One of my favorite shows of all time was The Waltons. While I had many struggles as a kid, one of the things I could look forward to in my adolescence was the hope of peace and family that was illustrated in The Waltons. From 1972 until 1981 this television series captured the hearts of multitudes of viewers.

I remember watching the show at my grandparents' house in my troubled years. I will never forget my grandfather and I getting into a rather serious argument because he had another show he wanted to watch during the times The Waltons aired. He wasn't up for new shows and he wasn't going to change his mind. I would recall those arguments for the rest of the time my grandfather lived because it wasn't long after that he and my grandmother became huge fans of the show. It was a show we would share together, and I in return shared moments of what I hoped family could be. I lived with my grandparents for good reason, and while things were far from perfect on the nights The Waltons aired, I found moments of peace in a difficult life during a difficult time.

To the delight of many, Warner Brothers recently released Season 9, The Final Season of The Waltons. This 22-episode DVD is one that will not only please those original fans of the show but will draw in new fans to the series, too. While the show finished its last season around the top 20 in the Nielson Ratings, it had previously been as high as the #2 show on network television. Some would say it may be the best family series ever. It would be hard for me to argue that particular point.

While I was pleased to revisit the last season of The Waltons, and despite the numerous cast changes over the years, there were some of the typical issues related to some of the WB releases as of late. The series, while still providing a quality storyline up until the end, offers little new to the DVD release. There is no remastering and no special features. While the visual quality of the transfer is easy to view, it is lacking in the high quality to which some may be accustomed.

What remains is quality story telling and an ability to portray the characters. While there were changes over the years with some of the characters, most of the actors were able to remain in their roles over the 9 seasons. Not only did those actors remain constant in their characters, but we see some of those characters develop and progress. This is especially so in the development of strength in the female characters, especially the Walton daughters.

Season 9 of The Waltons starts off addressing many issues the series is noted for: from the remnants of racism to the growth and strength of women. We follow the family near the conclusion of World War II and the turmoil the family goes through, from the women back home to the sons and others who are involved in the war. The Waltons, just like in the early days of 1972, continued its subtle ways of addressing social and religious themes until the completion of the series in 1981.

The Waltons continued to use as a back drop the importance of faith in not only the rural American Family, but the lives of most Americans in the 1940s, the time frame the series took place. One of the brilliant aspects of The Waltons is while it was made in the 1970s and early 1980s the show did a fabulous job of replicating the era of its setting. I believe that is one of the things that had many individuals like my grandparents loving the show. It showed in a realistic way what life was like during the depression era and during the 1940s during World War II. It portrayed the strength of family and for many the importance of things like religion. It isn't unusual to see the characters turn to their faith and to prayer when trouble comes about. You even see in this season, just like others, religious issues specific to Christianity addressed. The characters struggle with those issues, whether it be interfaith marriage or the struggle of how African Americans were treated by many during the time frame.

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