Perfect Female, The (TAGS Episode)
Contents
Episode Info
The Perfect Female
- S2.E8
- Filmed: 37
- Aired: 40
- Original Air Date: 1961/11/27
- Writer(s): Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart
- Director: Bob Sweeney
Plot Summary
Once again a feminist theme is brought to the fore when Thelma Lou arranges a blind date between her visiting cousin and Andy. To everyone's surprise, they hit it off, but the relationship collapses when Karen Moore takes up a shotgun and shows Andy that she is not the usual delicate female. After Andy gets a good dressing-down, he admits the error of his ways.
Summary
The episode begins with the introduction of Karen Moore, played by Gail Davis, who is Thelma Lou's cousin visiting Mayberry. The plot centers on Barney Fife and Thelma Lou's decision to play matchmaker, setting up a blind date between Andy Taylor and Karen. Initially skeptical, Andy agrees to meet Karen, and their first encounter is arranged to seem accidental, a common trope in the series for facilitating romantic pairings.
Andy and Karen quickly find common ground, sharing interests in shooting, music, and singing. Their chemistry is evident during a date that includes crow shooting, an activity that surprises Barney, reflecting his traditional views on gender roles. This shared interest in shooting sets the stage for the episode's central conflict, as Andy, unaware of Karen's expertise, tries to impress her with his own shooting skills.
The turning point comes when Barney, in his characteristic clumsiness, tells Thelma Lou that Andy has been "checking out" Karen, suggesting Andy views her as a commodity. Thelma Lou, misunderstanding the comment, relays it to Karen, leading her to believe Andy has an inflated ego. Motivated to teach him a lesson, Karen decides to compete against Andy in the annual skeet shooting competition, leveraging her status as a champion shooter, a detail unknown to Andy and Barney at the outset.
At the competition, Karen outperforms Andy, winning decisively and surprising the townspeople. This victory serves as a humorous yet pointed commentary on gender expectations, with Karen's skills challenging the notion that shooting is a predominantly male activity. The episode concludes with a comedic scene where Karen handles a pistol, and Barney's gun accidentally discharges, a recurring gag that reinforces the lighthearted tone of the series.
The episode subtly addresses gender roles, particularly through Karen's shooting prowess. In the early 1960s, shooting was often seen as a male-dominated activity, and Karen's success challenges these norms, aligning with Gail Davis's real-life background as an expert trick shot artist, known for her role as Annie Oakley in the 1950s series Annie Oakley. This connection adds authenticity to her character's skills, enhancing the episode's commentary.
The narrative also explores themes of misunderstanding and communication, with Barney's gaffe driving the plot. This reflects the series' broader focus on small-town dynamics, where personal interactions often lead to comedic resolutions, reinforcing the community's tight-knit nature.
Odd Facts Known by Few
- Gail Davis, who plays Karen Moore, was actually an expert trick shot artist off-screen and starred as the legendary sharpshooter in "Annie Oakley", a TV series in 1954-1956.
- In playing Thelma Lou's cousin from Arkansas, Gail Davis provides an authentic Arkansas accent. She grew up in Little Rock.
- Although Gail Davis's character is called Karen Moore, at the coffee shop, Thelma Lou calls her cousin "Karen Worth"
- Karen and Andy competed against each other in a shooting contest and Karen won. Gail Davis, the actress who played Karen, previously starred as the title character in Annie Oakley (1954), who was, among other things, a skilled shooter.
- This was the last acting credit for Gail Davis.
- Most of the wooded scenes in the series were shot in and around the Franklin Canyon Reservoir, an easy access for the Desilu production company. However, the rock formations behind Andy and Karen in the crow shooting scene suggest they shot the scene further north up at the Sage Ranch Park, or Iverson Movie Ranch in the Simi Valley hill country.
- This episode features the fourth incident of a gun misfire by Barney, this time in the epilogue at the shooting range.
- Gail Davis's last acting credit was in this episode, marking a notable end to her career, which included her iconic role as Annie Oakley, known for her shooting expertise.
More Information
Character List
- Andy Griffith - Andy Taylor
- Don Knotts - Barney Fife
- Ronny Howard - Opie Taylor
- Frances Bavier - Aunt Bee Taylor
- Betty Lynn - Thelma Lou
- Gail Davis - Karen Moore
- Alfred Hopson - skeet match referee
