Opie and the Bully (TAGS Episode)

Episode Info

Opie and the Bully

• S2.E1
• Filmed: 34
• Aired: 33
• Original Air Date: 1961/10/02
• Writer(s): David Adler
• Director: Bob Sweeney

Plot Summary

Andy learns Opie is being tormented by a local bully, who threatens him with pulverization until he gets Opie's lunch money. Andy decides to let Opie fight this battle on his own. Opie goes to face his nemesis, and Andy suffers as he waits for his son to return. Opie returns to the courthouse as the better man--he won the fight for his rights.

Plot

Andy Taylor, Mayberry's sheriff and a devoted father, noticed a peculiar pattern in Opie's behavior. First, Opie had asked Aunt Bee for a nickel, ostensibly for milk. Then, moments later, he approached Andy for another. Andy, sensing something amiss, pressed Opie for an explanation. However, Opie became evasive, employing a series of deflections and ultimately feigning sleep to avoid answering. Andy, respecting his son's privacy, decided to let the matter rest, though his curiosity remained piqued.

The following day, the puzzle deepened when Andy confided in Barney Fife, his deputy and friend. Barney revealed that Opie had also solicited a nickel from him. This revelation solidified Andy's suspicion that something was troubling his son. Barney, ever eager to play detective, decided to take matters into his own hands. He followed Opie home from school, discreetly observing his interactions. Barney's investigation uncovered a disturbing truth: a larger, more intimidating boy was extorting a nickel daily from Opie, threatening physical violence if he refused.

Barney, incensed by this bullying, immediately urged Andy to teach Opie how to fight. He believed a swift and decisive physical response was the answer. Andy, however, saw the situation differently. He recognized that Opie's reluctance to confront the bully stemmed from fear, not a lack of physical ability. He understood that simply teaching Opie to fight wouldn't address the underlying issue of fear and self-confidence.

Andy decided to employ a more subtle and insightful approach. He took Opie fishing, a favorite pastime, using the tranquil setting to impart a valuable life lesson. He recounted a story from his own childhood, describing how he discovered the very fishing spot they were enjoying. As a young boy, Andy had been confronted by a bully named Hodie Snitch, who had claimed the spot as his own and threatened Andy never to return. Andy, facing his own fear, had ultimately stood his ground, claiming his right to the spot.

This carefully crafted anecdote resonated with Opie. Andy's story wasn't about brute force, but about courage and self-assertion. It illustrated how overcoming fear could lead to personal discovery and empowerment. The message sank in, allowing Opie to recognize his own capacity for bravery.

The next day, Opie approached Andy with a request: a change of clothes to be delivered to the courthouse. Andy, understanding the unspoken message, complied. Later, Opie arrived at the courthouse with a visible black eye, a testament to his confrontation with the bully. Despite the injury, Opie radiated a sense of accomplishment and relief. He had faced his fear and stood up for himself. His shiner, far from being a source of shame, became a badge of honor, a symbol of his newfound courage. Opie was so proud of his battle scar that he resisted any attempts to treat it, savoring the tangible proof of his victory. The incident served as a powerful lesson for both father and son, highlighting the importance of addressing fear and fostering self-reliance.

Odd Facts Known by Few

• Writer David Adler also wrote 2 episodes of "The Dick Van Dyke Show".

• The map on the wall behind Andy's desk have now changed from a map of Nevada and an upside-down map of Idaho to a North Carolina map.

• Andy constructs the character "Hodie Snitch" to illustrate to Opie that everyone has to deal with a bully at some point in his life.

• Terry Dickenson, (Sheldon), also was one of "The Wildcats" in the episode, "Keeper of the Flame".

• In this episode viewers see the updated Courthouse/Jail set, which now includes a window, chair, and a heater next to the jail cells. This much more closely mimics the exterior set configuration of the courthouse. The side door to the left when entering the courthouse is gone. The wall light resembling a candle that was mounted where the window should be on the left when entering is also gone because there's a window there now.

• The layout of the Taylor's home changed in the second season when compared to the first season. This new general layout continued through most of the rest of the series.

• When Opie recites what the bully will do to him if he tells anyone, the order seems to be reversed of what would happen in reality: “first, you’ll pulverize me, then you’ll knock my block off, then you’ll give me the old one-two, then you’ll jump on me”.

• During the run of the series, Opie only gets one other black eye in the episode Opie's Girlfriend (S7.E1).

• Continuity - Andy holds a nickel while Opie asks him if he wants to know something, but when the camera angle changes for Opie's line "A sandwich sure tastes better with milk," Andy's hand is holding Opie's shoulder, not the nickel.

• The events of this episode are mentioned in Opie and Mike (S8.E28).

Opinion

This episode delivers a powerful portrayal of father-son love. A particularly poignant moment occurs when Opie, struggling to face a bully, confides in Andy before school. Andy's simple act of lifting Opie into his arms, conveying volumes of support through a silent, affectionate expression, provides him with the strength he needs.

Character List

• Andy Griffith - Andy Taylor
• Don Knotts - Barney Fife
• Ronny Howard - Opie Taylor
• Frances Bavier - Aunt Bee Taylor
• Terry Dickinson - Sheldon