An Easter Story

"An Easter Story" was the final episode of the first season of The Waltons. It was also the first two-hour show of the series.[1]

"An Easter Story"
The Waltons episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 24
Directed byPhilip Leacock
Story byEarl Hamner Jr.
Teleplay byJohn McGreevey
Original air dateApril 19, 1973 (1973-04-19)

Plot

Olivia begins to experience pain and fatigue, and eventually collapses after church. Numbness in her legs turns to paralysis, and she is diagnosed with polio. However, she refuses to believe that she will never walk again.

Jason is inspired by Grandma as she does her housework. He composes a song he calls "The Ironing Board Blues" which he performs in an amateur talent contest. He wins the contest and a new guitar. The family watches him perform. Back at home, they reenact the contest for Olivia and Erin.

When John-Boy checks in to apply at the University of Virginia, he finds out there is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of polio. John-Boy seeks the doctor out and he tells John-Boy of a new experimental treatment. John-Boy and Grandma encourage Olivia to try the exercises against the advice of the doctor, who suggests that the experimental treatment could leave her worse off. At first, she has hope of recovery by Easter, but then she becomes discouraged and resigns herself to life in a wheelchair. However, shortly before Easter, she dreams that Elizabeth calls out for help, and she gets up out of bed without effort.

Olivia attends the Easter sunrise service on the mountain with her family, celebrating the apparent miracle.

Cast

Reception

In 2009, TV Guide ranked this episode #77 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.[2]

References
  1. Hamner, Earl, Jr. (2002). Goodnight John-Boy : a celebration of an American family and the values that have sustained us through good times and bad. Ralph Giffin. Nashville, TN: Cumberland House. p. 85. ISBN 1-58182-298-7. OCLC 50339848.
  2. "TV's Top 100 Episodes of All Time: #80-61". TV Guide. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
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