Divorce, Mountain Style

Love those Darlings.

Unfortunately, the daughter of the family (played by lovely Margaret Ann Peterson) wants a divorce from her husband Dub (guest star Bob Denver, who is hilarious) and wants to get involved with Andy.

Everyone shines in this episode, especially Don Knotts and Denver Pyle. And though they don't really interact much, how often do you get a glimpse Barney and Gilligan together?

This episode is best watched back to back with the initial Darling episode "The Darlings are Coming."

Naturally, when the Darlings come, they bring their brand of country music with them. If you hate that stuff (and how could you!) the music doesn't amount to a high percentage of the episode.

Charlene Darlin Wash hitchhikes to Mayberry and asks Sheriff Taylor to take her somewhere. She is very secretive about her destination and motives but Barney convinces Andy to go along. They arrive in a secluded wooded area and stop when the mountain girl spots a specific tree she is looking for. She then buries a sack near the tree and does incantations over the spot. Bernie explains that someone must be sick in the mountains and this is part of the cure. She motions for Andy to stand on her right side while she finishes the ceremony, unaware that it is a divorce incantation, not a spell for health. By his standing next to her, he unwittingly becomes her bridegroom. The episode revolves around Andy trying to escape being forced into marrying this mountain girl. Barney finds a book on mountain folk lore and tries to find a way out of this mess, only making matters worse in the process. This is a very strange and funny episode involving superstitions and ways of secretive mountain folk and their ways that are so different than those of the people in Mayberry. I'm often reminded of Beverly Hillbillies watching this episode because the mountain folk are very similar to the characters of that show. The character of Charlene in particular reminds me a great deal of Ellie May. The divorced husband who is upset and Andy and keeps wanting to fight is a very young Bob Denver before he stared in Gilligan's Island.

Seems like the idea well for Darlings scripts is ruining dry. Doesn't click until mid episode. The actors struggling seem to sense it's not working. Then as soon as Barney meets his white horse it picks up humor. A unique quick appearance of Floyd (Howard McNear) is fun. Bob Denver is very good as Dud #2.

Some terrific music throughout. Excellent epilogue with singing, and dancing. Even get to see Don Knotts dance. Such a great cast makes up for a wobbly script.

When Charlene Darling shows up at the station, Andy has no idea what trouble he is in. The whole family is soon there and Andy has been pulled into a rite of the mountain people, forcing him to marry Charlene. But Barney has a book of incantations that supplies an antidote. But it won't be easy. I hope this is the last of these Darling things. Interesting to see Bob Denver between Dobie Gillis and Gilligan's Island.