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The Best Episodes of The Waltons

Every episode of The Waltons ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Waltons!

The Waltons live their life in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II.
Genre:Drama
Network:CBS

Best Episodes Summary

"Grandma Comes Home" is the best rated episode of "The Waltons". It scored 9/10 based on 226 votes. Directed by Ralph Senensky and written by N/A, it aired on 3/30/1978. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Best Christmas".

  • Grandma Comes Home
    9.0/10226 votes
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    #1 - Grandma Comes Home

    Season 6 Episode 22 - Aired 3/30/1978

    The Waltons are happy to finally have Grandma back home with them This was also sad for all of the Walton clan as it was the last show that actor Will Geer (Grandpa) was on.

    Director: Ralph Senensky

    Writer: N/A

  • The Best Christmas
    8.9/10287 votes
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    #2 - The Best Christmas

    Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 12/9/1976

    The 11 members of the Walton family are together for Christmas This would be the last time that all of the Waltons would be together

    Director: Lawrence Dobkin

    Writer: John McGreevey

  • The Fire Storm
    8.8/10200 votes
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    #3 - The Fire Storm

    Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 10/21/1976

    John-Boy tries to keep the community updated about the news in Europe sohe decides to print excerpts about Hitler's Mein Kampf in his paper. A great outcry ensues and the town is torn apart over the issue of publishing unfavorable items in the Blue Ridge Chronicle.

    Director: Ralph Senensky

    Writer: N/A

  • The Conflict
    8.7/10242 votes
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    #4 - The Conflict

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/12/1974

    Aunt Martha Corinnie Walton's home is in danger by the right-of-way for The Blue Ridge Parkway. All of the Walton clan comes to her aid and try and stop the contractor. During a skirmish with the contractor and deputies, John-Boy gets shot.

    Director: Ralph Senensky

    Writer: N/A

  • The Inferno
    8.6/10158 votes
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    #5 - The Inferno

    Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 2/10/1977

    John-Boy goes to Lakehurst New Jersey to travel to cover the landing of Hindenburg and is deeply affected by its crash. Curt tries to figure out how to have more private time with Mary Ellen.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • The First Casualty
    8.6/10162 votes
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    #6 - The First Casualty

    Season 6 Episode 8 - Aired 11/10/1977

    Dr. Willard has been drafted to serve for the US Med Corps. Erin's boyfriend G.W. Haines is killed in a training accident and Yancy Tucker announces that he is joining. They turn him down because of his flat feet.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • An Easter Story
    8.5/10238 votes
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    #7 - An Easter Story

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 4/19/1973

    The entire family suffers a crisis when Olivia is stricken with polio. Dr Vance prescribes the accepted treatment, but Olivia does not get better. John-Boy learns of a new treatment practiced by sister Kenny and the family tries it to success in time for the Easter service.

    Director: Philip Leacock

    Writer: N/A

  • The Gift
    8.5/10184 votes
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    #8 - The Gift

    Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 1/24/1974

    Jason learns one of life's hardest lessons: the death of a close friend. Seth Turner learns he has only one year to live because he has a fatal disease.

    Director: Ralph Senensky

    Writer: N/A

  • The Secret
    8.5/10163 votes
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    #9 - The Secret

    Season 4 Episode 16 - Aired 1/8/1976

    Jim-Bob thinks he was adopted. He searchs his birth records and finds out he's a twin. Jim-Bob's twin brother died at birth.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Burn Out
    8.5/10188 votes
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    #10 - The Burn Out

    Season 4 Episode 18 - Aired 1/22/1976

    The Walton's house is nearly destroyed by fire and the children must live temporarily with friends. John-Boy has a difficult time to begin the task of rewriting his lost novel.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • The Empty Nest
    8.5/10192 votes
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    #11 - The Empty Nest

    Season 7 Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1978

    Everybody mourns the death of Grandpa Zeb and Flossie Brimmer. John struggles hard to fill a huge lumber contract and Mary Ellen & Erin move to Charlottesville and they get an apartment.

    Director: Philip Leacock

    Writer: N/A

  • The Graduation
    8.4/10151 votes
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    #12 - The Graduation

    Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 2/21/1974

    John-Boy gets ready to graduate from high school in a new suit. When the cow dies John-Boy returns the suit and gets his money back and uses the money to buy another cow. John-Boy graduates in Grandpa's old suit.

    Director: Alf Kjellin

    Writer: N/A

  • The Prophecy
    8.4/10175 votes
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    #13 - The Prophecy

    Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 10/2/1975

    Father and son struggle with personal crisis: John approaches his 25-year high school reunion regretting he is not a greater success; and John-Boy fears he will never be able to make a living as a writer.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: Marion Hargrove

  • The Fledgling
    8.4/10145 votes
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    #14 - The Fledgling

    Season 4 Episode 23 - Aired 2/26/1976

    John-Boy sure trys to raise the down payment for an old printing press to publish his own newspaper

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: Earl Hamner, Jr.

  • The Literary Man
    8.3/10226 votes
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    #15 - The Literary Man

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 11/30/1972

    John-Boy's truck breaks down and he meets the author, A.J. Covington. John-Boy jeopardizes a timber contract badly needed by the family.

    Director: Philip Leacock

    Writer: N/A

  • The System
    8.3/10149 votes
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    #16 - The System

    Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 10/24/1974

    Ben learns the hazards of smoking. John-Boy sticks up for a fellow student who violates Boatwright's honor code during a history exam. There were extenuating circumstances

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • The Choice
    8.3/10145 votes
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    #17 - The Choice

    Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 2/6/1975

    John wants to expand the mill and call it Walton and Sons,Jason wants to study music and he tries for a scholarship

    Director: Alf Kjellin

    Writer: N/A

  • The Heartbreaker
    8.3/10167 votes
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    #18 - The Heartbreaker

    Season 5 Episode 20 - Aired 2/17/1977

    Jason falls in love with Vanessa, Curt's sister, who left her husband so she could become a singer. John-Boy begins to publish sections of his novel in the newspaper.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Day of Infamy
    8.3/10154 votes
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    #19 - Day of Infamy

    Season 7 Episode 10 - Aired 12/7/1978

    Christmas 1941. Mary Ellen says she will be going to be with Curt in Hawaii. News from Pearl Harbor comes and the Waltons are told that Curt is dead.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: Paul Savage

  • The Deed
    8.2/10174 votes
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    #20 - The Deed

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/8/1973

    It seems that the Waltons never officially registered the deed to Waltons Mountain. In order to help pay the legal fees, John-Boy leaves home for a job in the city. He meets new friends, gets mugged and earns a reward to help the family keep their home.

    Director: Vincent Sherman

    Writer: N/A

  • The Scholar
    8.2/10201 votes
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    #21 - The Scholar

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 2/22/1973

    A neighbor lady, Verdie Grant asks John-Boy to teach her to read and write. He agrees to teach her as he helps Elizabeth. Things go wrong, however, and feelings get hurt.

    Director: Lee Philips

    Writer: N/A

  • The Theft
    8.2/10180 votes
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    #22 - The Theft

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/4/1973

    A wealthy widow, Mrs Clayborne, accuses John Walton of stealing antiques while working in her mansion. John needed new tires and he hocks his wedding ring to buy them. He refuses to tell anyone where the money came from. The mystery is finally solved when the Clayborne son admits to selling the goblets to raise money for his family.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • The Thanksgiving Story
    8.2/10224 votes
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    #23 - The Thanksgiving Story

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 11/15/1973

    John-Boy anticipates a visit from his girlfriend and is pending a college scholarship exam. He has an accident in the sawmill and his vision is blurred. He is unable to finish his test and eventually must undergo surgery.

    Director: Philip Leacock

    Writer: Joanna Lee

  • The Bequest
    8.2/10166 votes
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    #24 - The Bequest

    Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 11/29/1973

    Grandma finds out she has inherited $250 and decides to share her wealth. Mary Ellen experiments with being a blond and uses Jim-Bob as a test case.

    Director: Alf Kjellin

    Writer: N/A

  • The Heritage
    8.2/10159 votes
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    #25 - The Heritage

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 1/17/1974

    An investor talks John into selling the mountain as a tour center. John thinks it over but realizes what the home means to the rest of his family and turns the ofter down.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: Dale Eunson