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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!

Binge this in 7d 15h•Peaking at 9.0/10

The Waltons live their life in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Waltons Season 5 Episode 11 - The Best Christmas
    9.0/10(325 votes)

    S5:E11

    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

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  2. The Waltons Season 6 Episode 22 - Grandma Comes Home
    9.0/10(272 votes)

    S6:E22

    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:Unknown

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  3. The Waltons Season 5 Episode 5 - The Fire Storm
    8.9/10(232 votes)

    S5:E5

    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:Unknown

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  4. The Waltons Season 3 Episode 1 - The Conflict
    8.7/10(295 votes)

    S3:E1

    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:Unknown

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  5. The Waltons Season 5 Episode 19 - The Inferno
    8.7/10(189 votes)

    S5:E19

    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:Unknown

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  6. The Waltons Season 6 Episode 8 - The First Casualty
    8.7/10(188 votes)

    S6:E8

    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:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Waltons

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  7. The Waltons Season 1 Episode 24 - An Easter Story
    8.6/10(286 votes)

    S1:E24

    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:Unknown

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  8. The Waltons Season 4 Episode 16 - The Secret
    8.6/10(194 votes)

    S4:E16

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Waltons Season 2 Episode 18 - The Gift
    8.5/10(217 votes)

    S2:E18

    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:Unknown

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  10. The Waltons Season 4 Episode 18 - The Burn Out
    8.5/10(213 votes)

    S4:E18

    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:Unknown

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  11. The Waltons Season 4 Episode 23 - The Fledgling
    8.5/10(167 votes)

    S4:E23

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

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writers:Earl Hamner, Jr.

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  12. The Waltons Season 7 Episode 1 - The Empty Nest
    8.5/10(232 votes)

    S7:E1

    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:Unknown

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  13. The Waltons Season 7 Episode 10 - Day of Infamy
    8.5/10(182 votes)

    S7:E10

    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

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  14. The Waltons Season 1 Episode 11 - The Literary Man
    8.4/10(273 votes)

    S1:E11

    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:Unknown

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  15. The Waltons Season 2 Episode 22 - The Graduation
    8.4/10(180 votes)

    S2:E22

    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:Unknown

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  16. The Waltons Season 3 Episode 20 - The Choice
    8.4/10(176 votes)

    S3:E20

    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:Unknown

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  17. The Waltons Season 4 Episode 4 - The Prophecy
    8.4/10(210 votes)

    S4:E4

    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

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  18. The Waltons Season 5 Episode 20 - The Heartbreaker
    8.4/10(191 votes)

    S5:E20

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Waltons Season 1 Episode 21 - The Scholar
    8.3/10(242 votes)

    S1:E21

    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:Unknown

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  20. The Waltons Season 2 Episode 10 - The Thanksgiving Story
    8.3/10(260 votes)

    S2:E10

    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

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  21. The Waltons Season 2 Episode 17 - The Heritage
    8.3/10(196 votes)

    S2:E17

    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

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  22. The Waltons Season 2 Episode 24 - The Car
    8.3/10(206 votes)

    S2:E24

    When John-Boy starts college and needs a car to travel to and from college, he makes a deal with Hyder Rudge. John-Boy works at the Rudge home for the car. Hyder hides the auto and refuses to sell to John-Boy because the car belong to Hyder's dead son.

    Director:Philip Leacock
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Waltons Season 3 Episode 7 - The System
    8.3/10(185 votes)

    S3:E7

    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:Unknown

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  24. The Waltons Season 5 Episode 2 - The Vigil
    8.3/10(166 votes)

    S5:E2

    Mary Ellen, aspring nurse, makes a diagnosis about Grandma's illness which almost costs Grandma her life.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Kathleen Hite

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  25. The Waltons Season 5 Episode 13 - The Rebellion
    8.3/10(158 votes)

    S5:E13

    Corabeth gives Olivia a permanent that turns out badly. Grandma is up against a new competition for playing the church organ.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Kathleen Hite

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Best Christmas" is the best rated episode of "The Waltons". It scored 9/10 based on 325 votes. Directed by Lawrence Dobkin and written by John McGreevey, it aired on 12/9/1976. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Grandma Comes Home".