The BEST episodes of The Waltons season 3

Every episode of The Waltons season 3, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Waltons season 3!

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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star
8.15
20 votes

#1 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
8.10
21 votes

#2 - The Choice

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/6/1975

John wants to expand the mill and call it Walton and Sons,Jason wants to study music and he tries for a scholarship

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star
8.05
22 votes

#3 - The Beguiled

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/16/1975

John-Boy encounters a sassy but unprincipled girl whose selfish ways cause hard feelings and suspicion toward Danny, Jim Bob's friend.

Directors: Ralph Senensky
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Conflict
star
8.04
27 votes

#4 - The Conflict

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/12/1974

Aunt Martha Corinnie Walton's home is in danger by the right-of-way for The Blue Ridge Parkway. All of the Walton clan comes to her aid and try and stop the contractor. During a skirmish with the contractor and deputies, John-Boy gets shot.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
8.04
27 votes

#5 - 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

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
8.00
21 votes

#6 - The First Day

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/19/1974

During John-Boy's 1st day at Boatwright he encounters a variety of new challenges. Back at the Walton home, Jason feels the need to be the oldest and excel at school like John-Boy. All of the other children object to Jason's attitude

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star
8.00
24 votes

#7 - The Song

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/20/1975

Sally Ann Harper has eyes for Jason but Ben falls in love with her. Grandpa and John enter a billiard competition at Ike's store

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star
7.88
26 votes

#8 - The Visitor

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/12/1974

Zeb's old friend returns to Walton's Mountain without his wife. The Walton's learn that she died earlier but he will not acknowledge her passing.

Directors: Ralph Waite
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
7.88
24 votes

#9 - The Runaway

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/3/1974

Now that John-Boy is at College, Jim Bob feels small and alone. He brings home a guinea pig, a mascot at school. During the night the little creature dies but the rest of the family are too busy with their own activities to spend time with him. Sad and alone after burying it in the woods, Jim Bob runs away.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
7.79
24 votes

#10 - The Birthday

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/19/1974

Grandpa has a heart attack and seems to be unresponsive to treatment. The family try to cheer him up, and against doctor's orders, move him to a tent outside so he can communicate with nature

Directors: Ivan Dixon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
7.78
23 votes

#11 - The Lie

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/2/1975

Ben goes to Charlottesville to take a young girl to meet her mother and borrows John-Boy's truck without his permission. The truck is involved in a hit and run unknown to Ben.

Directors: Jack Shea
Writer: Hindi Brooks
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
7.76
25 votes

#12 - The Statue

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/13/1975

Godsey's store has a raffle of a statue and Grandpa wins the statue - a dead ringer that looks like one of Grandpa's girlfriend prior to Grandma. John-Boy writes a story of a failed romance between Miss Emily and Ashley Longworth

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star
7.72
29 votes

#13 - The Ring

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/17/1974

Mary Ellen buys a purse. At home she finds there's a pretty amethyst ring inside which she decides to wear at the dance, but she and Erin keep the finding of the ring a secret.

Directors: Philip Leacock
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
7.71
17 votes

#14 - The Venture

Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/6/1975

John decides to expand his business by building a new mill. To meet a deadline for a big order, John works day and night & gets pneumonia. While he's in the hostipal his friends finish the mill, but he loses the big contract.

Directors: Ralph Waite
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
7.65
23 votes

#15 - The System

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/24/1974

Ben learns the hazards of smoking. John-Boy sticks up for a fellow student who violates Boatwright's honor code during a history exam. There were extenuating circumstances

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.65
23 votes

#16 - The Book

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/14/1974

John-Boy finds out that a collection of his short stories will be published and Jason secures a job with Bobby Bigelow and the Haystack Gang.

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.64
25 votes

#17 - The Thoroughbred

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/26/1974

John-Boy enters Blue the family mule in the annual cross-country race & tries to win Selena Linville's affections.Grandpa had won that race years before

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.64
22 votes

#18 - The Departure

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/5/1974

John seeks work in a Norfolk shipyard because he feels that life has passed by him but he soon realizes that the family needs him at home and he really wants to be there.

Directors: Ivan Dixon
Writer: Joanna Lee
Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.63
16 votes

#19 - 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 get out of hand

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.60
20 votes

#20 - The Woman

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 2/27/1975

John and Olivia make plans for their 20 th wedding anniversary, John-Boy falls in love with a older woman and decides to leave the mountain with her

Directors: Harvey Laidman
Writer: Hindi Brooks
Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.59
22 votes

#21 - The Spoilers

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/31/1974

A New York family who is dysfunctional moves to Walton's Mountain. They end up causing havoc in the Walton's household and they move back to New York City

Directors: Jack Shea
Writer: Caryl Ledner
Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.52
23 votes

#22 - The Romance

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/10/1974

Olivia enrolls herself in art class at night and her teacher makes romantic advances.Mary Ellen says she wants to be a nurse

Directors: Ivan Dixon
Writer: Hindi Brooks
Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.50
22 votes

#23 - The Matchmakers

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/9/1975

Corabeth Walton, a cousin of the Waltons, comes for an unannounced extended visit. Ike Godsey is instantly taken with her and they quickly marry. Erin enters the Jefferson County Sweetheart Contest.

Directors: Jack Shea
Watch Now:Apple TV
star
7.38
21 votes

#24 - The Marathon

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/7/1974

In Scottsville John-Boy enters a dance marathon with Daisy Garner, a total stranger. It starts out fun but quickly becomes a drudgery until Olivia comes to the rescue.

Directors: Ralph Senensky
Watch Now:Apple TV