This is a very good episode--and one that sets the stage for many future episodes involving Barney. Andy is going out of town for a short period of time and leaves Barney in charge. Barney insists that Andy shouldn't worry--he will take good care of the town. However, soon after Andy leaves, Barney's usual over-zealousness kicks in and he begins arresting people for the most trivial of crimes--and many of them aren't crimes at all. When Andy returns, the town is a mess and it takes him a lot of effort to straighten everything out--and in the process Barney is ridiculed by the community and demoralized. While Barney IS an incompetent boob, he's a nice incompetent boob and so Andy decides to come up with a plan to bolster Barney's confidence, as by now the Deputy is ready to resign.
This is a great episode to illustrate Andy's affection for Barney--something you just don't see in many sitcoms. Although Barney truly is an incompetent, Andy cares about him to much that he cannot let Barney down. And, in true Barney fashion, he really doesn't learn much of anything from the experience!! Classic--and a theme that you'll see in quite a few subsequent shows. Excellent all around and one you have to see.
This is a great episode to illustrate Andy's affection for Barney--something you just don't see in many sitcoms. Although Barney truly is an incompetent, Andy cares about him to much that he cannot let Barney down. And, in true Barney fashion, he really doesn't learn much of anything from the experience!! Classic--and a theme that you'll see in quite a few subsequent shows. Excellent all around and one you have to see.
