Waltons 3.3: “The Thoroughbred”

Airdate: 9/26/74

John-Boy meets a high-class gal at college, Selina Linvile, and vies for her attention against Carl Jensen, also a blueblood but not as interesting to her as John-Boy. When the annual cross-country horse race arrives, John-Boy thinks that riding Old Blue in the competition could give him a leg up against Carl, but Old Blue is a mule and Carl’s horse is a thoroughbred. John-Boy’s spirit is undaunted, but John Sr. is disturbed by his son using the race to improve his social standing. Seeing the light, John-Boy races purely for the sport, and ends up winning – amicably.

Solid episode continuing the double-setting of the homestead and Boatwright University, John-Boy’s college. Insecurity with social class, a continuing motif, is coupled with an engaging love triangle, the result being a flavorful tale that also balances both settings well. With the new locale, more period costumes are used, with Selina’s 30’s dresses in fine vintage festoonery!

Selina Linville (Kathleen Quinlan) and her grandfather, Col. Linvile (Frank Janson) both return in season four episode “The Collision.” Quinlan is familiar to modern audiences for many movies, starting with American Graffiti in 1973 and continuing all the wuy up to the present day in Glee. She got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Apollo 13, but I will always remember her as the teacher who gets more than she bargained for in Joe Dante’s segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983).

"It's not fair! You're supposed to be happy when your wishes come true!"