The Waltons - General Discussion

[Zella]

6 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

I was more thinking about what if he never married Esther and never had John and his brother. I could see Zeb spending his life on the mountain. Living simply, hunting and fishing for sustenance and possibly making his own "recipe". Abiding among the mountain folk who were his kin.

Basically his character in Jeremiah Johnson?

Can't cheat the mountain, pilgrim.

 

[Blergh]

On 11/13/2024 at 11:03 AM, merylinkid said:

Zeb did what was needed for the family.   Remember when their electricity got cut off?   He disappeared for the day and Esther was sure he had just taken off to do whatever.   He had done some day job and gotten the money to keep the electricity on.   

He just wasn't as driven as John.   He taught the kids to appreciate what it mean to live on their mountain.   he believed in work life balance.   Taking a day off from the mill to fish was just as necessary as meeting an order deadline.   But he was practical too.   He taught Jim Bob about taking care of yourself in nature.   When Jim Bob, Elizabeth and Olivia got lost one day (I don't remember the full details), it was Jim Bob's outdoors knowledge that saved them until they could be found.   He credited Grandpa's teaching.   

I didn't say that Zeb wasn't resourceful or cunning (and definitely saved the day on more than one occasion).

However, I can't help but believe that had he not been married to Esther, he wouldn't have been as motivated to used his energies for the betterment of the family rather than stayed somewhat feral.

Of course, it was interesting how Zeb and John DID include Esther and Olivia (and sometimes John-Boy) when they needed to make important decisions involving the entire family rather than one or both unilaterally making said decisions and considering Esther and Olivia's POVs unneeded.