|
|
Post by AR15 on Dec 28, 2018 20:17:21 GMT -5
I was watching The Ordeal today and it occured to me: this was basically them doing An Easter Story again. Both stories are about a member of the family losing the use of their legs. Both stories have the characters given fairly bleak news about their futures (with both told they are likely to never walk again) and both stories have them overcoming the odds and walking again anyway. Both stories have John getting in touch with his religious side and, of course, they're both double episodes. What's weird to me is that despite the fact that The Ordeal references several past episodes, they never mention An Easter Story. You'd think that while Olivia stayed in the hospital with Elizabeth and was trying to keep her spirits high, that she'd have mentioned her own experiences. "Don't listen to that doctor - I was told I might never walk as well, and I was just fine!" or something like that. But, weirdly, not one person brings it up. Also a bit weird that no mention is made of Esther, who is presumably in the hospital at the same time... (on a side note, I do like that Olivia's behaviour here is consistent with The Waiting when she stays in the hospital until John-Boy is better, just as she does with Elizabeth.) But, as much as The Ordeal may be retreading old ground (and doing so without John-Boy or Esther) I have to admit that I actually like it more than An Easter Story. I know An Easter Story is popular, but for me it never quite did it. At an hour and a half, I often find myself getting bored when I watch it. I feel like it should have been a regular length episode. But I don't get bored with The Ordeal. I think it's one of the best episodes of Season 6  What do you all think of these two episodes and their similarities? |
|
|
|
Post by JeriJet on Dec 28, 2018 20:33:45 GMT -5
Sad to say, neither of these episodes would make a list of my favorites, even a top hundred.... and, I'm not at all sure why this is true. Of the two, I guess An Easter Story is easier for me to take, but The Ordeal didn't do the trick -- not very realistic to me, questionable acting, and even a bit boring....  |
|
|
|
Post by carol on Dec 28, 2018 23:18:51 GMT -5
I prefer The Easter Story. I especially like the side story with Jason winning the contest with Ironing Board Blues The creepy,nasty Ada Corley ruined The Ordeal for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by awesomemixtape10 on Dec 29, 2018 0:04:01 GMT -5
Sad to say, neither of these episodes would make a list of my favorites, even a top hundred.... and, I'm not at all sure why this is true. Of the two, I guess An Easter Story is easier for me to take, but The Ordeal didn't do the trick -- not very realistic to me, questionable acting, and even a bit boring.... oh jeri, the scene with jb and john sr on the mountain is classic |
|
|
|
Post by awesomemixtape10 on Dec 29, 2018 0:06:44 GMT -5
I like both of these episodes to be honest....
there are a lot worse episodes..like almost all the episodes in the last two seasons
the easter story would probably make my top 25 and the ordeal is probably in my top 100 and you gotta remember richard was in ,like, 120 episodes at least, and a non jb episode in my top 100 is darn good
|
|
|
|
Post by JeriJet on Dec 29, 2018 0:30:57 GMT -5
Sad to say, neither of these episodes would make a list of my favorites, even a top hundred.... and, I'm not at all sure why this is true. Of the two, I guess An Easter Story is easier for me to take, but The Ordeal didn't do the trick -- not very realistic to me, questionable acting, and even a bit boring.... oh jeri, the scene with jb and john sr on the mountain is classic I guess I feel that one good scene does not make a good episode.... |
|
|
|
Post by awesomemixtape10 on Dec 29, 2018 2:54:46 GMT -5
oh jeri, the scene with jb and john sr on the mountain is classic I guess I feel that one good scene does not make a good episode.... fair enough, girl |
|
|
|
Post by patriciaanne on Dec 29, 2018 8:42:41 GMT -5
I probably prefer the Easter Story overall. I agree I don't much care for the scene with that witchy old woman. I think Kami did a good job of acting in this double episode, though. I think she does a realistic portrayal of a young child in this predicament--at first assuming it's a temporary condition and appreciating the attentions of her family. Then slowly coming to terms with her limitations and a gradual understanding that it might be permanent. I didn't care for the writing they did for Mary Ellen. I though it was out of character for her to treat her brothers like that, especially as an adult, married woman with a child of her own.
|
|
|
|
Post by Brenda on Dec 29, 2018 16:03:45 GMT -5
I think both episodes are a bit unrealistic. How often does a person who has a debilitating illness like polio or has been in a dreadful accident and lost use of her legs recover fully within a few days or weeks with no lingering effects? If one were to take the episodes literally, it could give false hope to someone in similar circumstances.
That’s about the only negative I see in The Easter Story. There are many things I like about the episode: Erin’s fear of seeing her mama so ill, then facing her fear by taking care of her, John Boy’s persistence in trying to find a better treatment, the visit of the professor to the Walton home and the looks on their faces as they watched him struggle to walk, and Jason winning the contest with his song The Ironing Board Blues.
The Crisis is not a favorite episode of mine, but I do watch it when it comes on. I didn’t like Mary Ellen’s attitude in blaming Ben and Jim Bob for the accident, but it was almost typical Mary Ellen. I didn’t care for the crazy scary Ada Corley either. I do think Kami’s acting in this episode was superb. She was really a good little actress. I guess my favorite thing about the episode was when Ben brought out the pony cart that Martha Corinne had painted.
|
|
|
|
Post by patriciaanne on Dec 29, 2018 16:47:09 GMT -5
I think both episodes are a bit unrealistic. How often does a person who has a debilitating illness like polio or has been in a dreadful accident and lost use of her legs recover fully within a few days or weeks with no lingering effects? If one were to take the episodes literally, it could give false hope to someone in similar circumstances. That’s about the only negative I see in The Easter Story. There are many things I like about the episode: Erin’s fear of seeing her mama so ill, then facing her fear by taking care of her, John Boy’s persistence in trying to find a better treatment, the visit of the professor to the Walton home and the looks on their faces as they watched him struggle to walk, and Jason winning the contest with his song The Ironing Board Blues.The Crisis is not a favorite episode of mine, but I do watch it when it comes on. I didn’t like Mary Ellen’s attitude in blaming Ben and Jim Bob for the accident, but it was almost typical Mary Ellen. I didn’t care for the crazy scary Ada Corley either. I do think Kami’s acting in this episode was superb. She was really a good little actress. I guess my favorite thing about the episode was when Ben brought out the pony cart that Martha Corinne had painted. That is so funny because I almost mentioned that one of my favorite parts of this episode is seeing the pony cart. I agree about Kami's acting. It would have been easy for her to "overdo" it, but she played it so naturally. She was a fine actress. My mother contracted polio at the age of six. She was unable to walk. I don't know for how long exactly, but my guess is not as long as Olivia. Interestingly, she was in a Catholic hospital and remembered the nuns massaging her legs. My mother, thank God, made a complete recovery. She didn't even have a limp. My mother is a walking medical history book. She had measles, mumps, chicken pox, German measles, Scarlet fever (unless those are the same thing). But she ended up being an extremely healthy, strong woman. And I do mean strong. 3 years ago we went to the Renaissance Faire and she blew me away by throwing a baseball to knock over some plates. I couldn't believe the way she threw that ball. She does NOT throw like a girl.  She was 78 at the time. A few years before that we went to the same place for a Halloween event and she won me a little tiger by making enough baskets with a basketball. How many 50 year old women have a stuffed animal their MOM won them at the fair? Lol!!! |
|
|
|
Post by JeriJet on Dec 29, 2018 17:02:37 GMT -5
Well, now, this is strange -- did a bit of Googling, etc., and found that both The Easter Story and The Crisis are listed as being Season 1, Episode 24.... and airing on 4/19/73... As a 2-part episode, maybe when split up, they were given different titles ??
FYI, The Pony Cart was in Season 5 (12/9/76), and The Ordeal was in Season 6 (2/16/78) -- IF you want to believe anything you find online !!
|
|
|
|
Post by Brenda on Dec 29, 2018 19:58:18 GMT -5
Well, now, this is strange -- did a bit of Googling, etc., and found that both The Easter Story and The Crisis are listed as being Season 1, Episode 24.... and airing on 4/19/73... As a 2-part episode, maybe when split up, they were given different titles ?? FYI, The Pony Cart was in Season 5 (12/9/76), and The Ordeal was in Season 6 (2/16/78) -- IF you want to believe anything you find online !! That is all correct information. The season 1 episode about Olivia’s polio ordeal was originally “The Crisis” but the title was later changed to “The Easter Story”. I’m not sure why it changed, but I like “The Easter Story” better. Yes, Martha Corinne did paint the pony cart in the season 5 episode just before she died. I loved that they brought it out again in season 6. Here’s a little “Waltons Reunion 2018” connection to both these episodes. When we met in Schuyler in November, we gathered in the Baptist church, and Lisa Walmsley played some songs for us. One of them was The Ironing Board Blues. Then if we toured the museum, we were able to see the authentic pony cart. |
|
|
|
Post by daniela on Dec 29, 2018 22:47:01 GMT -5
I always like the Easter Story better than The Ordeal as well. I always like seeing Elizabeth have more lines and a bigger storyline than just being the youngest Walton.
|
|
|
|
Post by carol on Dec 29, 2018 23:15:49 GMT -5
I think both episodes are a bit unrealistic. How often does a person who has a debilitating illness like polio or has been in a dreadful accident and lost use of her legs recover fully within a few days or weeks with no lingering effects? If one were to take the episodes literally, it could give false hope to someone in similar circumstances. That’s about the only negative I see in The Easter Story. There are many things I like about the episode: Erin’s fear of seeing her mama so ill, then facing her fear by taking care of her, John Boy’s persistence in trying to find a better treatment, the visit of the professor to the Walton home and the looks on their faces as they watched him struggle to walk, and Jason winning the contest with his song The Ironing Board Blues.The Crisis is not a favorite episode of mine, but I do watch it when it comes on. I didn’t like Mary Ellen’s attitude in blaming Ben and Jim Bob for the accident, but it was almost typical Mary Ellen. I didn’t care for the crazy scary Ada Corley either. I do think Kami’s acting in this episode was superb. She was really a good little actress. I guess my favorite thing about the episode was when Ben brought out the pony cart that Martha Corinne had painted. My thought on The Easter Story is how did Olivia contract polio? She doesn't leave the farm very often except to go to Ikes and to go to church and we don't know of anyone else having it. Since she went to church sick there probably would have been a quarantine since she exposed everyone she came in direct contact with in the church. You are contagious from 7-10 days before the onset of symptoms and for up to 6 months after you become ill. |
|
|
|
Post by JeriJet on Dec 30, 2018 0:11:25 GMT -5
I think both episodes are a bit unrealistic. How often does a person who has a debilitating illness like polio or has been in a dreadful accident and lost use of her legs recover fully within a few days or weeks with no lingering effects? If one were to take the episodes literally, it could give false hope to someone in similar circumstances. My thought on The Easter Story is how did Olivia contract polio? She doesn't leave the farm very often except to go to Ikes and to go to church and we don't know of anyone else having it. Since she went to church sick there probably would have been a quarantine since she exposed everyone she came in direct contact with in the church. You are contagious from 7-10 days before the onset of symptoms and for up to 6 months after you become ill. In addition to its being highly contagious, all you needed was a stagnant stream, lake, or even puddle.... for the mosquitos to breed in... It's been pretty well eradicated in the U.S. for years -- not sure about elsewhere on the planet, but I bet there continues to be a problem in Asia and Africa. Back in Olivia's time, they didn't know much about the disease, so I doubt if quarantine was immediately considered. Hard to tell what might have happened if John-Boy hadn't stepped in and researched as much as he could. I was part of the earliest "trial" vaccines (early 1950's, about 6 or 7 years old) -- both Salk and Sabin -- Polio was a very scary thing back then, and you didn't know whether you'd gotten a vaccine or placebo... My folks were particularly watchful when we spent summers on my grandmother's farm -- plenty of places for those darn mosquitoes to breed in. |
|
She was 78 at the time. A few years before that we went to the same place for a Halloween event and she won me a little tiger by making enough baskets with a basketball. How many 50 year old women have a stuffed animal their MOM won them at the fair? Lol!!!