MovieChat Forums > The Waltons (1972) Discussion > Inconsistencies in Zeb's family pride

Inconsistencies in Zeb's family pride

posted 9 years ago by BiffGG
4 replies | jump to latest

We hear Zeb talk periodically about the Walton's history on the mountain and his devotion to maintaining its appearance. And yet when the developer came calling about a resort and John getting the the opportunity a couple of times to work elsewhere and sell, Zeb and Esther have no issue whatsoever. It is so inconsistent with any family I ever knew here in the Northeast that had property dating back many generations in that it was matter of keeping it in the family at all costs. Hamner was not afraid to have John and Zeb bump heads before so I think there should have been conflict over potentially selling the Walton homestead.

[–] alanjobe 9 years ago

I disagree. Zeb and Esther did have issues with it. That beautiful scene with the two of them sitting on the mountain shows that they were having mixed emotions about it.

But as Zeb said, John had way too much on his shoulders with struggling to run the mill and trying to raise 7 children during the Depression.

Zeb and Esther didn't want to sell, but they felt it was no longer their decision. They felt John had to do what was best for him and his family. It was a sacrifice of love that they were willing to make for their son. It's what good parents do.

[–] BiffGG 9 years ago

I understand where you are coming from but I am looking at it through the lense of people that I have met in life that have had a "keep it at all costs" mentality.

[–] indyjim101 9 years ago

It IS an inconsistency because in a later episode John-Boy sells his part of the land (John Boy's Meadow) and Grandpa is furious--compare that to the reaction you describe (The Heritage episode) and it is puzzling.

[–] thetaylors604 8 years ago

That was the episode "Cloudburst". John Boy was behind in his payments for the printing press, I believe, and needed some quick cash. Once he discovered the land would be used for strip mining he tried to cancel the sale but it was too late. This was also the episode where Mary Ellen delivered Rosemary Ford's baby during a terrible storm and the electricity went off.