A Day for Thanks on Walton’s Mountain’ (1982) and ‘A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion’ (1993)

Описание: A Day for Thanks on Walton’s Mountain’ (1982) and ‘A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion’ (1993). They were meant to be cozy, heartwarming reunions—but honestly? One’s a little worn around the edges… and the other? Well, let’s just say it’s got more cracks than your grandma’s favorite pie dish.

Let’s start with the 1982 one—technically titled A Day for Thanks on Walton’s Mountain. Not to be confused (and trust me, people do confuse it) with the 1993 movie A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion. Yes, the titles are almost twins. No, that wasn’t on purpose—it just happened, like a mismatched sweater set.

So—1982. It’s set in 1947. The war’s over, the world’s changing fast… but on Walton’s Mountain? Things feel… shaky. Elizabeth—the youngest Walton—is heartbroken: this Thanksgiving, the family’s falling apart. Mama and Daddy are still in Arizona, supposedly dealing with her tuberculosis (though some of us suspect it’s more about avoiding chaos back home). John-Boy? He’s in New York, stuck with writer’s block—and no, not even the lovely, statuesque Jane Schuler (played by the amazing Melinda Naud) can get his creative juices flowing. Seriously—if she can’t help, maybe the problem’s deeper.

Back home, nobody’s doing great either. Erin’s marriage is crumbling. Paul—the husband—just wants space… and maybe a bathroom not shared with five Waltons. Jason’s tired of playing the same old songs at the Dew Drop Inn and dreams of leaving. Jim-Bob’s garage is struggling—and he’s been scammed with a load of lousy car parts, bought with money from the Baldwin sisters (yes, those two). And little John-Curtis? He’s running off into the woods every day, talking to an “invisible friend.” Spoiler: it turns out to be Grandpa Zeb’s ghost. Yep. We went supernatural. Again.

This movie was meant as a final bow—CBS had already canceled the series after nine seasons, and ratings had been slipping since Richard Thomas left. But fans still loved the Waltons, so Lorimar (the production company) teamed up with NBC—who saw a chance to revive the show under a new title, Walton’s Mountain, with the family as the anchor for new stories.

Three reunion movies were made as a kind of test: a wedding, a Mother’s Day, and this Thanksgiving one. But honestly? The spark wasn’t really there. Missing cast members, too many subplots, and a kinda flat tone made it feel more like a rerun than a celebration.

One big issue: Fake John-Boy. That’s Robert Wightman, stepping in for Richard Thomas. And look—I get it. Thomas had moved on. But FJB just… never clicked. He’s quiet. Passive. When he finally comes home, there’s no big “welcome back” moment—not even a hug from Elizabeth. He just shows up in bed, eating toast. It’s like the writers knew we wouldn’t buy it either.

Thankfully, Ralph Waite’s John Walton is still solid—calm, steady, the kind of dad who fixes things with a gentle word and a knowing look. And Jim-Bob (David Harper) carries his storyline well—honest, likable, and paired perfectly with Yancy Tucker (the brilliant Robert Donner), who steals every scene—especially the one where he walks his pet turkey, Isabella, on a leash. Then, when she’s not dinner? He yells, “Let us eat! I’m starved!”—pure gold.

And the Baldwin sisters? Always a highlight. Trapped with their grumpy cousin Octavia, they half-joke about praying for pneumonia. Emily drops the bomb: “I’ve had good manners all my life. Perhaps it’s time for a change.” And when she says “darn”? Mamie gasps—and Emily grins: “I’ve always secretly yearned to use profanity.” Iconic.

Sadly, Grandma Walton—Ellen Corby—only appears in a few short scenes. She’d had a stroke years earlier, and you can tell the production didn’t quite know how to write for her anymore. And then—sigh—the ghost of Zeb shows up. Do we need a supernatural twist in a Thanksgiving story? Probably not. But hey, it was the ’80s.

Now… fast-forward to 1993—and A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion. Set in 1963, just before JFK’s assassination. The family’s gathering for what might be the last Thanksgiving in the old house—before they build a smaller one. Elizabeth’s off in Europe, collecting plants. John-Boy (now played—finally—by Richard Thomas again) is a busy TV newsman with a chic new girlfriend, Janet. She’s sweet—but not sure he’s ready for kids.

Erin’s divorced, raising three on her own. Cindy and Ben lost their daughter two years prior (though… didn’t they have a son too? The timeline’s fuzzy). Mary Ellen’s a doctor—and overprotective of her son Clay (wait… Clay? What happened to John-Curtis?!). Jim-Bob’s flying planes. Jason’s on tour with a band—though apparently, Elvis buys one of his songs? (Sure, Jan.) Toni’s pregnant with #4—and looks exhausted.