The Ordeal

[wmfan/waltonsportwriter]

Re: The Last Waltons Episode You Watched « Reply #230 Today at 10:17pm » -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ijust watched the Ordeal on DVD tonight, and this might be my favorite episode of all time on the Waltons. You see this fall I broke my right foot and it took me five months to recover. I was lucky it healed and I didn't have to have surgery. But it is very emotional and gives me a new perspective to see how Elizabeth's injury from broken legs which was much worse, was a constant ordeal for her and her family. Just as my injury was. I used crutches, a wheelchair and a boot as well. Elizabeth recovered as did I but it is very special to watch now that I have been injured. The other part I have always loved is Jim Bob's struggle to accept that his beloved sister Elizabeth was injured. They were best pals and siblings and Jim Bob didn't know how to show his feelings to his closest sister. And then at the end he does and asks Elizabeth to walk a few feet to him. She does and falls in his arms. Now I'm not a crier, but I get very emotional and shed a tear when I see that scene. And now I'm seeing The Ordeal for the first time since my injury and that's why it's my favorite episode on the Waltons. Wm Fan Sportwriter I put this in the Last Episode You Watched but I wanted to make my own seperate category in the Ordeal to show how much this episode now means to me even more since I had a foot injury this past fall

[AR15]

What a lovely story ;D thanks for sharing.

[maxwalton]

Thank you for this wonderful thread, good man.

I also am a huge fan of The Ordeal. Yes, it is a corny script with corny acting and I am a total sucker for all things Jim-Bob/Elizabeth but, I just love how this episode weaves back and forth through traditional Waltons territory before reaching the wonderful conclusion. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I love how the doctor's advice to leave Elizabeth alone and not do too much for her ends up being followed only by Jim-Bob, totally in spite of himself. It's just not the Walton way to follow that advice and the rest of the family's love and attention prolongs her convalescence. It was a nice twist and the first time I saw it, I was totally moved by the ending. By the way, I AM a crier.

Aside: One minus in an episode of pluses was the scene at the hospital where Mary Ellen lit into her brothers over Elizabeth's accident. I know Mary Ellen was supposed to be the spitfire in the family (especially when Grandma wasn't around) but, that seemed a bit much to me. By that time, we all knew Ben and Jim Bob were feeling enormous guilt over the accident and I feel that was an unnecessary piling on by the writers.

Sorry for finger-babbling, I can go on and on about this episode.

[wmfan/waltonsportwriter]

Thanks so much for the nice thoughts AR 15 and maxwalton. And I'm glad I and Elizabeth both recovered in the end to walk again though her injury was much more serious than my broken foot.
Anyway maxwalton a few thoughts. I really dont think the script and acting was corny. In fact it was one of the more realistic episodes especially for the later years after John Boy and others left for different reasons.
It's too bad John Boy and Grandma couldnt have been in this one. The doctor gave his advice but there are higher powers. As for Jim Bob especially and Ben too a bit he thinks of himself and he didn't know how to deal with the grief of his favorite sister Elizabeth being hurt. It tore him up inside no doubt about it. That was just his way like it or not dealing with emotion.
And I did see that scene with Mary Ellen last night for the first time realizing it anyway and I was shocked. First she should have acted as a caring professional nurse in the hospital, and left her personal feelings at home as the domineering sister or expressed those thoughts in private. Ben and Jim Bob felt bad already and no one knew Elizabeth would get on the log pile. Even if it had been stacked right she might have slipped so no ones fault there. Sometimes I wish I could cry more. I am a sentimental person though.. Some people especially some men can't cry well. But I felt the emotion inside especially in this episode and shed a tear. No problem with babbling, I'm doing it too especially in writing. Talk soon. WmFan