Andy and Opie's Pal

I loved this episode so much, my second oldest son's middle name is Trey. He's 16 now. I love the Andy Griffitj show. Moral lessons, stories of friendship, and wholesome fun.

This is a sensitive and well conceived episode with a solid moral lesson. Opie has befriended a fatherless boy named Trey who is new in town. He introduces Trey to Andy, who also befriends him and in the process makes Opie jealous. What Opie does to sabotage the situation is one of his surprisingly duplicitous moments, to rival his behavior in "Opie's Rival." What's interesting in this episode is the way Andy and Barney's adult relationship is shown as being in some sense in parallel to Opie and Trey's childhood one. There is an affecting scene towards the end when Andy pretends to spurn Barney in front of Opie to give an idea of how Trey must have felt when Opie spurned him. The episode has a few flaws: Opie's jealousy mounts too quickly with too few causes, and later Andy realizes too easily what's going on. I suppose it's reasonable that with a twenty-five minute show you sometimes have to cut a few corners. The episode remains a fine one nonetheless.

Having no mother, Opie is more closely attached to Andy. When a new friend comes along, it is easy to see how special attention could be viewed with jealousy. Trey is a kid who has no father and just came to town. Opie does the right thing in befriending him, but complications arise. Barney is the worst example of being thin skinned and unforgiving.

The Trey / Opie friendship & conflict thing layed an egg. David Alan Bailey as Trey was miscast. But, even a better choice wouldn't help a bad script. The Andy / Trey mentoring & sleeping arrangements were odd huge misfires. Treys mother was a script absentee.

I'd give it 0* if not for a few funny Barney scenes. The apricot queen, gun going off, Mr sensitive. How could Barney's gun fire in his holster if his bullet is kept in his shirt pocket?

Very weak epilougue rehash of the apricot queen .