New and Replacement Characters

[JeriJet]

It occurs to me that one real problem with the later seasons is the audience's general lack of connection to new characters (Rose and grandkids, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc.), replacement like John-Boy, and those missing for a while....

In the first five, six, perhaps seven seasons, there was plenty of time for the audience to get to know the characters, and for them to develop and grow. But in later seasons I think we all felt pulled in different directions, struggling to develop "loyalty" to new roles and reappearing characters. Not just the loss of Richard Thomas..... we were called to embrace older teenagers who had once been adorable kids. We had to get over the death of Grandpa, Grandma's stroke, Liv's illness/absence.

All of this is not easy. So, we FAILED, as did they.... the show lost its popularity -- maybe not for members here, but undoubtedly for many viewers -- A crying shame but understandable....

[ez]

YOU MEAN THE WALTONS WERE ON FOR MORE THAT 6 SEASONS??? just kidding but i don't realy watch any after the 6th season. i think they lost focus and it wasn't the same without grandpa jeb.

[JeriJet]

Well, now, if we are to be true Walton fans, we must force ourselves to watch all Seasons, and (Lord Help Me) the specials !!!

[ez]

i do watch them but not as often as the earlier seasons. when i go to pick an episode to watch it just seems that i always pick one from the first to sixth seasons.

[River]

EZ, I do the same thing...pick episodes from the early years to rewatch. Maybe because it feels like a family...in later seasons, they all drift apart and don't feel like a family unit. I don't mind the episodes where Grandma is in the "hospital" because we still have grandpa and the family. Once grandpa dies, all of the kids start going their own way (which is true when children grow up), but I missed the family element. They even have Mary Ellen taking on a more motherly role when she deals with Jim Bob. Just hate when Livvy leaves, and John is left by himself.

[Marilyn]

My favorite episodes, that I watch over and over again, are when everyone is home and the subject matter of the episode is something going on within the family. No gypsies, no circus performers, no German children, etc.. just the homeplace stuff. Love it!

[JeriJet]

Is there anyone out there who wants to discuss my original premise regarding the emotional lack of connection to new and replacement characters? I'm feeling rather neglected

[AR15]

Nov 5, 2011 6:15:46 GMT -5 JeriJet said:

Is there anyone out there who wants to discuss my original premise regarding the emotional lack of connection to new and replacement characters? I'm feeling rather neglected

I will While I never really cared too much for Rose, her grandkids or Stanley, there were some new characters who weren't there at the start who you can (I think) emotionally connect with. Mainly I am referring to Corabeth and Curt, I thought both we really good characters. I also had no problem with The Second John-Boy. The Second Curt, I suppose, was a little odd, especially with the story he's in retconning his death and ruining our view of the character (I'm one of few people who didn't fully hate the episode though!). I also liked J.D. Picket as a character, he wasn't likeable, but I did like that his character was in it.
So while I would argue that characters brought in later in the series are bad, would have to agree that they failed to captivate everyone.

[JeriJet]

Thanks, AR15 ! How can this be -- I agree about each character you mention. I adored the Cora Beth and Curt roles (interesting/complex) -- and well done by both actors.

Gosh, I forgot about J.D. Pickett.... he was a hoot! Oh, and the woman who played Fannie was the perfect stereotype. About Stanley -- a sweet, gentle man but I'd be bored to tears if I were married to him! As far as Rose and the kids -- Nope, just couldn't get into them.

I also join you in your feelings about the "new Curt" episode -- I thought it was a refreshing departure from the standard Walton fare.... (wouldn't want too many of those, 'tho...)

Although the writers/producers couldn't keep us captivated, ya just have to admit they tried.... I applaud the attempt. I think it was just too difficult to maintain the excellence of the earlier seasons. A tough job.....

[AR15]

Nov 5, 2011 15:38:12 GMT -5 JeriJet said:

Thanks, AR15 ! How can this be -- I agree about each character you mention. I adored the Cora Beth and Curt roles (interesting/complex) -- and well done by both actors.

Gosh, I forgot about J.D. Pickett.... he was a hoot! Oh, and the woman who played Fannie was the perfect stereotype. About Stanley -- a sweet, gentle man but I'd be bored to tears if I were married to him! As far as Rose and the kids -- Nope, just couldn't get into them.

I also join you in your feelings about the "new Curt" episode -- I thought it was a refreshing departure from the standard Walton fare.... (wouldn't want too many of those, 'tho...)

Although the writers/producers couldn't keep us captivated, ya just have to admit they tried.... I applaud the attempt. I think it was just too difficult to maintain the excellence of the earlier seasons. A tough job.....

I think the reason Rose and her grandchildren are quite unpopular is a bit of a paradox. If you think of Corabeth, for example, in Season 3 and Season 4 she isn't a particulary interesting character, but by Season 5 she appeared more often and we were given a chance to relate to her. So if you if she had had only her first two seasons I don't think she would've been quite as popular. Meanwhile with Rose, we only have her first two seasons, meaning we didn't get a chance to like her, but we also didn't have more than two seasons with her because she wasn't very popular. I think if Rose had appeared for the first time when all of the cast was still there we would have had more time to learn to like her and she probably would be held by the fans with more high regard.

[JeriJet]

Yeah, that's what I think happened with the later seasons -- there wasn't enough time to develop the characters and for us to get to know them. Happens in life, too, doesn't it.....

[bucky]

I wasn't a steady viewer when the show was first on so I probably don't have quite the same response as a first run devotee, but for me, Rose was probably the most difficult fit perhaps because she was 'the house mother'. I will say, that when I watched the series straight through, I came to appreciate her as an actress, once they really started writing for her - I loved the Stanley Perkins storyline. I never liked Curt - 1 or 2 or those children. I'd take Mary Ellen's JD home with me any day. John Boy 2 was in an impossible position trying to replace Richard and he was not helped by the poor writing and directing. And for the record, even though they weren't replacements, I could do without all of the girlfriends with the exception of JB's high school girlfriend (her name escapes me), Jenny and Cindy.

[JeriJet]

Nov 7, 2011 20:43:25 GMT -5 bucky said:

I wasn't a steady viewer when the show was first on so I probably don't have quite the same response as a first run devotee, but for me, Rose was probably the most difficult fit perhaps because she was 'the house mother'. I will say, that when I watched the series straight through, I came to appreciate her as an actress, once they really started writing for her - I loved the Stanley Perkins storyline. I never liked Curt - 1 or 2 or those children. I'd take Mary Ellen's JD home with me any day. John Boy 2 was in an impossible position trying to replace Richard and he was not helped by the poor writing and directing. And for the record, even though they weren't replacements, I could do without all of the girlfriends with the exception of JB's high school girlfriend (her name escapes me), Jenny and Cindy.

MARCIA WOOLERY ...YUK ! -- the role, not the actress....
(I wanted to slap her silly !!)

[bucky]

I thought she was a real hoot.

[Marilyn]

Yes she was a hoot... a fickle hoot!