The lasts seasons get a bad rap

[Deleted]

I have heard a lot of people complain about the last few seasons. After watching the seasons one after another, I have decided that the last few 7-9 are different, but not bad.

I think that the last few show a changing of the times that is different then the first seasons and it should be that way because the world changed from the Great Depression era to the post world war era. I think that the writers did a good job of showing that change. It is fitting that the family becomes successful and acquires new cars and such. I think that the writing is still good for what the producers wanted to portray.

What gets me more then the last few seasons are the TV movies, especially the the three written in the 90's. It drives me crazy when John Sr. keeps harping about not being able to afford a trip to that darn Virgina beach. Gosh, he sounds like a broken record.

I am just rambling.

[bullgator]

With the exception of a few episdoes (e.g., "The Tempest:" Mary Ellen's trip to Florida to see Curt), I like the last several seasons of The Walton's. For the most part, these episodes are reflective of the time and the maturation of the children. Also, I like Robert Wightman as John-Boy. He has a gentleness about him that I did not see as readily in Richard Thomas' portrayal of the character. One of my favorite scenes is the last scene in "The Revel," the last episode in Season Nine (and thusly the last scene of the series). In this scene Ms. Mamie and Ms. Emily, in poetic fashion, speak of the "all the beautiful things that make up our lives" -- the friendships that they celebrate and the wonders of life which they have experienced. They say that these are the treasures of our lives and if we can make sense of them and leave a record of them, then we have made a contribution and life has been worth while. The scene, episode, and series ends with John-Boy (Robert Wightman) unexpectedly entering the room and saying "Amen." I thank Earl Hamner, the writers, the actors, and the others of the show for leaving a record of life that contributes to memories and adds to our values, It has been, and is, worthwhile. Amen.

[ncwaltonsfan]

I agree with you both. When I began watching "The Waltons" in reruns on the Family Channel in 1995, the first episodes I saw were seasons six through nine. I enjoyed them very much. I also enjoyed the first five seasons of course after I started watching them. The show reflected the changing times and the maturing of the Walton children. The cultural landscape of our nation was changed by the Great Depression,World War II, and the postwar years. The show did an excellent job reflecting those changes. But I agree that "The Tempest" and "The Whirlwind",they could have done without,though in those episodes,we got to meet Jonesy.

[wetherwacky]

My personal opinion is that the show did, in fact, decline after season seven. In spite of this, however, I admit the quality of the show is still high, if less than earlier seasons.

For one things, I didn't appreciate the track the writers took on issues such as infidelity. They concentrated on it way too much.

And Drew turned out to be quite a jerk as a teenager, trying to get Elizabeth to do something immoral. It took courage for Elizabeth to stand up and say no.

[wetherwacky]

However, "The Gold Watch" and "The Heartache" were incredibly good episodes, "The Outrage" as well.

[sambda]

I think the show certainly went downhill in the last few seasons, but not disastrously so. It wasn't really the producers' fault that both Michael Learned's and Ralph Waite's interests were clearly lying elsewhere by this time.

As has be pointed out in another thread, there are signs of the cast getting bored too - Judy Norton is clearly just going thru the motions in these later episodes. Chuck on an episode from Seasons 1 or 2 where she is the "stoppy tomboy" and you'll see the difference!

Also there are signs that the producers didn't have such a tight hold on the show - witness the slide into Seventies hairstyles and fashions. It's like nobody really cared too much anymore. I don't think there was too much chance of it winning Emmys anymore!

However, the BIG downhill for me is the jump between Season 9 and the three movies comprising, effectively, Season 10. I've just watched the first of these - "A Wedding on Walton's Mountain" - and it is completely dreadful. Think Seasons 7-9 are bad? You ain't seen nothing yet....

[bmcgill]

I always liked the character Jim-Bob because we were a lot alike. I just wish they had written an episode where the little gal, I can't remember her name, but the one that Jim-Bob fell in love with. I think she was some relation to the Baldwin ladies and decided to become a nun and broke Jim-Bobs heart. I wish she had decided not to become a nun and come back and decided to be with Jim-Bob. Poor guy, could'nt help but feel so sorry for him in that episode.

[ncwaltonsfan]

The girl who decided to become a nun was named Mary Frances Conover. I remember how heartbroken Jim Bob was over Mary Frances' decision to become a nun.

[wetherwacky]

Amen, Bmcgill! I've been saying that all along. The show could have been improved so much if they had Jim Bob and Mary Francis get married. Mary Francis is the kind of woman I would want to marry. I hope, when I eventually get a girl like that, she decides to stay with me. I'm sorry, James Robert. Jim Bob's my favorite, too, Bmcgill. I see myself in him all the time.

[Marilyn]

I felt things start to change when Grandpa died.....then when Grandma had her stroke and came back in a very limited roll, that make me very sad. Some shows she was there and some shows you didn't see hide nor hair of her. (was she locked in the bedroom?) Then when Livy came and went sporatically (sp), I really felt the show was starting to lose it's vitality. I love the Waltons...and that's probably why it affected me in such a negative way to see the characters drift away.....

I want the years to wind back and start all over again, but with a different first show...that one was one of the worst that they did...I felt.

[dfnmeows44]

I thnk The Foundling was a good introduction because it showed how a family would become concerned over a
deaf child even though the child was not their own. It was better than The Hunt--if they had begun with
The Hunt the series might not have failed the first season but it would not have caught peoples attention that rapidly.