In our household we revere season 5 as the best. It's quicker and easier to name the few episodes that aren't classics in that season rather than name the slew that are. Season 4 just barely trails it, and season 3 is just a wee bit farther back. I think from about midway through season 3 to near the end of season 5 is the prime cut of TAGS episodes---the best of the best. So that would make season 5 the best of the best of the best in my book. After that it gets a little difficult. For me, it's a tossup between seasons 2 and 7 next. Season 2 has my favorite episode, "Barney and the Choir," and plenty of other greats, but I think Don Knotts was still perfecting the character at that point, and neither Gomer nor Goober are on the scene. Season 7 also has a few of the light classics, and I love the strong role of Howard Sprague supporting Goober (and all the others) in comic relief, along with Floyd's final set of appearances on the show. But overall, I'd say it's only as close to perfect as, say, the heart of Tokyo is to Beijing (think how long it'd take Mrs. Lesh to drive that distance if she could!).
Following those up for me are seasons 1 and 8. They both still pack plenty of great episodes, but neither were firing on all cylinders. In season 1, the comic timing (and respective roles) of Andy and Barney is still being worked out---a pleasure to watch, but just not as consistently hilarious as the more straight-toned Andy and overconfident Barney in the rest of the series. Likewise, Andy has some homey moments with Ellie, but the comic and romantic chemistry doesn't stack up against Andy and Peg or Andy and Helen. In season 1, we also don't have Gomer or Goober, not to mention the Ernest T. or the Darlings; the major characters who are already on stage (Floyd, Otis, Bertha/Clara) were still being perfected as well. We do have Mayor Pike, though---one of my favorite minor characters. As for season 8, what's ironic is that another of my minor complaints about season 1---that Aunt Bee is too dependent a character---is reversed into a complaint about season 8, when I think some of Aunt Bee's adventures go slightly too far. (Since she only learned to drive in season 6 but is flying solo in season 8, I'm surprised she didn't take a cue from The Reluctant Astronaut and start spacewalking in Mayberry RFD!) More serious is Floyd's absence, though I enjoy watching Emmett. And finally there's season 6, which is sort of like a reprise of the unsteadiness of season 1, but without Barney. Again, there are some strong episodes; we meet Howard and continue to see Goober develop. I think had the character of Warren been continued and better developed, those episodes would stand out more as well in retrospect. But on the whole I think the episodes were definitely less polished as the writers scrambled to create a Mayberry without Barney. (Yet, in another bit of irony, I find the two season 6 episodes *with* Barney almost too poignant to watch.) Of course, I'll still take Aunt Bee learning to fly or Thelma Lou introducing her husband to Barney over today's TV! --A deceitful wretch hiding out in Oxford, Ohio _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
