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Post by nedandres on Nov 25, 2023 19:39:31 GMT -5
The first of the three Waltons reunion movies produced in the 1990s aired on Sunday, November 21, 1993, which means that it celebrated its 30th anniversary this past Wednesday. I was excited to see the family back together again, despite the lack of continuity on a number of points from the original series. It was written by Rod Peterson and Claire Whitaker and directed by Harry Harris, longtime collaborators of THE WALTONS. It coincided, one day early, with the 30th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which figures prominently in the plot. This movie brought me great joy. I think it was the second highest rated TV movie of the 1993-1994 season. What did all of you think about it?
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Post by Brenda on Nov 26, 2023 6:57:26 GMT -5
I remember being happy that my favorite tv family was back. I’m not a big fan of any of the 1990s movies due to the missing characters and the timeline issues which were totally unnecessary in my opinion. Still, it was good to see Michael Learned and Richard Thomas in their roles as Olivia and John Boy, making the original family together once again.  |
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Post by AR15 on Dec 1, 2023 17:57:53 GMT -5
Gosh - the 30tth anniversary of the first episode to air within my lifetime... even if I was only a few months old at the time (the first 'new' episode I'd be able to watch as it came out didn't come until The Walton's Homecoming 28 years later).
I have a soft spot for all three specials. Like Brenda said, having Michael Learned and Richard Thomas back is great. I also appreciate Ellen Corby being present in all of them. Having said that, I always go straight to them after the 80s specials, and it doesn't feel quite like an organic continuation. It almost acts like Season 8 and 9 never happened (and maybe 6 and 7) - and I know it doesn't completely ignore them, with things like Jonesy and so on still being there, but it feels more like if Season 5 was the end, and then they did this. Then, of course, there are all the timeline troubles too.
Still, as much as they have their issues, they give me such a wistful feeling. I love watching them, and the way that they give us a glimpse at the characters many years after the series' end. I prefer them to both of the new Waltons movies from the last couple of years. I wish we had had one more of them - one to give us a definitive ending to The Waltons, but, alas, I guess we'll never have that.
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