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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(316 votes)

    #1 - The Best Christmas

    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(261 votes)

    #2 - Grandma Comes Home

    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(224 votes)

    #3 - The Fire Storm

    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
    8.8/10(285 votes)

    #4 - The Conflict

    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(179 votes)

    #5 - The Inferno

    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(181 votes)

    #6 - The First Casualty

    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(271 votes)

    #7 - An Easter Story

    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(188 votes)

    #8 - The Secret

    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 7 Episode 1 - The Empty Nest
    8.6/10(219 votes)

    #9 - The Empty Nest

    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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  10. The Waltons Season 4 Episode 4 - The Prophecy
    8.5/10(194 votes)

    #10 - The Prophecy

    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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  11. The Waltons Season 4 Episode 18 - The Burn Out
    8.5/10(205 votes)

    #11 - The Burn Out

    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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  12. The Waltons Season 4 Episode 23 - The Fledgling
    8.5/10(161 votes)

    #12 - The Fledgling

    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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  13. The Waltons Season 7 Episode 10 - Day of Infamy
    8.5/10(173 votes)

    #13 - Day of Infamy

    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(260 votes)

    #14 - The Literary Man

    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 3 Episode 20 - The Choice
    8.4/10(166 votes)

    #15 - The Choice

    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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  16. The Waltons Season 3 Episode 7 - The System
    8.3/10(175 votes)

    #16 - The System

    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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  17. The Waltons Season 5 Episode 20 - The Heartbreaker
    8.3/10(185 votes)

    #17 - The Heartbreaker

    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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  18. The Waltons Season 5 Episode 22 - The Hiding Place
    8.3/10(151 votes)

    #18 - The Hiding Place

    S5:E22

    The Baldwin's niece, Hillary Von Kleist, comes for a visit from Vienna. Jason joins the National Guard over Olivia's objections.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John McGreevey

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  19. The Waltons Season 6 Episode 20 - The Return
    8.3/10(175 votes)

    #19 - The Return

    S6:E20

    John-Boy comes back home and helps with reopening the old Guthrie Mine. John and some other men work in the mine. Without warning, the fault gives way to its weaknesses and traps the men under tons of dirt and rock.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Waltons Season 1 Episode 1 - The Foundling
    8.2/10(422 votes)

    #20 - The Foundling

    S1:E1

    When a young girl is left on the doorstep of the Walton's home, they take her in. Not Before learning she is deaf after taking her to the doctor. One night while the Walton family listen to the radio John boy takes matters into his own hands when Holly (the deaf girl) runs up to her room crying. He teaches her sign language...or really Sign spelling! This new skill comes in handy when the youngest of the Walton family gets locked by accident in a box in the Haunted House, which later turns out to be the house of which Holly lives!

    Director:Vincent Sherman
    Writer:John McGreevey

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  21. The Waltons Season 1 Episode 7 - The Sinner
    8.2/10(273 votes)

    #21 - The Sinner

    S1:E7

    The Reverend Matthew Fordwick comes to Walton's Mountain and upsets the family with his strict and forceful preaching. He innocently samples "the recipe," and John helps him to be accepted within the community

    Director:Philip Leacock
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Waltons Season 1 Episode 20 - The Deed
    8.2/10(209 votes)

    #22 - The Deed

    S1:E20

    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:Unknown

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  23. The Waltons Season 1 Episode 21 - The Scholar
    8.2/10(226 votes)

    #23 - The Scholar

    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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  24. The Waltons Season 3 Episode 4 - The Runaway
    8.2/10(178 votes)

    #24 - The Runaway

    S3:E4

    Now that John-Boy is at College, Jim Bob feels small and alone. He brings home a guinea pig, a mascot at school. During the night the little creature dies but the rest of the family are too busy with their own activities to spend time with him. Sad and alone after burying it in the woods, Jim Bob runs away.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Waltons Season 3 Episode 10 - The Book
    8.2/10(174 votes)

    #25 - The Book

    S3:E10

    John-Boy finds out that a collection of his short stories will be published and Jason secures a job with Bobby Bigelow and the haystack gang

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Best Christmas" is the best rated episode of "The Waltons". It scored 9/10 based on 316 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".