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Post by stldan on Jun 28, 2010 6:58:10 GMT -5
I've been watching the show on DVD with my own kids, and we finally made it to season 7 last night. I'm pretty sentimental when it comes to TV shows and movies, but I was still stunned at how devastating this episode was. From the moment Grandma recollects sitting on the mountain with Grandpa on their anniversary, to John's speech about having no business leaving the mountain, I lost it. Cried like a baby. I was especially moved by Erin mentioning GW, and Olivia telling Grandpa how rich the family was for having had him. Powerful stuff, made more so with the knowledge that the cast really had lost a beloved friend in Will Geer.
What an enormous loss to both the fictional family and to the country in general. By all accounts, Will Geer pretty much played himself. As one of the lumbermen told John, the world won't see his likes again. Whatever you may have thought of his politics, there's no doubt that Mr. Geer was a true character- full of life, opinionated but fair, and wise and humorous and gruff and gentle all at once.
What a testament to 'The Waltons' that it could stillhave such an effect 30+ years later! This wasn't contrived TV. This was a genuine farewell to both a beloved actor and character.
Other moments in TV that have impacted me (although not quite as much as this):
The final episode of St. Elsewhere, with Dr. Auschlander's death.
Several points in Lonesome Dove, but especially Robert Duvall's death and burial.
Bobby Simone's (Jimmy Smits) death in NYPD Blue. Not a particularly emotional show for me, but this was very touching, especially when rough Andy Sipowicz kisses his friend goodbye.
The final 5 minutes of Six Feet Under, when we jump into the future and see the lives and deaths of all of the characters.
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Post by michelle on Jun 28, 2010 9:22:57 GMT -5
For me too The Empty Nest is a very touching and dramatic episode especially because of the loss of Will Geer, and for me there are, I believe, two other moments in TV history which still touches me as deeply as this particular episode and one of these is The Parting also from The Waltons. The entire episode still gets to me, but, I guess, the part that has me still crying buckets is when Olivia hugs everybody goodbye. When I watch that episode and see each of the cast members' faces as they say goodbye, you know that they are really going to miss working with Michael Learned since she is leaving the show. I am sure that the cast especially the children were deeply moved because of that and also because they had already been through so much with Ellen Corby's stroke and also the loss of Will Geer. The other moment that really touches me as well is the episode of Eight is Enough where a book of ee cummings' poems is found hidden in a kitchen cabinet, which book is intended as a gift for one of the eight children, Tommy, from his now deceased mother (played by Diana Hyland for just a few episodes until her death of cancer). I cry along with the cast members everytime I see the scene when Tommy is presented with that gift.
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Post by Marilyn on Jun 28, 2010 14:11:54 GMT -5
The Empty Nest is the saddest episode of all. I didn't realize what impact the role of Grandpa had on the entire show until he died. He was the spice that put a little kick into whatever was going on. It was never the same afterwards.
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Post by ncwaltonsfan on Jun 28, 2010 15:30:23 GMT -5
I am deeply touched by "The Empty Nest" also. Will Geer brought a lot of life to the show. His death left a huge void that would never again be filled. Ellen Corby brought some zing to the series as well and after she left,the show was never the same. I also agree that "The Parting" was a tearful episode when the children hugged Olivia. GW's death in "The First Casualty" is very powerful,especially when John hugs a tearful Erin after reading GW's will. That is absolutely superb acting.
Wasn't Will Geer awarded a posthumous Emmy and Michael Learned accepted on Will Geer's behalf? I thought I read that some place.
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Post by michelle on Jun 28, 2010 16:20:15 GMT -5
ncwaltonsfan, Will Geer was nominated many times for an emmy and did win in 1975 in the category of Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for The Waltons, but I didn't realize until I looked at IMDB that Will Geer was nominated a total of three times posthumously for an emmy in 1978 in the following categories: Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for The Waltons; Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series for "The Love Boat" for the episode "The Old Man and the Runaway"; and Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series for "Eight Is Enough" for the episode "Yes, Nicholas... There is a Santa Claus". Unfortunately, even though he was nominated three times that year, he did not win.
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Post by stldan on Jun 28, 2010 17:35:05 GMT -5
Again, I think a lot of the impact comes from the fact that Will Geer had died in real life, and that this wasn't just an actor being written out of the show because they wanted out of their contract. Also, it came at a time when the death of a major character was fairly unknown in TV. The only other one I can recall from that era is Col. Blake's off-screen death on MASH. And I think the whallop from that was more the shock of the news than from anything sentimental, since Maclean Steveneson was still alive.
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Post by ncwaltonsfan on Jun 28, 2010 17:55:01 GMT -5
Thanks,michellet.
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Post by lorijean on Jun 28, 2010 21:45:33 GMT -5
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Post by Tracey on Jun 28, 2010 22:09:21 GMT -5
Here is the list of the episodes that make me cry every time I watch:
The Crisis The Secret The Long Night The First Casualty Grandma Come Home The Empty Nest The Parting Day of Infamny The Valediction
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Post by Marilyn on Jun 28, 2010 22:44:05 GMT -5
stldan, I hadn't thought of it like that before, but I think you're right. It was more difficult because the actual man died....
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Post by stldan on Jun 29, 2010 9:42:02 GMT -5
The entire episode feels like it's a transition for the show, and even if the series wasn't at its peak anymore, it does an excellent job of making that transition. The children look like they've grown quite a bit since last season, and are clearly getting restless and ready to move on. Even though we know they won't really leave the mountain, this is the first time that John has seriously considered doing so or has a legitimate opportunity/reason to leave. He looks at a new way of doing business. Flossie Brimmer has also died (didn't remember that part of it from when I watched it as a kid), and Ike sadly reflects that they are losing the older generation. Grandma is home, but is clearly not the same. Olivia gets a "new" fridge, Jason gets a new piano at the Dew Drop, Corabeth gets her teamroom. We know from the year (1941) that the war is now imminent and not just something that will eventually happen. All of this builds up to the celebration of Grandpa's birthday at his grave, where we get the feeling that the characters, the cast and the audience finally must say goodbye to him.
Excellent, unforgetable episode all around, even if the circumstances that brought it about are painful both onscreen and in real life.
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Post by sarahwalton78 on Nov 7, 2014 14:30:43 GMT -5
First off, I have to say that this is one of my favorite episodes even though it is incredibly sad. I was watching this episode the other day after having not watched it for a while. I noticed a couple really sweet things in it. In the graveside scene, after Olivia is finished speaking, there is a shot of Jason and Ben. Then there is one of Erin, Jim Bob, and Elizabeth. If you watch closely, you'll see Jim Bob extend his hand to Erin and she takes it. THey hold hands for a couple minutes. I had never noticed this before, but it is so sweet. Then once John is done speaking, Erin stands up (still holding hands with Jim Bob, but she lets go when they stand up) and goes over to hug Mary Ellen. All her other siblings went to hug their parents and grandma, but Erin stayed with Mary Ellen. Just shows how close Erin got to be with her siblings. Just curious if y'all noticed these really sweet actions in this episode before.
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Post by nedandres on Nov 9, 2014 20:34:27 GMT -5
No, I hadn't noticed that, but I will be watching the next time. That episode is very poignant. I enjoy it very much and I can't watch it either without shedding a tear or two. I always think how sad it is that Will and Ellen had just one episode together after Ellen's return from her absence due to her stroke. But it is such a blessing that they had such a strong last show together in "Grandma Comes Home." Another brilliant episode!
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Post by Uncle Coaster on Apr 21, 2015 9:04:07 GMT -5
I watched this episode last night. I was getting through it pretty well and at one point even thought to myself, "you haven't cried yet".
Then, when Jim Bob surprises Olivia with the electric ice box he tells her that it used to belong to Mrs. Brimmer. Olivia looks at him and has this sweet expression when she says (might be paraphrasing), "That makes it even more special." I lost it there.
I think this was the first time I've ever seen this episode where (1) I lasted that long before crying and (2) I cried at that scene.
Really tells you how special of a series this is when you react like that to episodes you've seen countless times.
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Post by gunnersmom on Apr 21, 2015 18:58:27 GMT -5
I love this episode, too. It covers so much ground and brings about so many emotions. I cry when I see it, but then, I cry with almost every episode. Sometimes just a little knot in my throat or a few burning, held back tears, but almost every one brings me to that point at some time, even if only for a moment..
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