Goober's girlfriend Flora (way out of his league) decides to fill-in for Goober at the garage while he goes on a fishing trip. Business booms as the sexy, tightly-dressed Flora pumps gas, adds oil, and washes windshields. She even finds plans to expand the business. All this makes Goober feel absolutely useless when he returns from his fishing trip. But Andy uses reverse psychology again to get people to do what he wants, suggesting that she and Goober will end up as successful but lonely careerists. Flora, not wanting to lose Goober, decides to quit, and all is back to normal.
Of course, dissuading a sharp and energetic woman like Flora to go into business for herself so she can stay home and mind the house while Goober pumps gas at the garage is completely sexist. But we must remember this TV show was produced about 55 years ago; while recognizing it was wrong, it's also wrong to project a modern morality on past times, as if we would have done/said different if we lived back then. We wouldn't. It's good times have changed, and a girl such as Flora would probably thrive today and get lots of encouragement.
Then when Goober comes back, instead of just telling Flora the truth (often the truth is avoided as a way to create tension, misunderstandings and comedy, but it's a horrible value to teach--just lie about your feelings to your significant others!), he lies and says he's got "business meetings" and he'll probably get some job at a big garage in Raleigh. Of course he's too proud to admit that he feels useless since she can do his job (which she can't, unless she's a mechanic, too--a significant plot hole). I notice that the truth is often discarded on this show in favor of making people feel good about themselves. Andy hates to make people feel bad about themselves, so he'll avoid the truth and flatter them or tell stories. This is part of Andy's charm. But when you think about it, there's a whole lot of lying to friends and loved ones on this show, even though mostly it's to avoid hurting their feelings, or the feelings of someone they know.
Of course, dissuading a sharp and energetic woman like Flora to go into business for herself so she can stay home and mind the house while Goober pumps gas at the garage is completely sexist. But we must remember this TV show was produced about 55 years ago; while recognizing it was wrong, it's also wrong to project a modern morality on past times, as if we would have done/said different if we lived back then. We wouldn't. It's good times have changed, and a girl such as Flora would probably thrive today and get lots of encouragement.
Then when Goober comes back, instead of just telling Flora the truth (often the truth is avoided as a way to create tension, misunderstandings and comedy, but it's a horrible value to teach--just lie about your feelings to your significant others!), he lies and says he's got "business meetings" and he'll probably get some job at a big garage in Raleigh. Of course he's too proud to admit that he feels useless since she can do his job (which she can't, unless she's a mechanic, too--a significant plot hole). I notice that the truth is often discarded on this show in favor of making people feel good about themselves. Andy hates to make people feel bad about themselves, so he'll avoid the truth and flatter them or tell stories. This is part of Andy's charm. But when you think about it, there's a whole lot of lying to friends and loved ones on this show, even though mostly it's to avoid hurting their feelings, or the feelings of someone they know.
