The Waltons: The Complete First Season [DVD] [1972] [2004]

When I was a kid, everybody laughed at the Waltons, and especially the way every episode closes with a long shot of the house and the various characters bidding each other a cosy goodnight.That's what people remember it for.But there's a bit more to it than that, which is why, even now, it stands rewatching.The same holds true for any drama, but get a good cast together and you're onto a winner. The Waltons has a great cast. Richard Thomas holds everything together, since it's his character, John Boy's older self that's the narrator. He's only seventeen in this first series and he's torn between being one of the kids and one of the adults, so it puts him in an ideal position to look at everything in a somewhat dispassionate way. Richard Thomas plays John Boy brilliantly, though his innocent and earnest enthusiasm may make you wince now and again!The parents are interesting. Olivia, the mother, isn't what I remembered. I forgot she can be puritanical and unbending, excessively religious, overly strict with the children and with her husband. John Walton, played memorably by Ralph Waite, isn't a religious man, and this is an interesting conflict that runs right through things.Each episode is pretty much a self-contained story, though there are threads that run through the series.I bought this to watch on my iPod and I really like being able to access the Walton's wholesome yet never dull world while on a busy train or bus. It really takes you out of the modern world.The DVD set is great value considering how many episodes there are. There aren't any special features, but image quality is decent and the packaging fairly informative.Soo, to sum up: The Waltons is high quality drama, with great characters and a great cast. It has stood the test of time very well. It may be sentimental at times, but it's usually in a good way that will leave you feeling happier about the world.

Back in the 1980s I discovered The Waltons while it was being rerun on Channel Four every Sunday lunchtime. The series was a real gem and even today nearly 40 years after this first series was made, the quality shines through.Miss Michael Learned, Ralph Waite, Ellen Corby, Will Geer and Richard Thomas star as the main members of The Waltons clan experiencing a tough life in 1930's America. There are another six other regulars who make up the Waltons family.Each episode centres around a different story and features different guest stars, many of whom were big names in the early 1970s. This powerful series would run until 1981 and then return as several one off films.Simple and moralistic, The Waltons is a far cry from the CGI infested programmes on our screens today. Scenes are longer than you will find on screen today as there is no desperation to hold the viewers attention in those days. The quality of the series itself was the magnet which drew viewers to the show.I particularly love the episodes featuring the Baldwin sisters. Their father's "Recipe" and it's reactions around the Walton household still amuse me to this day. Helen Kleeb and Mary Jackson are superb as the elderly sisters.If you like decent family drama, then this series is for you.The first four series have been released in the UK, however as of the time of writing (December 2011) the other five series and films are only available on Region 1 US DVDs. Luckily these particular later sets are manufactured to be played on UK DVD players too.Enjoy!

Our Family loved every episode. We are looking forward to the next Season.

I wasn't happy most of the images wouldn't come on the screen, I could hear some and other not. I want my money back

If you haven't seen the Waltons then you have missed out on a wonderful series about a large and loving family living on Walton's Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The series revolves around a large, close family who have good and bad times in their large home built by John Walton and his father Zebulon. Each episode covers a dfferent storyline based on the experiences of the various members of the Walton family and their neighbours or strangers travellinb through. The Waltom family consists of Grandfather Zebulon, grandmother Esther, father John, mother Olivia, sons John boy, Jason, Ben, Jim-Bob and dauhters Mary Ellen, Erin, and youngest Elizabeth. This series is based on the real life experiences of the author of the book, Earl Hamner Jnr. The series takes us through from the depression, world war 11 and all of the trials and tribulations that ensued for our large and close family. If you haven't seen this heartwarming series then I would recommend it to anyone. This series follows the lives and times of the family each week and deals with the issues ofthe times and the family dynamics. I love this series and as it was on air for many years we can follow the children from toddlers to marriages and parenthood.

I quite enjoyed watching this when I was (a lot) younger with my 4 sisters - we all used to laugh at one of my sisters, who was a bit 'soppy', because by the end of the episode she could be guaranteed to be in tears.I have been going through a really difficult and lonely time recently, and bought this first series out of a need to escape and revisit a simpler, happier time. Thank you Waltons, visiting with you has helped me tremendously, a truly warm and magical time - I remembered some of the episodes but some I think I may have missed first time round. Yes it is sentimental, but I was surprised at the darkness of some of the themes, it was quite gritty in parts. Interesting that there seems to be a women's lib theme running through it, particularly via Mary Ellen and Olivia. Was that more a reflection of the time it was made than the time it was set, I wonder.And yes I shed a little tear by the end of each episode, so Sister you are avenged.- Sorry I laughed at you - Have just finised series 2 and can't wait to start series 3 -

I love every episode of the Waltons. Not one episode above another

The Waltons always has been my favourite programme. Being able to download the entire series is a dream come true