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The Best Episodes of The Waltons Season 1

Every episode of The Waltons Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Waltons Season 1!

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

Genre:Drama
Network:CBS

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The Waltons" season 1 is "The Foundling", rated 8.1/10 from 338 user votes. It was directed by Vincent Sherman and written by John McGreevey. "The Foundling" aired on 9/14/1972 and is rated 0.6 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Carnival".

  • The Foundling
    8.1/10 338 votes

    #1 - The Foundling

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1972-09-14

    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

  • The Carnival
    7.5/10 237 votes

    #2 - The Carnival

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1972-09-21

    A Carnival troupe comes to Walton's Mountain. When the manager absconds with the money, four members are stranded at the Walton house. They thank the Waltons with a private performance.

    Director: Alf Kjellin

    Writer: N/A

  • The Calf
    7.8/10 221 votes

    #3 - The Calf

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1972-09-28

    The Family cow, Chance gives birth to a healthy calf but John announces that it must be sold to make ends meet. Elizabeth and Jim Bob hide the Calf to save it. John relents and the family keeps the calf.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • The Hunt
    7.5/10 201 votes

    #4 - The Hunt

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 1972-10-05

    John Boy prepares to go on his first hunt and distress over taking an animals life. During the hunt he saves John's life from an attacking bear. Meanwhile Mary Ellen debates over a new dress or a baseball mitt.

    Director: Robert Butler

    Writer: John McGreevey

  • The Typewriter
    7.8/10 206 votes

    #5 - The Typewriter

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 1972-10-12

    John Boy borrows an antique typewriter from the Baldwin sisters so he can send a story to a magazine. Mary Ellen mistakenly sells it to a junk man, but through diligence, gets it back for her brother.

    Director: Philip Leacock

    Writer: N/A

  • The Star
    7.6/10 201 votes

    #6 - The Star

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 1972-10-19

    When a meteorite falls on the Baldwin's house, Zeb believes his time has come. The Baldwin sisters are hoaxed by their cousin until Zeb and John come to the rescue.

    Director: Alf Kjellin

    Writer: N/A

  • The Sinner
    8.1/10 231 votes

    #7 - The Sinner

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 1972-10-26

    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: N/A

  • The Boy From the C.C.C.
    7.4/10 218 votes

    #8 - The Boy From the C.C.C.

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 1972-11-02

    Gino, a boy from the slums of New York City runs away from a CCC Camp and learns about trust and love from the Waltons

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • The Ceremony
    8.0/10 238 votes

    #9 - The Ceremony

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 1972-11-09

    A Jewish family, escaping refugees from Nazi Germany, come to Waltons Mountain for safety. Their 13 year old son loses respect for his father in the sons attempt to maintain his religious beliefs and practices.

    Director: Vincent Sherman

    Writer: N/A

  • The Legend
    7.2/10 182 votes

    #10 - The Legend

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 1972-11-16

    John's old army buddy, Tip Harrison, tries to cover his lack of success with childish actions and comments culminating in an accidental fire and the shooting of reckless the family dog.

    Director: Lee Philips

    Writer: John McGreevey

  • The Literary Man
    8.2/10 220 votes

    #11 - The Literary Man

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1972-11-30

    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 Dust Bowl Cousins
    7.6/10 219 votes

    #12 - The Dust Bowl Cousins

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1972-12-07

    The Walton's distant cousins arrive on the mountain and immediately upset everyone's life by their shiftless dishonest ways.

    Director: Robert Butler

    Writer: Paul Savage

  • The Reunion
    8.0/10 181 votes

    #13 - The Reunion

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1972-12-14

    The Baldwin sisters and The Recipe play a pivotal role in this story involving their unscrupulous scheming cousin, Homer Lee Baldwin.

    Director: Jack Shea

    Writer: N/A

  • The Minstrel
    7.3/10 183 votes

    #14 - The Minstrel

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1972-12-21

    Mary Ellen meets a traveling troubadour, Jamie and neglects her responsibilities of helping pick fruit.

    Director: Philip Leacock

    Writer: N/A

  • The Actress
    7.5/10 194 votes

    #15 - The Actress

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1973-01-04

    When her car breaks down, the famous extravagant actress, Alvira Drummond finds herself stranded on Waltons Mountain. The Children, especially Mary Ellen, are fascinated by her "Hollywood" ways.

    Director: Vincent Sherman

    Writer: N/A

  • The Fire
    7.5/10 189 votes

    #16 - The Fire

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1973-01-11

    A young girls father objects to Miss Hunter's teaching Evolution. During a drunken rage he burns down the school and is killed in the fire.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • The Love Story
    8.0/10 216 votes

    #17 - The Love Story

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1973-01-18

    John Boy falls in love with Jenny Pendleton who returns to Walton's Mountain. Jenny's father and new step-mother follow her to the mountain. Her father is killed in an auto accident and Jenny returns home with her step mother. John-Boy suffers his first lost love.

    Director: Lee Philips

    Writer: N/A

  • The Courtship
    7.6/10 179 votes

    #18 - The Courtship

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 1973-01-25

    Olivia's uncle Cody Nelson comes to visit with the Waltons and finds love with a woman who has been divorced four times.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • The Gypsies
    7.3/10 197 votes

    #19 - The Gypsies

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 1973-02-01

    A gypsy family is stranded, but the leader refuses to accept help from the Waltons. His pride almost costs the life of his baby son.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • The Deed
    8.2/10 169 votes

    #20 - The Deed

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 1973-02-08

    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
    8.1/10 194 votes

    #21 - The Scholar

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 1973-02-22

    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 Bicycle
    7.3/10 164 votes

    #22 - The Bicycle

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 1973-03-01

    Local blacksmith, Curtis Norton has John-Boy write letters to his bride-to-be. When she arrives on Walton's Mountain, life and Curtis are much different than she expected. Meanwhile, Olivia is feeling new pangs for freedom and something "different" in her life.

    Director: Alf Kjellin

    Writer: N/A

  • The Townie
    7.5/10 181 votes

    #23 - The Townie

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 1973-03-08

    John-Boy's friend Sarah sees him as a way to escape her "trapped" life with her demanding mother. When John-Boy rejects her advances, she runs off and plans to elope with a townie.

    Director: Jack Shea

    Writer: Richard Fielder

  • An Easter Story
    8.5/10 227 votes

    #24 - An Easter Story

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 1973-04-19

    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

  • An Easter Story (2)
    NaN/10 0 votes

    #25 - An Easter Story (2)

    Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 1973-04-19

    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