"The Waltons" The Air Mail Man (TV Episode 1973) Poster

(TV Series)

(1973)

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8/10
Olivia goes Flying
garyldibert24 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
TITLE: THE AIR MAIL MAN ORIGINAL AIRDATE: December 13, 1973 WRITERS: Peter L. Dixon & Sarah Dixon DIRECTOR: Robert Butler

PROLOGUE: "The peace and beauty of the land and sky around Waltons Mountain was a source of constant comfort to all of us during those difficult Depression years. Some of the changes that were going on in the world did eventually reflect themselves on our mountain, like the increase in the number of airplanes that spotted the sky. In particular, I remember an airmail plane that used our mountain as a landmark. My mother especially liked to wait for the plane to go over, and sometimes watching she'd get the look on her face people have when they watch wild geese winging their way south to warm sunny days."

SYNOPSIS: While Olivia waits outside to see the Air Mail man fly over their home the family waits for her inside at the dinner table. Just as she goes inside, they hear the plane flying back over their home with engine trouble. They grab lanterns and help the plane land in the meadow. The pilot, Todd Cooper says that an oil line has blown and the plane is leaking gas as well. The Walton's help him to settle in for the night but Grandma is wary of him saying that he is hiding something. The next day with the help of the Walton family, he begins to make repairs to his plane. John-Boy discovers that Todd has a wife and that they both have an aerial act and are known as the Flying Coopers. Olivia is feeling a little down about her ordinary life. She envies the freedom the pilot must feel when he's flying up with the clouds. While Todd repairs his plane, she climbs into the pilot seat and pretends what it must be like to fly above the clouds. It is her birthday and the children bring her breakfast in bed. They buy chocolate to make icing for her cake. Ike gives Olivia a tortoise shell hair comb. John has made her a swiveling full-length mirror.

QUESTIONS: Who tracked Todd down/ Why did this person track Todd down? What kind of day did Olivia have?

EPILOGUE: "Today great passenger planes plow through those skies above the Virginia Mountains. Last year one of them brought my mother to see us in California where I now live. We're expecting her again soon, and no doubt our thoughts and our memories will return to those early times when that era we called "depressed" was so very, very good."

MY THOUGHTS: This was another one of those episodes that reminded me of the days I would have enjoyed when I was growing up. Birthdays that meant something to someone instead of spending birthdays alone as I do now. I give this episode 8 weasel stars
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7/10
Poetry And Airplane Flying
nlathy-839-30067720 July 2023
This isn't the best episode. Still it's worth watching. Michael Learned gets a movie, where she wants to break out of her life. It does seem for a tranquil and loving place, the Waltons seem anxious to leave. And the guests in the home often come with baggage. And the grandparents aren't fooled a bit. Paul Michael Glaser comes off as irresponsible. Still the family has a chance to straighten him out. Somehow the atmosphere of a loving place and a joyful score bring the short together Jim Bob actually has a good scene. And Ike is charming, as well. The store rivals the school and the church as a second home for the family.
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1/10
The Air Mail Man is kind of a lame flight
timmcd-842025 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A rare early season misstep for The Waltons. The main storyline is not nearly fleshed out enough to make sense; the air mail man's sudden change of heart happens so quickly I thought the DVD had skipped ahead a few scenes. But no, just bad writing. On the plus side the performances are good. Paul Michael Glaser's titular character would've made a nice semi-regular on Waltons Mountain. John-Boy reading Gerard Manley Hopkins "The Windhover" to his mother for her birthday is one of the great scenes of this series, even if it is part of a subpar episode.

Finally a note about shooting and editing: It was not a good idea to cut from the Waltons running from their house on the Burbank backlot to their pasture in rural Frazier Park. The viewer is supposed to believe that wide open scenery is right behind their house? Nice try fellas.
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1/10
So Contrived
janet-conant24 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This was a really good series but this episode was unbelievable and so contrived. Olivia would get over her birthday depression and that pilot would do a 180 and want a family.

I can't believe how Cooper, who seems like a very congenial person, could not want a baby with his wife. Ready to just up and leave her with a child. Of course the same is happening to Olivia who feels her children and husband are defining her whole personality. She's being very selfish but you know she'll get over it and once again John Boy is a psychologist. When Cooper says 'I do love her.' How could he, running out on her. He may know how to fly but he's very immature. When you see Cooper and his wife at the party you say 'how did they get together?' Of course you know Olivia will get a free plane ride.

The Waltons acted like there was money under every rock and presents coming out of the sky for the birthday celebration. They were always strapped for cash.
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