The Hiding Place

I agree Olivia comes off as oblivious to the need to fight Nazi Agression. Still the Crimes of Hitler are openly discussed. And Jason demonstrates the need for military preparedness. Back story involving Jim Bob and a horn provides good comic relief.

Once again Waltons don't care about America. Seems like "LET EVERYBODY ELSE DO IT" is Olivia's mantra in life. She's the kind who spit on us when we came home from Vietnam.

9 stars because JB is his usual arrogant self. It seems the two people who reviewed this episode are critical of Olivia's reaction. They seem to not realize that this episode is more for the mothers of the service members of the world. No mother wants to see their children march off to war. Olivia watched her husband and brother-in-law march off in WWI. Her brother-in-law did not come back. Now another war is brewing and her four sons are the age for service, or close. It's not that she would spit on a returning soldier. The person who wrote that obviously has ignored her through the rest of the series. She isn't saying anything any other mother, or father, hasn't said for eternity. Let someone else's child do it. Why does it have to be hers? In the end every mother (maybe father) has swallowed their pain, pinned on a fake smile and watched them leave for war. Some never saw their children again. Yes, this episode is for the mothers. Not the service members.

It seems that those who are critical of Olivia's reaction to the unrest in Europe are not aware that her reaction might be because her brother-in-law was killed in WWI and her husband's nightmarish experience during that war was still with him. Another fact that escapes some reviewers is that there was a very strong isolationist feeling in the USA in the 1930s since WWI was such a horrific event. Mothers especially have strong feelings about their children going to war. Olivia is no different.

The 1930s were very different from today. Interestingly, thousands of Americans with Nazi sympathies joined "Bunds" and filled Madison Square Garden with 20,000 fascist sympathizers in a huge rally in 1939.

This episode very authentically depicts the very strong and varied opinions and feelings about what was seen in America as a "European problem" and something that should not involve the country in another terrible war.

John Boy is very determined to bring the truth of European unrest to the sheltered hills of Virginia.

Jason is determined to do what he sees as his duty and join the National Guard.

Olivia does her duty as a mother and protects her children.

Very difficult themes and events covered truthfully and authentically in this one hour episode.