Season 8 of the Waltons
1) The Home Front. John drafts a local boy who is killed in action. The angry father plans to take action with force against the Walton family until it is reported that JohnBoty is missing. A. Great episodes about the times and horrors of war.
2) The Kinfolk. Rose and her grandchildren Jeffery and Serena come to live and help out at the Waltons.B. New Walton relatives arrive at the Waltons.
3) The Diploma Mary Ellen serves as a county nurse and John can’t find his diploma needed for military work and he goes to night school to graduate.A. John has to go back to school to get his diploma and learns something in the process.
4) The Innocents. Olivia needs to convince JD Pickett to share his facility as a day care center. Rose teaches Ike to dance for their anniversary while Corabeth, his wife thinks he is fooling around B. Olivia takes control in finding safe day care for defense workers children.
5) The Starlet A filmmaker filming at the Pickett Plant tries to convince Erin she has the talent to leave home and go to Hollwywood and the movies, but it turns out to be a ruse. The Waltons are getting Hollywood. But still a good Waltons. B.
6) The Journal A publisher wants to publish missing John Boy’s novel and needs Olivia and John’s permission. Reckless the long time family dog is put to sleep. C. A sad episode on many fronts,
7) The Lost Sheep. Ashley Longworth Jr returns from war to ask Erin to marry him but Ashley has lost his faith in God due to wartime experiences killing a man. A. A good episodes that shows the horrors of war on returning soldiers.
8) The Violated. At the Red Cross Request Olivia looks for a soldiers wife who doesn’t answer letters. Corabeth wants an inheritance. I cant remember this episode real well, but do a little bit as Olivia returned to the Waltons briefly again. C.
9) The Waiting. Olivia joins the Red Cross. Rose cooks Thanksgiving for family and Olivia and John spend the day with John Boy who is in a coma. Part 2 of this two part episode I remember a little better. Sad for the Walton parents to be away from home especially with John Boy in a coma, but it eventually turns out all right. B.
10) The Silver Wings. Jim Bob meets an Air Corps pilots wife, takes care of her and develolps feelings for an older and pretty woman. In the end the woman’s husband dies. A. Good episode.
11) The Wager Elizabeth coaches Mary Ellen and Erin in a run and ride race. And Jeffery writes and meets a movie star woman. A. A good episode showing the girls competing in a race with the men and winning some and gaining respect.
12) The Spirit. A POW escapee from a German camp is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and named Paul just as I am and that’s my real name. Jefferey meets him secretly and then the Waltons meet and invite Paul into their home on Christmas Eve. A. A good episode and besides the personal similarities I enjoyed the episode and story.
13) The Fastidious Wife. When Corabeth gives Cindy a book on how to be a perfect wife, but it is erroneous as there are always flaws. B/C. There is no such book on how to be the perfect person that I know of.
14) The Unthinkable A recruit in Jason’s company is Jewish and comes to rhe Waltons for a weekend visit. He finds out his grandpa was killed in the Holocaust in Germany and shares a moving tribute up at Grandpa Walton’s grave on the mountain. Elizabeth also struggles with being too smart. One of my favorite episodes of the later seasons. A.
15) The Idol. Elizabeth befriends a woman teacher who turns out to be ill and eventually dies. Ben and Cindy’s daughter is born and named Virginia. Ben misses the birth because he is out thinking that he isn’t the best father. A. Another great late season episode
16) The Prodigals Jeffery and Josh get into trouble breaking into Ike’s store and end up painting the store and doing other chores. B/C Another ok late season episode
17) The Rememberance Zeb’s cousin Zadoc shows up on Waltons Mountain with an old promise and contributes to Jason and Boatwright University B/C Another episode I remember seeing but not real well.
18) The Inspiration Grandma Esther returns, and helps Mamie Baldwin to deal with a cataract operation on her eyes. A. A sweet and moving episode which reconnects, Grandma, the Baldwin’s and the Walton’s
19) The Last Straw. John thinks about retiring when the mill breaks downand he eventually needs the family and community to emotionally help support him back to work. A. A good episode which shows John’s vulnerabilities as a man, breaking down emotionally and physically and then getting back up. It’s real and a great moving Waltons episode.
20) The Traveling Man Stanley Perkins returns and gets reacquainted with Rose a former Beau and dance partner from Baltimore. B. A good episode but not great . But Waltons episodes don’t have to be to be good.
21) The Furlough John Boy returns home with some emotional effects from the war. Ike is also mistakently drafted due to a birth misprint. B. Good episode showing John Boy’s struggles and Ike’s troubles. Funny and Sad. LOL. B
22) The Medal Mary Ellen meets a Spanish American seargent who she falls for. The soldier also meets racial difficulties with other Soldiers. Corabeth also meets secretly with an old suitor. A/B a pretty good episode especially the part with Mary Ellen and the Spanish American soldier. Bueno/Good
23) The Valedictorian Jim Bob is given the honor of valedictorian at graduation and doesn’t want it right away. News comes to Erin of Ashley Longworth’s marriage in London. Jim Bob gives a moving graduation speech and the Walton men head out to war at the end of the show. A. A good and strong episode especially for Jim ob.
24) The Decade of the Waltons. Highlights of the first eight seasons and the Homecoming the pilot movie. Touching rememberances. Earl Hamner narrarates on screen, and the Hamner family who the Waltons emulate are shown on screen and meet the characters. Earl Hamner’s real life home in Schyler , Virginia is also shown. A. A very good and moving episode both with highlights and interviews and narraration of Earl Hamner’s real family and the family they played on screen that we know and love as the Waltons.
Well Season 8 is done and reviewed by me and we’re nearing the finish line. The season 8 had some weaker less attractive episodes than earlier seasons, but still some very good ones as well. I liked the Home Front, the Lost Sheep, The Silver Wings, the Spirit, the Unthinkable, the Idol, the Last Straw, the Furlough, the Medal, the Valedictorian and the Decade of the Waltons as my favorites. Let me know what you think and talk soon. Waltonsportwriter
