Waltons 3.8: “The Spoilers”

Airdate: 10/31/74

A new family, the Hanovers, moves to Waltons mountain from New York City, and almost immediately they upset the family’s apple cart. They are headed by Ted, the grandson of Grandma’s former beau, a man who feel reinvigorated by country life; unfortunately, his wife, son and daughter feel differently, unused to the rural way of life and, in the case of the children, looking down on it. The daughter judges John-Boy’s writing harshly, feeling it’s not fashionable enough, and the son, used to getting his own way, puts the moves on Erin and explodes when she halts his advances. Ultimately, Ted sees how has foisted his own interests on his family, and agrees to move back to the city.

Boy, those kids really are spoiled, but don’t worry: Olivia takes them to task for any disrespect they might show in her house. I enjoyed the character of Ted because I knew a similar “city mouse” who wanted a taste of the country – in his case, he couldn’t get used to any town without a subway system.

Alicia, the daughter, is played by Linda Purl. I think she looks to young for this role, but she went on to do dozens of films and TV shows, most notably as Fonzie’s adult love interest on the last two seasons of Happy Days.