The Waltons backdrop
Drama

The Worst Episodes of The Waltons

Every episode of The Waltons ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst 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.

Airs on
CBS
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons9

All123456789

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    The Waltons Season 9 Episode 10 - The Tempest
    5.4/10(180 votes)

    #1 - The Tempest

    S9:E10

    Mary Ellen finds out that Curt is still alive. He is living in Florida but is quite the different person from the man she remembers. J.D. asks Erin to come back to work by begging Erin.

    Director:Gabrielle Beaumont
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Waltons Season 7 Episode 5 - The Changeling
    5.8/10(239 votes)

    #2 - The Changeling

    S7:E5

    Just before Elizabeth's 13th birthday, she becomes reluctant to grow up and creates a poltergeist. Jason starts a new job as a radio talk show host giving advice to the lovelorn.

    Director:Lawrence Dobkin
    Writer:Robert Pirosh

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Waltons Season 7 Episode 6 - The Portrait
    6.2/10(155 votes)

    #3 - The Portrait

    S7:E6

    Erin is both attracted and repelled by a brooding artist who is here from Paris. As part of a war-time mural on the wall of an old house the artist asks to paint Erin's portrait.

    Director:Ralph Senensky
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Waltons Season 9 Episode 6 - The Pursuit
    6.6/10(159 votes)

    #4 - The Pursuit

    S9:E6

    Jim-Bob's ex-girlfriend comes to Walton's Mountain saying that Jim-Bon is the father of her baby. In the Pacific, Ben is still a POW.

    Director:Philip Leacock
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Waltons Season 9 Episode 16 - The Victims
    6.6/10(136 votes)

    #5 - The Victims

    S9:E16

    The Waltons help a woman who's husband beats her when he is drunk. Jim-Bob decides he will make a fortune by investing in war surplus.

    Director:Lawrence Dobkin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Waltons Season 8 Episode 3 - The Diploma
    6.7/10(147 votes)

    #6 - The Diploma

    S8:E3

    Mary Ellen subs as the county nurse. John tries to prove to the army that he really did graduate from high school. John can not find his diploma so he takes another test.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of The Waltons

    READ
  7. The Waltons Season 8 Episode 14 - The Unthinkable
    6.7/10(127 votes)

    #7 - The Unthinkable

    S8:E14

    There's a recruit working for Jason's company who is Jewish. He tells how his grandfather was arrested and killed by German soldiers in Warsaw.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Waltons Season 9 Episode 3 - The Pledge
    6.7/10(132 votes)

    #8 - The Pledge

    S9:E3

    Mary Ellen feels inadequate as a nurse to help Mountain folk. Against the Dean's advice, Mary Ellen applies for medical school.

    Director:Lawrence Dobkin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Waltons Season 8 Episode 5 - The Starlet
    6.8/10(130 votes)

    #9 - The Starlet

    S8:E5

    The film company comes to Walton's Mountain and Pickett plant is used for a war-time documentary. Erin is convinced by the director that she has potential in Hollywood.

    Director:Philip Leacock
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Waltons Season 9 Episode 18 - The Indiscretion
    6.8/10(139 votes)

    #10 - The Indiscretion

    S9:E18

    Corabeth finds Ike's old love letters and files for a divorce. Drew wants to spend a romantic night with Elizabeth.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Waltons Season 9 Episode 20 - The Lumberjack
    6.8/10(129 votes)

    #11 - The Lumberjack

    S9:E20

    A member of a influential family named Paul Matthews Northridge brings mystery & romance to Erin.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Waltons Season 9 Episode 21 - The Hostage
    6.8/10(147 votes)

    #12 - The Hostage

    S9:E21

    A 14 year old girl is promised marriage in mountain tradition. Mary Ellen interferes and the bride-groom kidnaps Elizabeth to get his bride back. Octavia, an eccentric cousin of the Baldwins, is treated to a visit by him.

    Director:Herbert Hirschman
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Waltons Season 6 Episode 12 - The Children's Carol
    6.9/10(157 votes)

    #13 - The Children's Carol

    S6:E12

    Two British children escape the London Blitz to find safety in Walton's Mountain with the Baldwins and the Waltons for Christmas. Meanwhile, Jason contemplates whether he can fight in the impending war, and Olivia has a faith crisis as she can't understand how God could allow war.

    Director:Philip Leacock
    Writer:Kathleen Hite

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Waltons Season 5 Episode 15 - The Elopement
    7.0/10(185 votes)

    #14 - The Elopement

    S5:E15

    Erin's 1st love, Chad Marshall, comes back and asks Erin to be his wife. She agrees but John emphatically says no so Erin and Chad run off to elope.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Waltons Season 6 Episode 5 - The Seashore
    7.0/10(175 votes)

    #15 - The Seashore

    S6:E5

    The Waltons have an encounter with a strange English girl while on a small vacation at the Baldwin sister's beach cottage. Ben stays home alone expecting to live the life of a carefree bachelor.

    Director:Lawrence Dobkin
    Writer:Marion Hargrove

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Waltons Season 8 Episode 17 - The Remembrance
    7.0/10(128 votes)

    #16 - The Remembrance

    S8:E17

    Zadoc Walton, Zeb's cousin, arrives to keep a 21 year old promise and makes a surprising contribution to Boatwright University.

    Director:Herbert Hirschman
    Writer:Marion Hargrove

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Waltons Season 9 Episode 9 - The Whirlwind
    7.0/10(146 votes)

    #17 - The Whirlwind

    S9:E9

    Mary Ellen agrees to marry Jonesey but finds out that Curt might very well be alive. The Dew Drop Inn is reopened by Jason.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Waltons Season 9 Episode 19 - The Heartache
    7.0/10(133 votes)

    #18 - The Heartache

    S9:E19

    Rose cancels her wedding to Stanley because she hides a heart condition. Cindy realizes that she would rather stay home than work in the shop.

    Director:Herbert Hirschman
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Waltons Season 9 Episode 22 - The Revel
    7.0/10(169 votes)

    #19 - The Revel

    S9:E22

    John-Boy comes back home after he hits upon hard times when he is in New York pursuing his writing career. The Baldwin sisters send out invitations for the lavish ball and the invitations are returned. The Waltons save the day for the Baldwins.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Waltons Season 3 Episode 8 - The Spoilers
    7.1/10(183 votes)

    #20 - The Spoilers

    S3:E8

    A New York family who is dysfunctional moves to Walton's Mountain. They end up causing havoc in the Walton's household and they move back to New York City

    Director:Jack Shea
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Waltons Season 7 Episode 4 - The Obsession
    7.1/10(145 votes)

    #21 - The Obsession

    S7:E4

    Mary Ellen gets prescription drugs and abuses them in order to study long hours for her Nurse's exam. Cissy Tucker Yancy Tucker's wife has had enough and she puts her foot down.

    Director:Gwen Arner
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Waltons Season 7 Episode 12 - The Boosters
    7.1/10(127 votes)

    #22 - The Boosters

    S7:E12

    Ben talks the townspeople into opening an auto court against John's advice. Yancy Tucker goes into business for himself.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Robert Pirosh

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The Waltons Season 7 Episode 16 - The Burden
    7.1/10(139 votes)

    #23 - The Burden

    S7:E16

    After a car jack slips and falls and Jim-Bob escapes serious injury, Jim-Bob decides to become a minister.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The Waltons Season 8 Episode 6 - The Journal
    7.1/10(130 votes)

    #24 - The Journal

    S8:E6

    A publisher asks permission from John and Olivia about printing the new book that John-Boy wrote in Europe. Jeff does not want Reckless put to sleep after Reckless becomes sick.

    Director:Philip Leacock
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. The Waltons Season 8 Episode 10 - The Silver Wings
    7.1/10(158 votes)

    #25 - The Silver Wings

    S8:E10

    Jim-Bob meets Betsy, a married woman and falls in love with her while delivering her a package.

    Director:Stan Lathan
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"The Tempest" is the worst rated episode of "The Waltons". It scored 5.4/10 based on 180 votes. Directed by Gabrielle Beaumont and written by Unknown, it aired on 2/5/1981. This episode scored 0.4 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Changeling".