Loved this show, and this is one of my all-time favorite episodes. But then I have so many. A sophisticated journalist or someone involved in print of some sort, is speeding through Mayberry just as Floyd, Opie, Barney and Sheriff Andy Taylor are putting their fishing stuff away in the trunk. She is manipulative and tries to get the possibility of a ticket dismissed. Andy hands her a ticket anyway. Since this was before the days of E-pay and being able to mail your payment in, the part which she objects to, and sets her off, is being told to appear next week to pay the ticket. She accuses the Sheriff of running a small town speed trap, and asks to speak to the Justice of the Peace. Back at the station, to her surprise, it's Andy. She refuses to back down, saying she is being railroaded, which just lands her into more hot water. She is told that she can see the Mayor's Court, but that will have to be tomorrow. Until then, she will have to sit in jail. To Andy and Barney's surprise, she chooses jail. She then brilliantly sets about to manipulate everyone around Andy, especially the witnesses. At the trial, the witnesses refuse to comply, and the case is dismissed. She is about to leave, and sees the pain she's caused the circle around Andy, and purposely speeds off. She gets caught, and pays a fine of ten dollars, plus, feeling guilty, she voluntarily pays a fine of twenty five dollars.
This is a very interesting episode because usually no one is portrayed as getting the better of Sheriff Andy Taylor. Here, it happened. The acting is top notch, especially from the guest star, Jean Hagen as the female speeder, the turns are intriguing and a bit cringe inducing.
Look, it's very clear that the female speeder was originally in the wrong. There are also things that make no sense. The female speeder is right to be incredulous when she finds that the one who is citing her, is also judging her (Andy being both the arresting officer and Justice of the Peace). It makes no sense that her fine at the end is the same as it was in the beginning (ten dollars both times). Now, when you get a second offense within typically six months, the fine goes up. And if Andy is the Justice of the Peace as well, why did she have to wait a whole week to pay during a formal court appearance, she could've paid the original ten dollar fine directly to Andy. Although this show did have many moral lessons, it seems a bit silly to analyze it too much. This is not really a show for deep philosophical thought. And nothing wrong with that, just turn off your mind and enjoy.
This is a very interesting episode because usually no one is portrayed as getting the better of Sheriff Andy Taylor. Here, it happened. The acting is top notch, especially from the guest star, Jean Hagen as the female speeder, the turns are intriguing and a bit cringe inducing.
Look, it's very clear that the female speeder was originally in the wrong. There are also things that make no sense. The female speeder is right to be incredulous when she finds that the one who is citing her, is also judging her (Andy being both the arresting officer and Justice of the Peace). It makes no sense that her fine at the end is the same as it was in the beginning (ten dollars both times). Now, when you get a second offense within typically six months, the fine goes up. And if Andy is the Justice of the Peace as well, why did she have to wait a whole week to pay during a formal court appearance, she could've paid the original ten dollar fine directly to Andy. Although this show did have many moral lessons, it seems a bit silly to analyze it too much. This is not really a show for deep philosophical thought. And nothing wrong with that, just turn off your mind and enjoy.