You can take John-Boy (Richard Thomas) out of Walton's Mountain, but you can't take Walton's Mountain out of John-Boy. Still “spinning dreams of the long, long ago” (in the words of Earl Hamner Jr., who created and narrates this autobiographical Depression-era series), the 1974-75 third season of The Waltons finds the eldest son of the sprawling brood taking his first “faltering” steps from home. Now attending Boatwright University, John-Boy is discovering “how little I knew about some things and how well my parents prepared me for others.” Lesson one is “a sense of pride and accomplishment,” which serves him well on “The First Day,” as he suffers a series of mishaps with a towed car and missing application forms, indignities at the hands of taunting upperclassmen, and disastrous run-ins with an imperious professor. Later in the year, John-Boy gets a rebuke and a pep talk from his mother, Olivia (Michael Learned), for thinking that he's not good enough to date a girl from a wealthy family in “The Thoroughbred”; and he stands up for a classmate accused of cheating in “The System.” Among the other standouts in this 24-episode set: patriarch John (Ralph Waite) and Olivia renew their wedding vows in "The Woman," which features John Ritter in his recurring role as Rev. Matthew Fordwick; the family marks Grandpa's 73rd in “The Birthday,” a milestone that's marred when he suffers a mild coronary that seems to drain his feisty spirit. Will Geer, who portrays Grandpa, earned an Emmy for this season, as did Ellen Corby, who plays his devoted wife. The close-knit Waltons, one of the most functional families in television history, prevail over other crises, including the uprooting of kinfolk in the powerful two-part season opener, “The Conflict,” while the season finale “The Venture” crystallizes what made The Waltons one of television's very best family hours, as neighbors rally to help complete John's new mill after he is hospitalized, and Walton and Sons is born. Recommended. (D. Liebenson)
The Waltons: The Complete Third Season
Warner, 5 discs, 1,225 min., not rated, DVD: $39.98 July 24, 2006
The Waltons: The Complete Third Season
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