The Search - S4-E15
Continuity mistake: When John borrows Vern's blue car to search for Olivia and the kids, its license plate number is "45-2678" in wide shots, but when John-Boy spots their truck at the side of the road John stops short, and the license plate number is "84-6209" in the closeup. (00:17:10 - 00:18:45)
The Secret - S4-E16
Visible crew/equipment: After Jim-Bob finds out of the truth at the Hall of Records, when it cuts to Godsey's the two white tape marks are visible on the floor where Ike places the long grabber tool, as well as the two black tape marks where Esther and Ike will stand. (00:37:20)
The Burnout - S4-E18
Visible crew/equipment: After Olivia tells Erin to try being Erin Walton again, when it cuts to the boarding house a white tape mark is visible on the rug, where Mrs. Brimmer is about to stand. (01:26:40)
Visible crew/equipment: After Olivia gives Elizabeth her doll with the newly sewn dress John-Boy walks in, and just as he sits down beside Olivia the set's equipment (presumably lighting) is visible at the left side of the screen. (00:09:35)
Audio problem: A very audible echo is heard when Jon-boy says "I'm trying to work up there".
Visible crew/equipment: After Muffin spends the night at the Walton house, while she and John-Boy are at the Rockfish bus station, when the bus pulls away the reflections of the camera, crew, and equipment are visible on passenger windows. Also, note, the Newport News bus has license plate number "T-3984" which has been used in previous episodes on other vehicles. (00:19:00)
Visible crew/equipment: Near the end, when John-Boy thinks he may know where AJ has gone he gets into the vehicle with Martin Walters, then as Todd starts driving away the reflection of a reflector screen becomes visible on the rear window, and it looks like the reflection of the boom operator's raised arm is visible as well. (00:46:40)
The Secret - S4-E16
Continuity mistake: Jim-Bob's birth certificate reveals he was born January 13, 1923; however in Season 3 The Runaway Jim-Bob says his birthday was June 13, 1924. John-Boy was born just before when John was going off to WWI (1917-1918). If Jim-Bob was born at The Beginning of 1923, that would make him 5 years +/ - younger than John Boy. We know that Ben, Erin, Mary Ellen and Jason are all older than Jim-Bob.
Continuity mistake: When Ben first sees The Fox in the box trap and rushes over, both the y-branch and straight branch are lying atop the box, but as Ben kneels down now the y-branch is instantly upright with the straight branch still lying beside it, then Ben's siblings run over. (In the next shot, as Mary Ellen mentions Carol Lombarde, the box trap is suddenly set atop two saw horses with the two branches set in their trapping positions. This change is quite abrubt between the two shots and presented as if they have not moved). (00:29:40)
Visible crew/equipment: When we hear Earl Hamner's voiceover at the start, the shadow of the camera crane is moving across the trees, as the camera pans from the Walton house to John at the new mill. (00:01:25)
The Secret - S4-E16
Continuity mistake: The view outside Johnboy's bedroom window is a tree within feet when no such tree exists in prior episodes. In fact, all the bedroom windows face the driveway.
Revealing mistake: The wall in Jon-boy's room 'jiggles' a bit as Erin is confiding in Jon-boy about Maryellen, indicating it's either a set piece or an office partition instead of an exterior wall.
The Fighter - S4-E3
Revealing mistake: The Woman spectator at the boxing match is wearing an obvious 1970s fashionable floppy sun hat and dress, instead of an appropriate 1930s style.
Revealing mistake: When John Boy and the others are watching the movie being shot, a helicopter can be heard. This takes place in 1936 with The Abdication of Edward VIII, and there would be no helicopters around at that time. (00:25:20)
