The Loss

I wanted give this episode 7 stars. But it contained one glaring fault, in my mind.

The Shivaree was the first appearance of Cousin Olivia, and that episode is one of my all time favorites.

The Loss, however, left me with a bland feeling. The main plot, with Cousin Olivia, was good enough.....though it did not have the punch of its predecessor.

Usually, each episode contains a main plot and a secondary one. In my opinion, this show works best when the two are equally impressive, AND when the secondary plot does not try too hard to copy the main plot. In the case of this episode, the secondary plot was way too obvious in its echoing the theme of the main plot. Also, as the secondary plot put little Elizabeth in the starring role (who is my least favorite Walton child), it left me cold.

Because the two plots were so much the same, it seems that the writer of this script took the easy way out. It made the entire episode too obvious, and too forced.

I would have given this episode 7 stars but for the lack of originality in the secondary plot.

I love this show to pieces! That's why it particularly pains me when an episode lets me down.