I see the complaints about this episode, and John Walton being hired for the highway job seems rather unlikely. Him even running off to the city to apply for it without telling Olivia seems ridiculous.
But at this time in TV, they weren't as bound to continuity as we are used to now. That's not intended as a slight, it was just a different perspective. And one that has its own merits.
I think the episode was entirely to give Ralph Waite the center seat, and it does exactly that. Waite was incredibly talented and, amidst the other quite talented cast, rarely got to really fly.
This was one of his focus episodes.
But at this time in TV, they weren't as bound to continuity as we are used to now. That's not intended as a slight, it was just a different perspective. And one that has its own merits.
I think the episode was entirely to give Ralph Waite the center seat, and it does exactly that. Waite was incredibly talented and, amidst the other quite talented cast, rarely got to really fly.
This was one of his focus episodes.