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Reviews
The Andy Griffith Show: Mind Over Matter (1966)
Doctor as Stupid as Goober
My first thought watching this is who cares about this guy? Goober is perfectly fine after getting hit from behind then he's all of a sudden, with the advice of two bored people (Floyd and Bee), unable to move his arms. What? The way he holds his head would give him a crick in the neck.
How could sensible people not only allow him to stay at their house, but put Andy out of his bed, wait on him hand and foot and let a quack doctor tell Andy to give Goober hard rubs on his back 5 times a day. The doc actually says he could be laid up for 6 weeks. Huh? Impossible. I guess it's funny if the viewer likes annoying people taking advantage as we watch Andy try to deal with this blob.
I'm surprised the episode didn't have Goober fall in love with the woman who hit the car. Andy tries to explain to the freeloader how the pain could all be in his head instead of kicking him out and sending him back to work cuz his gas station is abandoned. Goober is one of the most irritating characters right down there with Warren. How Aunt Bee waits on him is baffling as up to this point Bee gets annoyed with most people.
Watching Goober at the end on the sofa hitting Andy's shoulder is just strange. Probably as strange as letting him move in and cook Andy spaghetti.
The Waltons: The Wedding: Part 2 (1976)
She Didn't Have To Return The Gifts
I found the second part of the episode much better than the first too much of Maryellen and David squeezing each other. I still think there was no chemistry between Maryellen and Spencer at all or Maryellen and Curt except in this one. Spencer shouldn't have been at all surprised when Maryellen runs out of the rehearsal as she became very quiet and subdued, something she never was. Erin had no right to burn a correspondence between 2 people yet she faces no repercussions and stands as the maid of honor. Huh? I wondered also why MaryEllen showed the new doctor such contempt. Maybe she liked him already and was threatening her nuptials.
How convenient that the wedding was almost immediate and never returned any gifts. Wonder why only family, the Godseys and the country nurse got to attend. Judy Taylor had some good scenes showing utter sadness at breaking the engagement but she knew Spencer was rather a drip compared to the earthy and glib Dr. Willard.
John Boy was like a grown up finding out where Willard was and then speaking up for him at the hearing. Always time for the show to showcase the acting talents of Thomas.
It worked out much better Maryellen marrying the country doctor, helping him in his practice and living on the mountain. Living as a doctor's wife in Richmond would get old fast.
I particularly liked the actor who played Curtis Willard and showed true compassion and ability as the new doctor. David Spencer wasn't present at the mountaintop wedding and probably didn't feel like going. At the end I thought Erin would have made a good replacement for Maryellen as Spencer's bride but it never happened.
Telling Maryellen it's the best proposal she's gonna get was exactly like Curt's character. Too bad her answer was that she wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth. How original.
The Andy Griffith Show: A Singer in Town (1966)
Unbelievably Bad
Saw this episode was on TV Land and remembered how bad it was so turned it. Did catch the end with Clara and Bee incensed watching the rock band jazzing up their song and the beep bop dancers doing the Watusi for bad measure. How embarrassing even for that era.
Didn't see the beginning thank goodness but Andy was as glum as usual and never funny like the old daze. Pathetic especially Opie starting to boogie cuz he liked the beat. One big question why would a rock band want to record a song written by old ladies about a small hometown? I'll take the singing group that rents the Munster home and all the weirdos (including a bearded Zalman King) reciting bad poetry even Herman, and Lily plays a mean harp. Far out!
The Andy Griffith Show: Dinner at Eight (1967)
Just Dreadful and Sad
I was never a fan of seasons 6-8 so have been watching some I missed over the years. I remember this one and cannot believe all the favorable reviews of such a badly written fiasco. Who are these people liking this episode. Robert Fuller is the only one who states it plainly- bizarre and illogical.
First off what is up with Andy Taylor? He has completely changed character from a caring, savvy and level headed sort into an agitated, annoyed and bumbling grouch who always seems irritated. That isn't the Andy Taylor we knew with Barney. Now we have Goober who was one of the most obnoxious and unnecessary blockheads ever. Andy would have told that suitcase toting simpleton to get out of his house. He would not allow Goober to tell him what he was going to do on his night off ..... and cook in his kitchen? No way. That was the first weird thing. Then no way would Andy rush off to Howard's for another meal without calling to see if this oaf was right. Also when Crump called and Goober answered he would have realized, maybe, that he wouldn't have to cook now since Andy was invited to Crump's. Andy immediately accepts what Goober says as fact and goes off to eat again. The writing made no sense and was supposed to be funny with spaghetti all around.
Possibly the most dreadful episode ever written ever. I see why MeTV refuses to air the episodes minus Fife. Now Helen. How could Andy be so foolish as to put up with such a sullen, snotty and vindictive witch. She practically spits venom at him when he can't seem to stomach more pasta. Why didn't Andy just tell her on the phone I've already eaten and Goober screwed up? No way. Then Opie gives Andy a lecture in eating everything on your plate. This was funny?
Ending was so predicable when Aunt Bee surprises us all announcing more spaghetti. Griffith should have gone with his hunch to end the show after 5 seasons.
The Andy Griffith Show: The County Clerk (1966)
Love Reading Reviews
Right, Mabel Albertson as mother was a gem with her chronic pains and discomfort and we are introduced to Howard Sprague who lets his mother control him like a small boy. Helen, control freak, gets it into her head to plan a double date with Howard and the new county nurse. Howard acts like the last thing he wants to do is date a female.
I thought there were a few subtle laughs delivered by Andy especially at the restaurant but most unbelievable was that a woman like Miss Fairchild would be available for a date with Howard whom Opie even made fun of. Miss Fairchild was friendly, pretty, patient and almost perfect yet all Howard could think about was Mother. One would think he would at least be embarrassed by his relationship with her.
The Howard Sprague character was certainly an added bonus and was the main character in many future episodes. He seemed to show little interest in the county nurse but later when he meets the sister of the teenager he is trying to help he shirks his studying to be with her. Maybe Howard is a late bloomer. I really enjoyed the Howard episodes especially when he goes to a Caribbean island and throws a bachelor bash. Jack Dodson did a great job playing a guy who goes from being as dry as dust to an adventurous bachelor.
The Andy Griffith Show: The Wedding (1968)
Mayberry After Dark
I actually look forward to this episode. It should have been titled 'The Weird' as one reviewer revealed. TV Land really edits the heck out of the episode, cutting out the whole after wedding scene of his mother but shows Howard in his formal garb going home to a house all his own. They even cut out Goober asking a then unknown Teri Garr, a customer at his station, if she would like to go to a party out of desperation. When Howard reveals he's planning a new bachelor life for himself you know it's going to be far from typical especially with his new decor, bearskin rug and those pop art paintings. Talk about bizarre.
It's all quite hilarious how these actors Jack and George (Howard and Goober) are willing to play such uncool men put in embarrassing situations to get a date and being rejected. No guy wants to admit they can't get a date. Except of course Goober who has no real sense stating 'we couldn't get any girls.' Howard, being so rude to Emmet, not inviting him is totally out of character.
Just before the party starts we see Howard pretending to talk to his date as he lowers the lighting to not hurt her pretty eyes. It is the creepiest scene in the episode how he tries to look sexy and walks towards the camera to be interrupted by the bell. Another hilarious moment is Howard offering those stale cheese sandwiches or a bottle of pop. Those shoes of Howard and Goober jumping and hopping around the pillows as they dance with Helen fits right in with this very sad party. Helen looks like she's in pain dancing with the overly enthusiastic Goober. When Howard sits them down on those pillows to ask what they've been up to then pulls Helen up from her sitting position to dance with Andy you know this is one desperate attempt at fun.
I found the whole thing cringy but hilarious. The bash is a big yawn until Emmet shows up and brightens Helen's evening with his dance moves. I thought she was exhausted. Go man go!
The Andy Griffith Show: Aunt Bee's Big Moment (1968)
Aunt Bee Was Quite Accomplished
The person who should have been embarrassed about not having an exciting accomplishment should have been Goober. Aunt Bee did more than most of us. As indicated by others she went on a game show and won expensive prizes, won a trip to Mexico, opened a Chinese restaurant, had her own cooking show, was involved in a ridiculous summit and was picked to make a commercial. She also was a holdout on a jury and got to meet Jack before he became a major celeb.
Whereas Goober never did anything except eat a bunch of pancakes. Big deal. Howard bragged about his trip to the Caribbean but he hated it and Andy's and Helen's big moments were when they were kids. Stupid writing except for Aunt Bee's joy in being in the air.
The Andy Griffith Show: Opie's First Love (1967)
That Was Trey in Season 4
That Fred kid was so obnoxious. How could any girl go for a guy who keeps combing his hair? Even doing that awkward dancing he's touching his mane. They should have told the guy to tone it done. He was so much better as Trey.
Anyway this is a very embarrassing episode for everyone. When Opie decides to go to the party anyway, after Morgan Brittany throws him over for that Fred, he stands there in front of Mary Alice addressing partygoers like nice dress Susan and great party huh Clyde. Cringy!
I regret giving a thumbs up to that 8 stars rating. No guy would leave that brunette sitting on a couch. Also she's so popular she would be talking with other friends not sulking. I remember seeing lots of these parties in other shows in the 60's like My Three Sons and Brady Bunch with that generic boogie music, weird dancing and so awkward. Opie should have asked other girls to cut a rug.
When Opie sits down with Mary Alice and the camera pans back they immediately start talking with hand gestures and both talking at once it's so unnatural like the whole badly written episode.
They should have quit this show when Barney departed.
The Rifleman: The Guest (1963)
An Absurd Episode
One reviewer talked about that foolish extra large publicity shot of Lucas on the wall of a man who wants him dead and hires a suave hit man. That was actually hilarious to think you could find such a photo at that time. Why would he have such a huge photo? Ridiculous.
Anyhoo Mario, riding that same horse he rode as Baranca, is in the McCain house writing Luke a note. Lucas is upset at first for breaking in but "Any friend of Johnny's is a friend of theirs."
So Mario meets Mark and has some really intimate conversations like when he tells Mark how bad men killed his father. He really opens up to this kid. Mark has never met such a captivating soul and seems to have fallen in love with Mario. That's all I could think of. That Mark really liked Marty, the wild west promoter guy, who was really a crook but now he has found Mr. Right. Mario and Mark!
Mario has tried to kill Luke while he slept and thought of how much he cares for this really hot kid, Mark, and can't do it. Eventually he knows he must put his attraction for Mark aside and get on with his mission. As he stands there with this miniature gun he's ready to kill Lucas even professing his love for his son. However for some reason Mark is slinking around the barn this time not just riding in and sees Mario with the pistol. Once again Mark throws the rifle to Pa even though he should be able to kill Mario himself. I mean after all he looks about 25.
I loved the early years of this series when Mark was a little scrapper but this was just bizarre how Mark became almost like a female. Three stars for another funny part is when Lucas asks Mark what he's thinking about. "Well there's another guy dead in our yard we have to bury but Pa this one was my type for a change. Why did he have to go into the ground like all the others."
The Andy Griffith Show: The Return of Malcolm Merriweather (1964)
The Return of Malcolm Is Memorable
Don't understand why everyone has to dump all over the return of a great character. Malcolm was one of my favorites in the first appearance and loved all that typically British slang like all dressed up like a dog's dinner, a proper Charlie and a regular Bobby dazzler. When Malcolm returns to Mayberry this time to give Aunt Bee some time to herself you know it's going to be a gas.
Watching Malcolm entertain us with all those hilarious maneuvers and gestures like picking up his pants at the knees and skipping as well as 'You what' when asking where to find the soup ladle is most entertaining. Anyone else doing these moves would be cringeworthy but not Bernard Fox. Of course he could have explained to Andy it was time he was on his way and let Miss Bee take over but we wouldn't have that memorable spoof serving dinner. Opie was noticeably missing so as to have him not see Malcolm but he knows all about a snootful.
Aunt Bee shows a different side to her character playing her irritated and cross. I tend to think this could be the real Frances Bavier acting when something displeased her like bad language on the set. At times she could be a piece of work. Apparently she never talked to Knotts except when working.
Anyway I love Malcolm Merriweather and glad he returned for another laugh fest. You can keep the fun girls, Goober and Helen Crump but love the Darlings and Lydia Crosswaite.
My Three Sons: Two O'Clock Feeding (1969)
Show Keeps Getting Worse
I watch this show just to laugh at how poor it is. It never fails to have bad stiff acting, plot and dreadful writing. No matter the flimsy plot it is always predictable and when it's over you think 'is that it?' Uncle Charlie at least tries to be funny.
I'm reviewing only to comment on the actor playing the Johnny Crawford character. Early in the show in a brief scene the character is tall, dark hair and no glasses but in a later scene with MacMurray the character is shorter, dark blond hair and wearing glasses and not as handsome. Did the first actor, was it John Washbrook, decide to not show up? It is a completely different person. Maybe the show took so long to film later scenes he changed his appearance and shrunk. Either way it was so predicable and lame and once again girls are portrayed as frivolous and fickle. How it lasted over 9 seasons is as baffling as how Sarah Palin was presidential.
The Rifleman: Mark's Rifle (1962)
Poor Mark He Was So Wrong
In this one poor Mark acts like a very naive pantywaist. Season 5 never gave Johnny a chance to break out of that claustrophobic cocoon and shine like he should. He acts like Marty is his first real friend and gets too excited. There is no way that a kid Mark's age would not be a crack shot with a rifle being the son of Lucas McCain. However he is to never get the best of the rifleman. He actually misses every bottle and acts like a 10 year old. When Lucas taught that kid to shoot a rifle in Boomerang he tells Mark he'll teach him sometime. He doesn't.
Lucas shoots the burglar in the hotel through the door and it's Marty groaning and moaning acting like he was shot by another man running away. Everyone knows it is the charming Marty trying to rob Lou. Why is he protected and why does Micah not believe Lucas. The relationship between Mark and Marty is so overdone you think they are dating and Mark sees only good in him. Not a believable episode and Lucas is so insipid throughout he never smiles because for a change Mark isn't kowtowing to Pa until he delivers that lame apology.
Season 5 was the worst season as Mark was no longer a scrapper as he was in seasons 1-3 but rather laid back and subdued. He should have gotten better scripts and been good with a gun as Crawford could act.
The Big Valley: Miranda (1968)
Answer to zorob1-1
This is not so much a review but an answer to a question posed in a review. They wondered why Linda Evans was missing from many episodes in the 3rd season. When Evans got the role of Audra, Evans' then boyfriend John Derek, who later became her husband, did not want her to take the job. Later he wanted her out of the contract.
"He wanted me to get out of the show," Evans says of Derek, whom she later married and divorced. She tried to quit, but the producers would not agree. "As a result, I never even watched the show when it was on." Evans, who now lives in Washington state, admits that at the time "my dream was to be married, having children, not to be an actress. I would have been happy not to have done it." She completed the first two seasons but appears in very few episodes in seasons 3 and 4 and then only in a supporting role one episode she is mute.
My Three Sons: The Chameleon (1967)
Is The End in Sight?
No, this series kept on and on and on. I've seen this before and still think it is so wacky. Imagine agreeing to let some kid throw rocks at your head for fun? That Mike is a juvenile delinquent and they call what he-she does childish pranks. Right, throwing an explosive into a vase in someone's house is a prank? Even Uncle Charlie caves when he finds out Mike is a girl. Doesn't anyone think her behavior is dangerous?
Most of this crazy episode is filler, trying to get Ernie to play with this kid, Katie et al using psychology on Mike and calling the bumbling father for advice while on a business trip. Yes Steve Douglas was a strange father.
When Mike appears at the door all dressed up with bows, frills and white gloves to go to a dance with 4 eyes it's like did I miss something? I wanted to rate one star.
The Rifleman: Long Trek (1961)
Chapman's Acting First Rate
Lonny Chapman was so versatile that he can carry the episode as #3. He is really #1 in this episode. As others have told the story I'm just commenting on the superb acting of Connors, Fix and Chapman. As I watch this episode I think how realistic they all look after being without water and how it affects the brain. Even Lucas gets dizzy and one feels he'll go the way of Micah who is almost incapacitated.
It's Stanley at the end who does it for me with those antics of a madman as he loses it and starts thinking cool water is running his way. As time runs out for Stanley, horses return, a little digging brings the spring flowing and Lucas and Micah are saved.
Chapman was equally good in Devil Makes Five as a condemned man with wit but Long Trek really shows his abilities as an actor taunting and laughing then downright unhinged.
Poor Lucas had to probably bury Stanley good thing he had plenty of water and horses.
Gunsmoke: Root Down (1962)
Always Enjoy John Dehner
If I see John Deyner is in an episode then that's my go to episode. He's been in a dozen Gunsmokes and he has a way of acting that is real and genuine. Whether he's a no account or a prominent figure that voice and how he uses it is tops. In The Big Valley who was creepier than that murderous rawhider, Daddy Cade. Here he portrays a shiftless pa to a shiftless, angry son and vulnerable daughter who just wants to settle somewhere and find someone who might care about her especially since she appears to have quite a wardrobe for residing outside.
She decides she has to set out herself to Dodge and meet a man and lucky Chester is at the right place. As they often do, the casting picks an actress for a part that doesn't fit the character but will bring in the audience. Jackson is much too fetching as Aggie and would have no trouble with any man. Reminds me of the episodes, Take Her She's Cheap and Bad Seed both actresses were way too sexy and wonder how any man could resist them.
Anyway her only way to maybe catch Chester, who seems rather lukewarm about her, is to invite him to meet her father then delivers the news that they were together all night. Her old man, being a moral and noble father, yeah right decides a marriage should be in order. Aggie never wanted to bring harm to Chester but now he's almost a prisoner.
I think if Aggie had hung around Dodge for just an afternoon the boys would buzz around her like a honeycomb and she could take her pick. Even at the end when Aggie confesses that she lied about her and Chester and he rides off with Matt you still wonder why Chester bailed out. A plain girl would have been more believable but you're glad her future looks brighter as her pa promises to settle down somewhere so maybe there's hope?
The Waltons: The Family Tree (1978)
Best Episode of Season 6
I was very moved by this episode and very surprised as season 6 was in a transition period after John Boy left but we still had John, Olivia and Grandpa. I was never a real fan of Jason, but he holds his own in this episode, helping Verdie find her roots and the long difficult task involved.
When Verdie finds the graves of her grandparents and records in the church it was very emotional but when the minister tells her about that medallion she has you know she's getting closer. How kind of Jason to take her to visit the plantation where Verdie believes her ancestors were slaves and we get to meet Mrs. Unwin, a bigoted, hateful woman who has only animosity towards black people blaming them because they wanted their freedom. The war destroyed her but it doesn't give her the right to treat them so ruthlessly. Thanks to Jason, Verdie doesn't give up.
Grandpa goes with them and tells Mrs. Unwin that her attic papers could hold the key to Verdie's roots and please allow her that opportunity to search, as she knows her heritage well but Verdie's past is a mystery. Mrs. Unwin allows her to go to the attic and she is a very convincing actress.
Sadly we find that the old records cannot be read due to water damage. When Verdie discovers that an artist has made drawings of the occupants of that home years ago, and then finds her great grandfather, a slave, wearing the medallion and holding her grandfather, as a baby I got the shivers. Verdie's perseverance was rewarded and when she said 'Your people owned mine' it was quite a moment.
A truly stirring episode I thought it was about time.
Gunsmoke: Crooked Mile (1964)
Great Review By irrap
I decided to watch this again and remembered some of it. My first impression was that Kennedy was miscast as the obsessive father because he wasn't convincing as irrap said. I expected him any minute to burst out laughing and use that hayseed accent and dance around. Imagine an actor like John Anderson playing Ross's daddy? That guy could do anything. Speaking of great acting, I loved the memory of meeting up with the great Royal Dano. That small part in the beginning of Moby Dick was eerie and foreboding. I've been blown away by his career and loved him in The Rifleman but imagine he invites you over for a visit. You are one lucky dude, irrap. If there was one actor I could listen to it's Royal. What a voice. Even though Big Valley was rather hokey I enjoyed him greatly in Ladykiller as a cold blooded killer.
This episode shows us who could capture a character and who couldn't. Ross was effective but Reynolds sort of phoned it in. If I were a guy I'd have shown more passion about that beautiful girl.
Maybe if Kennedy played the hired killer and Dano the obsessive father it would have worked better. When Kennedy said 'God forgive me' at the grave he almost redeemed himself. Always love Festus and I laughed out loud when Festus and Quint see the short fuse on the keg and take time to look at each other!
Can you imagine George Kennedy won an Oscar for Cool Hand Luke and Dano not even an Emmy!!
My Three Sons: A Real Nice Time (1966)
Just Dreadful
I watch this tv show lately just because it is possibly one of the worst sitcoms ever and I wonder how it continued into over 8 seasons. I might have caught it occasionally growing up like when Katie joined the family and made fun of it. The writing, acting and directing was so substandard.
In this one just the idea of a movie star dropping in on a guy on his birthday was ludicrous but she does and that scene where Ernie shows Chip how to act elated then faint on the bed was cringe worthy but the whole series was cringeworthy. Stanley Livingston actually looked ill at ease like he hated doing the stuff. MacMurray went from an acceptable actor in film to playing a bumbling rather pathetic character with the same reaction to everything and that same deer in the headlights face.
I thought the whole concept of staging a publicity stunt with Chip and the girl was bizarre and Chip not the least interested in her was inane. I didn't think it could get any worse until they go out on a casual date and land down at the local soda fountain and started dancing. Jeeeeeez. Yes I watched the whole 30 minutes.
Chip should have been lucky someone that pretty would even look at him.
The Waltons: The Milestone (1977)
Another Clunker
As a woman I know a thing or two about menopause and never felt trapped, isolated, aggravated or needed to flee. Of course we knew all about menopause unlike Olivia. As a lot of women will say they didn't have time for menopause they were too busy. Olivia seems to have all the time in the world to runoff and see her aunt who seems to have a cure for everything, a great cup of nectar and a perfect doctor. She's one lucky woman she has someone to run to. I did get the physical signs maybe the hot flashes coming on but no moodiness or wanting to run off.
Every so often we have Ma or Pa Walton feeling the need to run off whether it's to prove they're still a man or just taken for granted around the house. So we have time now for another midlife crisis when the chips are down, but imagine a whole episode about a natural stage in life. Will they next profile Jim Bob discovering his pubescence?
I just think they were reaching in this episode for some kind of story but nothing happened. Olivia should have realized she had a great husband and family so what a selfish thing to run away like a teen. Just ask MaryEllen she'll diagnose you.
Jim Bob's predicament about wanting to work in Rockfish was more interesting. How did John's house frame fall down? Must have been pretty flimsy. Oh John Boy won't you please come home. 🎶 🎶
The Rifleman: Heller (1960)
Acting Was Top Notch
Wow I've been a Rifleman fan since I first watched in 1962. Still in 2023 I'm moved by the realistic acting and no schmaltz like say Bonanza. So glad this show is now available to capture a new audience as it is phenomenal in writing, acting and directing.
Heller is memorable and disturbing as lots of people grew up in such a home. I was rather afraid of my father when he drank so watching this as a kid hit home.
Heller must take matters into her own hands and confront the man who has ruined their lives since their mother is victimized and passive. When Heller played by Gigi Perreau tries to summon the courage to go after Bechtel and speaks to her dead father for help it's extraordinary acting and when she is talked down from killing him by Lucas well it's sealed. Beautiful girl and a powerhouse of emotions even at the end with that disappointing gesture when Lucas thinks of her as a daughter. Don Grady showed such talent, too bad he was wasted in My Three Sons. Of course Whitney can play a good guy and an evil guy. That's what I liked best about The Rifleman a drama that worked in every way. Only wish Gigi had won an Emmy for this episode.
Gunsmoke: Cody's Code (1962)
Rose Just Wasn't Convincing
The problem with this script was we never see Rose at all while Cody is nursing Brack Tracy back to health. We have a perfect father and son relationship with these two, one caring for the other and one appreciating the help. He even hides Brack in the attic when Chester comes looking.
All of a sudden this Rose drops in to Cody's house after many days and sees Brack. Even a mediocre actress could pull off a love at second sight but not Gloria. She's not convincing showing us she's now in love? With this young stud. Granted she appreciated how he defended her from Dukes but her acting was weak and not believable. Brack really would have been honorable to resist this harlot since she's spoken for but it's not the case. The guy, Koger, friend of Dukes had no real purpose and just filler to take up time, trying to find Brack first and kill him. I believe Dillon takes guns away from 3 men in this one. Dukes drank so much whiskey I'm surprised he could talk. Funny how no one ever got sick after too much drink in Dodge.
Caruso was good as Cody but as another reviewer said how did Cody and Rose get together? What was the attraction? A new house? We never learned why she was going to marry him. A better actress might have won me over but not enough time was given for her to fall for Brack.
Not one of my favorite episodes but an actress like say Patricia Barry or Joanna Moore might have brought Rose to life.
The Waltons: The Recluse (1977)
Another Clunker Like The Seashore
I guess it was nice of Jason to help out the woman who hadn't left her home in years but why did it take so long for someone to help her out. It was just like she came from a beam of light and landed in the house. I had seen it before and was never interested much. The other plot is Ben who decides to get on the bus and go to Norfolk for a change of scenery. Huh he knows he's needed at home at the mill. He finds that schyster car salesman is closing business and headed to Norfolk. He says he was hoping to work selling lemons full time when he graduates. Then suddenly he's headed to Norfolk. Mama Walton would never allow one of her brood to quit school.
Well that subplot is totally ridiculous. He gets a job right away, makes a friend and all of a sudden they're out to a Waikiki restaurant drinking umbrella drinks with two beauties. Ben is in love again. What happened to the car salesman's daughter? Only on the Waltons can someone like Ben be attractive to the ladies. I think he returns to the mountain he wouldn't want to be written out like Corby. Jason gets to meet women in these episodes but they're old enough to be his mother.
Season 6 started pretty bad and continued with really substandard stories. I bet Thomas was glad he packed it in.
Gunsmoke: Take Her, She's Cheap (1964)
Hope For Allie?
I've seen this now several times and can't do as well as other reviewers have but here's my opinion. The acting is top-notch especially Linda Watkins and Lauri Peters. Every episode with Watkins is a great watch.
Can't believe how a girl gets to be Allie's age and still innocent of men and danger. How did she stay so long with that no count father and brother? As she emerges from the thicket my first thought was wow beautiful teeth and sassy haircut. Long hair pulled back would be more desirable for a girl stuck on the prairie. I gradually looked past that as her character is so sweet and likable, throwing herself at Matt. And why wouldn't she? Seeing a tall, respectable lawman and comparing him to her clan. You can totally understand her mind set. When Allie walks in the dark all those miles to Dodge to find Matt, well that's hard enough but then to get raped by one of the most heinous dudes in the west, could she have had worse luck. That brother was equally lowlife to not defend her immediately.
When Dillon finds the rapist zonked out in a cabin and beats the crap out of him it's just about the best fight I've seen in Gunsmoke. The whole fight was choreographed like a dance. Having Allie see that guy again was a mistake and when Matt says 'It's all over.' Well he's not a young woman who was attacked. How Allie is allowed by Doc to mount a horse after a rape and not get her clean clothes and shoes was criminal. Miss Kitty would have taken her under her wing so she was missing in action so Matt could be her guardian.
The ending surprised me how he returned her to her kin still not having moved an inch. He did give her some confidence however. You get a bit optimistic when mother tells Allie how they should try talking more and maybe the days will go better. I don't know unless they decide to take the boys and leave that mister and brother, two of the worthless people on earth. Again this episode could have been a 10 if some good luck came Allie's way.
Gunsmoke: Bad Seed (1961)
Flimsy Episode
Yeah Anne was quite fetching in her jeans but I wonder how she could look so clean and well groomed living with a no count drunk.
I was rather perplexed how Trudy could be so mature and still be called a kid. Granted she was obviously a victim of incest but wonder why she waited so long to leave and how did she survive with that guy. Casting was off as Anne Helm was way too beautiful and too old as a dirt farmer's daughter with gorgeous teeth and someone like Colin Wilcox (Mayella in Mockingbird) or anyone a bit more homely could be more believable. There were plenty of plain looking girls under contract.
The way she became a rebellious wildcat was expected but all in all she was a victim of her upbringing and this type of subject matter was unusual for '61 but definitely needed more time to understand her character. Of course the episode wouldn't have the same appeal with the guys with a plain Jane.