Tim McD

I think seasons 1 and 2 are the best. There's something elegant and simple about the story lines and everybody plays their part very well. Plus nobody's gotten annoying yet! Also this might sound like a little thing, but the background music used in the first couple of seasons is quite beautiful at times; very acoustic sounding with lovely strings and horns. In later seasons it sounds like they lifted the background music from Barnaby Jones. I also appreciate that a lot of these seasons' episodes were shot on location, away from the Burbank Waltons Mountain set. They pretty much abandoned that practice later.

They had this one shot of Chance the cow mooing they used about a million times.

I'll bet the writers, being mostly familiar with WWII (and a bit lazy), just assumed all wars run about 4 years. I can't remember if Esther claimed to have given birth by the time Zeb returned; if she did that would be quite a feat as the Spanish-American War lasted just 10 weeks.

Even screwier is the fact that the United States didn't enter WWI until 1917. Did John go into hiding for 3 years before enlisting? That's not good parenting.

Fun Fact: In the grandparents' bedroom we sometimes see a framed photo of Young Esther. That's actually a promotional photo of Ellen Corby from I Remember Mama.

When the siblings were young kids it wasn't so bad, but once they got older and had to pick up the slack from the departures of Richard Thomas, Will Geer and Ellen Corby, it became obvious that they didn't have the acting chops or charisma to carry a show.

It seems they were trying to make Elizabeth and Grandpa a team, though why anyone would want Elizabeth on their team is beyond me.

Grandma asked George Bailey for $17.50 in It's a Wonderful Life.

Grandpa was mudered by Mr. Spock on Columbo.

I agree, one of the best episodes I think and a testament to John Ritter's talent. He is flat out hilarious in this one; practicing his fire and brimstone in the yard (while the kids look on in befuddlement) and later drunkenly falling off the truck a la Jack Tripper. The scene where he gets loaded on the recipe should be required viewing for acting classes; his subtle transition from sober to very tipsy is masterful.

Sister Monica Joan's tearful recital of Jenny Kiss'd Me was one of the most poignant things I've ever seen on TV. Her dementia prohibits her from expressing her sympathy properly so she reaches back into her love of literature and poetry.

I agree that John-Boy was a pain sometimes but I can't ignore the fact that once he left, the show's quality took a big dive and its days were numbered. The sibling characters hadn't been developed adequately and the actors playing them weren't strong enough to sustain a TV show. Bringing John-Boy back played by a different actor is one of the most bizarre things a TV show has ever done.

Great to see Anthony Howell from Foyle's War as the chocolatier, he's an under-appreciated actor. Yes, George is a goner. That or he'll return so horribly traumatized he'll have to be hospitalized. I don't think he's serious about Kitty, even though they had a date last season. Seems to be more of a friendly flirting kind of thing. I think Lady Mae is pissed at Delphine and is scheming to upset her friendship with Rose, though that would seem unnecessarily mean to Rose.

Episode 3 needed more Delphine, who for some reason seemed awfully thrilled when she announced England was at war. I'm eagerly awaiting Lord Loxley's comeuppance. Maybe Mr. Bates will make a cameo appearance and push him in front of a double decker. :) I find the awkward romance between Frank and Kitty fun to follow, but her Marilyn-Monroe-meets-Betty-Boop voice is getting to me.

What happened to Jane, the shy and withdrawn orderly who filled in while Jenny worked at the hospital last season?

I caught that too. Since nobody made a big deal about it, I'm assuming Delphine occupied a very tolerant circle. Her place seemed very Bohemian.

My favorite bit: Mr. Grove: I'm drunk! Mr. Crabb: How pleasant. Good to see Grove hurting after what he did to Miss Mardle. I hope she rubs his face in it. Lord Loxley looks to be a very good villain; smearing the egg yolk on Lady Mae's face was weird though. Polly Walker! The show's sexiness factor just got ramped up to 11. I wonder about Delphine's intentions after Lady Mae's warning. Anyone else confused over Henri LeClair's apartment layout? It's clearly on an upper floor of the building, yet we can see children in the street at window level. Set designer oversight?