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Monday, July 11, 2011

Waltons 1.19: The Gypsies


Airdate: 2/1/73

A band of gypsies, whose caravan was damaged by a storm, makes their home at the Baldwin house, and when evicted by the sheriff, accepts the Waltons’ invitation to come stay with them (of course!). However, the gypsies are a proud people, and shun any form of help they see as charity, even when their baby is gravely ill. By episode’s end, they finally come around, and the see the Waltons as a breed apart from the rest.

Slow but poignant show features some nice characterizations of an all too often stereotyped ethnicity. The running subtext of racism and xenophobia is still (sadly) relevant.

By this point in the series, it’s safe to say that the Waltons hospitality knows no bounds! Also, how remote, exactly, is Waltons Mountain, given the prodigious number of wanderers, strangers and travelers just “passing by”? This place makes Grand Central Station look like Butcher Holler!

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