 Not Rated
Starring: Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, Ellen Corby, Will
Geer
In 1972, CBS debuted a family drama based on creator Earl Hamner's recollections of growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in the 1930s and 1940s. The success of The Waltons, which lasted nine seasons, can be attributed to the simple and timeless stories about the love and respect this family had for each other. Season five was one of the best, and this five-disc, 24-episode collection is filled with great stories that showcase the talents of many of the main characters.
With the exception of a few guest appearances in season six, these are the final episodes for Richard Thomas as the aspiring writer, John-Boy Walton, who narrates the stories as the eldest son of seven children.
Throughout the series we share the family's experiences as they live in this tight-knit community, first struggling through the Great Depression and, in season five, touched by many of the issues of the impending World War II.
Here is just a sampling of some of the best episodes from this family-oriented show:
- The Fire Storm: John-Boy decides the community needs to be informed about Hitler's ideology, and publishes excerpts from "Mein Kampf" in his newspaper, inviting the wrath of several neighbors. The episode touches on issues of freedom of the press, prejudice and mob mentality, all as relevant today as they were in the 1940s setting.
- The Wedding: MaryEllen unexpectedly announces her engagement to a wealthy young medical student, but in the middle of her engagement party, meets Walton Mountain's new young doctor, and sparks fly. This two-part episode showcases the first wedding in the family.
- The Rebellion: Olivia has a mid-life crisis as she sees herself as boring and predictable. She then decides to update her image.
- The Best Christmas: Although the series was created as a made-for-TV movie called The Homecoming, this is the first true Christmas episode of the regular series. Olivia and John fear that this will be the last Christmas the family will be together, and find their desire for a big family holiday continually thwarted by foul weather and multiple accidents.
- The Long Night: Ellen Corby, who plays Grandma, suffered a stroke and was written out of the series temporarily at this point. This poignant episode deals with Grandpa's frustration and loneliness as he becomes a menace to the hospital staff and is banned from seeing his beloved wife. The timelessness of love is a theme that will be recognized by all, and the story is one of the most moving of the series.
- The Achievement: John-Boy realizes his dream of having his novel published, and announces to his family that he will be moving to New York and leaving Walton Mountain. This episode has many flashback scenes as he describes his family to his editor and explains how he came to write his novel. This was Richard Thomas's last regular appearance in the series.
The timelessness of the stories told in The Waltons make it a series that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. They seem as fresh and relevant today as they did when they premiered, and it is obvious why this series garnered multiple Emmy awards over its long run.
Season five is a wonderful addition to any classic TV collection. Each hour-long episode can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story or as part of the series. If you are looking for one of TV's most enduring family dramas with well-written stories and characters you can care about, this is the collection for you.
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