I agree with other reviewers that this is where 'The Andy Griffith Show' ends and 'Mayberry RFD' takes over. The producers and writers really should have made these last four stories the beginning episodes of the next season under the 'Mayberry RFD' title. From this point forward, Andy becomes a supporting character, or at least a co-lead with Sam, which feels transitional and odd to say the least.
It's clear that Andy Griffith wanted off the show at this point. He's just finishing out his contract as an actor, though he would serve as executive producer for 'Mayberry RFD.' In these last four episodes you can see a bit of resignation on the part of Ron Howard and Aneta Corsaut, who are aware they will not remain regulars on 'Mayberry RFD.' It is not their choice to leave, like it is Griffith's, so they are facing the end of the road with their characters, even though they will make sporadic guest appearances on 'Mayberry RFD.'
This is not the way a classic television series like 'The Andy Griffith Show' should have wound down. There should have been a proper ending with closure. Andy and Helen should have married at the end of 'The Andy Griffith Show' not at the beginning of 'Mayberry RFD' and Barney should have come back one last time to help with a case if Andy was going to be away on a honeymoon.
That would have been better than suddenly evolving into the replacement series, with new characters like Sam and Mike now made prominent in the blink of an eye, and long-time established fan favorites Andy, Opie and Helen being sidelined, while Aunt Bee, Goober, Howard and Emmett hang on for the ride.
It's clear that Andy Griffith wanted off the show at this point. He's just finishing out his contract as an actor, though he would serve as executive producer for 'Mayberry RFD.' In these last four episodes you can see a bit of resignation on the part of Ron Howard and Aneta Corsaut, who are aware they will not remain regulars on 'Mayberry RFD.' It is not their choice to leave, like it is Griffith's, so they are facing the end of the road with their characters, even though they will make sporadic guest appearances on 'Mayberry RFD.'
This is not the way a classic television series like 'The Andy Griffith Show' should have wound down. There should have been a proper ending with closure. Andy and Helen should have married at the end of 'The Andy Griffith Show' not at the beginning of 'Mayberry RFD' and Barney should have come back one last time to help with a case if Andy was going to be away on a honeymoon.
That would have been better than suddenly evolving into the replacement series, with new characters like Sam and Mike now made prominent in the blink of an eye, and long-time established fan favorites Andy, Opie and Helen being sidelined, while Aunt Bee, Goober, Howard and Emmett hang on for the ride.
