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The Waltons Season 5 Episodes
Season 5 Episode Guide
25 Episodes 1976 - 1977
Episode 1
The First Edition
Thu, Sep 23, 197660 mins
John-Boy's integrity is tested when he seeks to publish the truth about a local judge's driving mishap and his brother Ben's arrest, which in turn tests Olivia's patience with John-Boy's newspaper enterprise; meanwhile Ike and Corabeth's marriage is tested when she experiences a false pregnancy.
Episode 2
The Vigil
Thu, Sep 30, 197660 mins
When Grandma has a sudden illness Mary Ellen offers a diagnosis based on the symptoms, but when Grandma gets worse and is rushed to the hospital in an emergency Mary Ellen learns a harsh lesson from the doctors and a tender lesson from Grandma; meanwhile, Erin gets a job as a phone operator and abandons her post during the family emergency, and John-Boy focuses on his newspaper editorial about the local doctor who is looking to leave the area due to patients not paying their bills.
Episode 3
The Comeback
Thu, Oct 7, 197650 mins
Jason becomes the new piano man at the Dew Drop Inn, much to chagrin of Olivia and Grandma who disapprove of drinking. He persuades a former bandleader named Red (Merle Haggard), who had been sequestered after the death of his son Seth (played by Ron Howard in a previous episode), to return to the stage. Meanwhile, Yancey Tucker loves Cissy but is uneasy at the thought of marriage, so Cissy pretends interest in John-Boy in order to get Yancey to propose.
Episode 4
The Baptism
Thu, Oct 14, 197660 mins
A famous revival preacher (John Karlen) is coming to town, and Esther and Olivia hope that John and Ben will be converted and baptized. John is almost struck by lightning during a storm, which some see as an omen. A peacock wanders onto the home place and is adopted by Jim-Bob who nicknames him "Rover"
Episode 5
The Fire Storm
Thu, Oct 21, 197660 mins
John-Boy becomes the target of public indignation when he insists on printing excerpts from Hitler's "Mein Kampf" in his newspaper. Erin competes in a beauty pageant.
Episode 6
The Nightwalker
Thu, Oct 28, 197660 mins
A prowler is lurking around Walton's Mountain, which threatens Jason's plans to hold a community dance at Ike Godsey's new Hall.
Episode 7
The Wedding: Part 1
Thu, Nov 4, 197660 mins
Mary Ellen is engaged to Dr David Spencer and they plan the wedding. Dr Curtis Willard arrives to be the town doctor. Mary Ellen begins to have second thoughts about her engagement.
Episode 8
The Wedding: Part 2
Thu, Nov 4, 197660 mins
Mary Ellen is engaged to Dr David Spencer and they plan the wedding. Dr Curtis Willard arrives to be the town doctor. Mary Ellen begins to have second thoughts about her engagement.
Episode 9
The Cloudburst
Thu, Nov 11, 197660 mins
To pay-off mounting bills on his newspaper operation, John-Boy, who's offered 4 times the amount per acre for the 10 acres of the Walton's mountain meadow, entrusted to him by Grandpa, finds out that the mining company that came to town is using his name and the ground is being pressured washed to mine for gold, destroying the land and any future use for anything else. The Godseys fall for it too, their land just adjoining. The mining company makes it sound they're being helpful to the community. John-Boy finds out the truth and tells the neighbors not to sell. Meanwhile grandpa's upset with the sale. Mary Ellen faints from shock when Curt asks her to help with surgery on a former schoolmate, then has her own emergency with her former teacher Mrs Fordwick, going into labor to give birth, while the whole area is under a sever storm. Grandma , John-boy, and Mom arrive with Rev Fordwick to help, but the birth of a baby girl is complete. The Sunday service the next day is moved to Walton's mountain meadow, where the unsuspecting mining land manager is going to get a sermon he won't forget. But there's an ironic ending for the Waltons.
Episode 10
The Great Motorcycle Race
Thu, Nov 18, 197660 mins
Jim-Bob fixes up Ike's old motorcycle and enters a motorcycle race. The Godseys look into adopting a baby.
Episode 11
The Pony Cart
Thu, Dec 2, 197660 mins
The irascible Martha Corrine Walton, in her 90s, makes an unexpected return to Walton's Mountain, and reminisces about her early life as the bride of a Civil War veteran. She soon gets on everyone's nerves as she begins adding her methods to the cooking, and her opinions in the family daily life. Ben buys a used pony cart, intending to re-sell it for a profit after he makes some improvements. Martha Corrine calls it a "shay", and paints flowers on the side of cart. Ben takes her in the pony cart to her to visit her husband's grave, and she has a heart attack. Veteran actress Beulah Bondi won an Emmy for Lead Actress in a Single Performance for her guest appearance as Martha Corrine Walton.
Episode 12
The Best Christmas
Thu, Dec 9, 197660 mins
Olivia wants this Christmas to be the best ever. Everything seems to happen to prevent this.
Episode 13
The Last Mustang
Thu, Dec 16, 197660 mins
Sheriff Bridges is running for re-election but an out of town opponent has more charm and threatens to put Ep out of a job. A wild mustang is captured and Grandpa is determined to make sure it can continue to run free on Walton's Mountain.
Episode 14
The Rebellion
Thu, Dec 23, 197660 mins
Another woman begins to play the church organ instead of Grandma which upsets Grandma. Olivia is restless and decides to get a perm with terrible results.
Episode 15
The Ferris Wheel
Thu, Jan 6, 197760 mins
As the annual carnival approaches, Elizabeth has recurring nightmares of being trapped on a runaway Ferris wheel. Meanwhile, Ben believes that his height is affecting how people see and treat him.
Episode 16
The Elopement
Thu, Jan 13, 197760 mins
Chad Marshall returns to the area where he buys land and wants to marry Erin, but Olivia and John don't approve of Erin getting married before finishing school, so Erin and Chad decide to elope; meanwhile, Ike takes a trip and leaves Jason to run the store, and Jason finds out that Maude Gormley isn't allowed any credit due to her outstanding debt, so John-Boy figures out a way to sell Maude's paintings at the store to help pay off her debt to Ike.
Episode 17
John's Crossroad
Thu, Jan 20, 197760 mins
Grandma's medical bills and the mill's deterioration force John to take a job away from home to make more money. At the job, everyone in the office fears the manager who makes life miserable for all. Elizabeth is a tomboy.
Episode 18
The Career Girl
Thu, Jan 27, 197760 mins
Erin graduates from high school still having no direction for her life. She gets a job as a switchboard operator to buy a typewriter for John-Boy. Family members sneak a look at John-Boy's novel about them and the community.
Episode 19
The Hero
Thu, Feb 3, 197760 mins
The Waltons find out Sheriff Ep is a decorated war hero and John-Boy wants to write about it. Ep wants to keep it quiet. Also, an old friend of Ep's comes to visit. Jim-Boy likes to talk to her about cars and war.
Episode 20
The Inferno
Thu, Feb 10, 197760 mins
John-Boy wins a journalism contest, the prize being $25 and an all-expense-paid trip to cover the landing of the Hindenburg in Lakehurst, New Jersey. After witnessing the airship burst into flames, he returns home traumatized and unable to write about the disaster. Meanwhile, Curt and Mary Ellen are frustrated at not having private time alone from the family.
Episode 21
The Heartbreaker
Thu, Feb 17, 197760 mins
Jason falls in love with Curt's restless sister, Vanessa (Linda Purl), who has left her husband to become a singer. John-Boy publishes a story from his novel in his newspaper that upsets his grandfather.
Episode 22
The Long Night
Thu, Feb 24, 197760 mins
Grandma's hospitalization troubles the family, especially Grandpa, who becomes depressed and withdrawn.
Episode 23
The Hiding Place
Thu, Mar 3, 197760 mins
The Baldwins' niece arrives from war-threatened Vienna. John-Boy wants to interview her about events in Europe, but she objects. Jason joins the National Guard, and Olivia is upset.
Episode 24
The Go-Getter
Thu, Mar 10, 197760 mins
John and Ben again come to blows about work at the mill. Ben quits and becomes a used-car salesman. He does a good job - but with questionable sales tactics.
Episode 25
The Achievement
Thu, Mar 17, 197760 mins
John-Boy sent his novel to a publisher and does not hear anything. He travels to New York to get an update. There, he is torn between the city and home.