it back for her brother.

Directors: Philip Leacock
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Gypsies
star
7.64
33 votes

#20 - The Gypsies

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/1/1973

A gypsy family is stranded, but the leader refuses to accept help from the Waltons. His pride almost costs the life of his baby son.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Dust Bowl Cousins
star
7.63
49 votes

#21 - The Dust Bowl Cousins

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/7/1972

The Walton's distant cousins arrive on the mountain and immediately upset everyone's life by their shiftless dishonest ways.

Directors: Robert Butler
Writer: Paul Savage
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Scholar
star
7.61
38 votes

#22 - The Scholar

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/22/1973

A neighbor lady, Verdie Grant asks John-Boy to teach her to read and write. He agrees to teach her as he helps Elizabeth. Things go wrong, however, and feelings get hurt.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Legend
star
7.47
38 votes

#23 - The Legend

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/16/1972

John's old army buddy, Tip Harrison, tries to cover his lack of success with childish actions and comments culminating in an accidental fire and the shooting of reckless the family dog.

Directors: Lee Philips
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Hunt
star
7.41
58 votes

#24 - The Hunt

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/5/1972

John Boy prepares to go on his first hunt and distress over taking an animals life. During the hunt he saves John's life from an attacking bear. Meanwhile Mary Ellen debates over a new dress or a baseball mitt.

Directors: Robert Butler
Watch Now:Apple TV