Ep 9. The Ceremony

In the ninth episode of season one of The Waltons, titled "The Ceremony," the Walton family prepares for the baptism of their newest family member, Jim-Bob. All of the family members help to prepare for the event, with John-Boy writing a speech and Grandma and Grandpa Walton baking the cake.

However, tensions rise when the family's neighbor, Harley Foster, refuses to attend the ceremony. After some prodding from John-Boy and Olivia, Harley reveals that he was raised in a strict religious household and was abused by his father. The idea of baptism brings up traumatic memories for him, and he cannot bring himself to attend.

Meanwhile, the family is also dealing with the arrival of a new teacher in town, Miss Emily Baldwin. She quickly befriends the Walton family and takes a keen interest in John-Boy's writing. However, her overbearing nature causes tension between her and John-Boy's mother Olivia. After a heated argument, Olivia apologizes to Miss Baldwin and the two reconcile.

As the day of the baptism arrives, the family is disappointed that Harley still refuses to attend. However, after an emotional conversation with Olivia, he has a change of heart and rushes to the church just in time for the ceremony.

The episode ends with the Walton family coming together to celebrate the baptism of Jim-Bob, with all of the family's troubles put aside for the moment.

"The Ceremony" is a heartwarming episode that explores themes of family, forgiveness, and the power of religion. The show's attention to detail and authentic portrayal of life in rural Virginia during the Great Depression make it a must-watch for fans of classic television.