User Reviews

I liked this episode mainly because of the subplot of John Boy asking Graham Foster for a job as tax collector. That guy is pure evil hiring John Boy just to fleece him in the end. When the guy doesn't get every penny of the taxes owed he blames John Boy even though this slum lord does nothing for his tenants. He refuses to pay him his commission and John just knocks over his table and feels taken. He doesn't even tell him what he is.

The whole 'I want to keep Lance plot' got very boring and as another contributor noted Lance would not make a good pet. We all knew that Erin would realize he'd be happiest on a reserve and let him go. We didn't know what John Boy would do about his commission and he turns the tables on Foster, albeit working hard on a roof, but takes his wages his way. Smart guy and love how he throws the offer to be tax collector right back at him.

In the early 19th century in New England as tax collector you either collected the taxes from the tenants or you were put on house arrest. Good thing that wasn't the law in 1934.

TITLE: The Fawn ORIGINAL AIRDATE: November 8, 1973 WRITER: John McGreevey DIRECTOR: Ralph Waite

PROLOGUE: "As close-knit and self-sufficient as our family was, still, neighbors were very important in those days when we were growing up on Walton's Mountain. There were families like ourselves, struggling to keep the land we owned, and there were tenant farmers, at the mercy of the weather, crop prices, and absentee landlords."

SYNOPSIS: Erin has a shy admirer. Harold Beasley is a schoolmate of hers but he is too bashful to show his affection and prefers to admire her from afar. As the Walton kids walk to school, they learn that the Littleton family has been forced out of their home due to unpaid taxes. At school, Erin offers Harold a gift containing an embroidered hankie and a love note. Some bullies make fun of Harold and Erin and Harold won't stand up to the bullies or acknowledge her gift. Later when the Walton children go berry picking and they ask Erin to come along instead of brooding. She finds a fawn in the forest all alone and brings it home. The family comes to see the deer that Erin has found. They have heard that a Game Warden has been looking for poachers. Erin figures the deer is hers and names him Lancelot. Mama warns Erin to not get too attached to the fawn as they will need to release it back to the wild once it gets stronger. When she begins to protest her Grandpa says that "Once you start interfering with nature you'll find yourself in a mess of trouble." The Game Warden, Mr. Hennessey arrives and tells Erin that the deer needs to be released, as it is illegal for a private person to own a wild animal. Her mother tells Erin that she needs Lance much more than the deer needs her.

QUESTIONS: What did Jim Bob and Elizabeth give to Erin? What was Erin nightmare about? What did Erin fine when she got to the fawn?

EPILOGUE: "My sister Erin gave Lance his freedom and he took it gratefully. We never did see him again although two years later we did glimpse a doe and a fawn. The little one looked so much like Lance we told ourselves that this must be his son. Erin decided to give boys another chance, and if Harold Beasley wasn't exactly a "knight in shining armor", he was devoted and persistent. I never regretted my brief fling as a man of business. When I'm reminded from time to time of the lessons Graham Foster taught me, memory carries me back to that Depression time, and the voices of my family."

MY THOUGHTS: I like this one because of the fawn. Growing up on farms, I saw my share of deer. I use to go pick berries also. I love the scenes of the mountains so I'm going to give this episode 8 weasel stars.

This was for everyone who hasn't seen The Yearling , My Friend Flicka or Black Beauty.

Only those stories were far better.

This was rushed and very predictable and kinda unrealistic.

I mean, these Walton kids adopt anything tadpoles, bullfrogs, more frogs but have no idea that a wild fawn will eat them out of house and home.

Not to mention destroying Granma's clean washing hanging on a stick.