Well, there's been some discussion lately about the "Prisoner of Love" episode, so I decided to re-watch that one and think about Holland's question. I have found it interesting to note the differences in how men and women have responded so far. It seems to me that Harvey Bullock, the writer, was intentionally vague as to Andy's motive for returning to the court house. However, I'll offer my own opinion.
Obviously, both Andy and Barney are initially smitten with the lady prisoner. But I think the turning point comes when Andy leaves the court house and goes home. He realizes that he needs to separate himself from the temptation. While he's at home, he's turning all this over in his mind (Aunt Bee says he's restless). Yes, as a man, Andy appreciates the woman's beauty and the scent of her perfume. But he's also thinking about the fact that she is a criminal and he is the sheriff. He may be mulling over how she tried to manipulate him and how he nearly fell into her trap. And he's probably thinking that if he nearly did, Barney was sure to! Andy is no fool. He's always a keen judge of character, so I don't think he would allow himself to get into a dangerous situation with the woman twice. Rather, I think Andy realized that leaving Barney alone with that woman was not a good idea. Yes, Andy may have wanted to see her again, but I don't think that was his primary motive for returning to the court house. I have always found this to be a curious episode, and I wonder if Mr. Bullock purposely wanted to show a weaker side of Andy and expose some vulnerability that we don't normally see by using a very attractive and subtly manipulative woman. I can understand that, intellectually. Still, I find Andy out of character in this episode. We expect Barney to be easy prey to a wily woman, but not Andy. And then there are the ethical and legal issues. Was it appropriate for a male officer to be alone with a female prisoner? It wasn't in "Andy and the Woman Speeder" from season two. Remember, Andy said a female prisoner had to have a matron at the jail, so he brought in Aunt Bee. But that is overlooked in this episode (glaringly so). Also, what charges would Andy have been subject to if he had not been interrupted by Barney and had actually kissed the prisoner? Seems to me that would have been pretty serious. I think Andy lives by the maxim, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." He wouldn't have returned to the court house to deliberately fall into the prisoner's very alluring trap. Thelma Lou (Janet) _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
