I love how Andy teaches discipline and character traits to Opie
on this episode. It's one of my all time favorites. These good old-fashioned values should be heeded more by parents today.

The Andy Griffith Show ran from 1960 until 1968 on CBS Network. The show’s target audience was that of rural, working-class Americans, specifically families. (Alderman, Moreau, Benjamin, 2011). The show focused on widower Sheriff Andy Taylor who lives with his young son Opie and his Aunt Bee in the small town of Mayberry, North Carolina. Andy served as a voice of reason throughout the series, a counterpart to his goofy lifelong friend, Deputy Barney Fife. Additionally, Mayberry is depicted as a simple, rural, and idyllic town with little crime. This appealed to numerous viewers, as many longed to see a “traditional community [with] values and attachments of the past.” (Alderman, Moreau, Benjamin, 2011). The show gave these people what they longed for and served as an escape from the calamity of the 1960s, from the Civil Rights Movement to the Vietnam War. This particular episode was entitled “Opie and the Spoiled Kid,” and aired on CBS during the show’s third season on February 18, 1963.
The episode centers on Taylor’s son, Opie, and his new friend, Arnold. Arnold has just moved to Mayberry and charms Opie with his $70 dollar bicycle, large allowance, and lack of chores. Arnold then teaches Opie how to get his way with his father, using tactics such as holding his breath, throwing a physical temper tantrum, and fake crying. However, Opie does not have any success in negotiating a higher allowance with his father by using these tactics. Later in the episode, Arnold rides his bike on the sidewalks in town and is given a warning from Deputy Barney Fife, as there is a town rule against riding bikes on sidewalks. Throughout the episode, we are given an image of Arnold that paints him as self-centered, arrogant, and immature. Arnold demonstrates all such characteristics when he ignores Deputy Fife’s warning and continues to ride his bike on the sidewalk. Sheriff Taylor stops him and impounds his bicycle, which causes Arnold’s enraged father to come to the sheriff’s office. After talking with Sheriff Taylor, Arnold’s father decides to sell the bicycle in order to teach his son a much-needed lesson. The episodes concludes with Opie realizing that he should not act like Arnold and that he should work hard for his allowance, which his father raises to 27 cents a week.
The episode is reflective of American ideals and attitudes regarding parenting at that time. As we see, Andy spends the entire episode staying true to his values regarding parenting. He believes that Opie should work hard for his allowance. We see Arnold’s behavior and how spoiled his is, as well as the negative consequences it has had upon him. The lesson is clear: teach your children hard work, rather than spoiling them. This idea was popular among parents at the time and was symbolic of American values. Additionally, the episode shows Andy as humble, hardworking, and middle-class, rather than arrogant and wealthy. During the 1960s, the idea of a middleclass, hardworking family became popular. The emphasis on Andy’s hard work is reflective of this.
Overall, I found the episode to be very enjoyable. It demonstrated a moral lesson in a way that was clever and interesting. The episode had a very sentimental tone to it, which appealed to audiences in the 1960s, as well as now. The characters in the episode were simple and moralistic, providing lessons to the audience. I think “Opie and the Spoiled Kid” is a great episode with a virtuous message that is reflective of the time period.

Hi, I'm Yugi Moto, and I enjoyed this TV episode. It's more fun than instant coffee!

Opie meets a spoiled kid, who quickly causes trouble for everybody.

"The Andy Griffith Show" was both critically acclaimed and got high ratings (During the season this episode is from, It was ranked 6th in the ratings).

This episode has many hilarious moments, as well as a great storyline. It's a very classy sitcom, and shows like this are why CBS became known as the
"Tiffiny Network".

"The Andy Griffith Show" IS a very good show.