The show received mixed reviews from critics. Writing for the
Washington Post,
Tom Shales said: "It is earnest, well intentioned, based on a beloved book by Catherine Marshall, handsomely photographed, wholesome as a tea cozy, cute as a kitten, and almost unspeakably humdrum." He criticized the performances of Martin and Batinkoff.
John J. O’Connor of the
New York Times was more positive. "This is an impressive production," he wrote. "The cast is generally quite good; Ms. Martin is extraordinary, making Christy's fresh-faced innocence utterly captivating on these beautiful and sometimes dangerous mountains."
Howard Rosenberg of the
Los Angeles Times called it "highly appealing" and "too nice to pick apart." The series developed a loyal following among readers of the novel and families. It was an initial ratings success, with the pilot episode placing fifth in the weekly
Nielsen ratings and inspiring hundreds of letters to CBS from grateful viewers, but it later faltered, as it came on in a period of two years where
CBS lost strong affiliates to Fox due to NFL football rights and issues with CBS that had built up years before. Episodes were also expensive to produce, with each installment costing $1.2 million despite generating advertising revenues of only $900,000, in part because it performed poorly among young urban viewers most highly sought by advertisers. The series was cancelled by the network to make way for an attempt to program for younger audiences, but the show's fanbase remained strong despite the cancellation. ==Episodes==