"The Burden" starts out as a good story but it seems to me that Jim Bob's overzealousness and sudden instant recall of chapter-and-verse Bible quotes gives it an air of preachiness that The Waltons doesn't usually have. A kid who's all about working on cars is suddenly a walking Bible encyclopedia-it just doesn't ring true. If the storyline was more about his searching for meaning in his own life and less about going out to save souls it would have worked better. I give it a 6 star rating because of the good intentions of the writers and producers, and the tender way in which Daddy brings Jim Bob around to clearer thinking. True Waltons fans will always include this episode in their routine, but if you're turned off by sermonizing, you might want to skip it.
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