The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) Opie Loves Helen (1964) User Reviews

Opie's Growing Up

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 12 December 2019]

When the class is doing some dancing, Opie's partner isn't there, so Helen dances with him. He falls for her like a ton of bricks. He is soon starting to romance her, not realizing how absurd it is. Andy doesn't have a clue. Barney steps in when Opie needs advice. His frenetic response when he finds out the truth is a great Fife production.

Most humor comes from Don Knotts

[vitoscotti · 7/10 · 25 May 2022]

Without Don Knotts' I'd rate it 4*. He elevates it to 7*. One funny Andy/Opie scene is when Andy sees the gift is nylons.

Don Knotts steals the episode. Classic Juanita call, gloating about his dating prowess, love poems, then embarrassment finding out the crush is Helen.

Some funky courthouse door backdrop scenery when Andy leaves for Helen's to talk to Opie. Looks like a fence with a tarp.

Opie the romantic and Fife Mr tight

[mloessel · 8/10 · 22 January 2024]

In 'Opie Loves Helen' Opie develops a crush on Ms Crump (i.e. Helen) his teacher. He seeks advice from his dad and dad is not very helpful. He then goes to Deputy Fife and Fife (not knowing who the ladies is) has him choose a romantic poem from a book he has in his personal library. Opie suggests that he calls the girl up and recite a selected poem over the phone. Fife agrees to call her and recite some verses from the poem. All goes well until Fife learns that Opie has called his teacher. Ms Crump calls the sheriff's office and informs Deputy Fife the phone call he just had with Opie. This alarms Fife because he didn't know Opie was reciting the poem to her. Earlier in this episode Fife shares with Andy his dinner date with his girlfriend Thelma Lou. We learn that Fife is a tight wad and Thelma Lou is ok with his tight ways. Under normal circumstances Fife and Thelma Lou go out to dinner going dutch. He's ok with his girlfriend paying for her meal. But that's the character Don Knotts developed and he would leave at the end of 1965 at the height of tightness. He was brilliant and his desire to be a bit tight was so comical. So this scene where he's describing his experience at an Italian restaurant is a treasure. He feels he's done something special leaving a 25 cent tip. He considers himself a ladies' man and has three ladies that he romances in his 5 year stint as Deputy Fife. So we have Opie showing his romantic side and Deputy Fife sharing his dinner with Thelma Lou and he's covering the bill. What guy!

Opie learns who his father's girlfriend is.

[deblc-91334 · 23 December 2020]

At the end of the episode, Andy tells Opie that Helen is his girl. Opie is surprised and pleased to learn that. Interesting that he had no idea of that during the past year.

Utterly Charming "My Dear Opie"...

[[e-mail] · 9/10 · 2 August 2023]

It was when I watched the interactions between the very patient womans' shop owner and Opie culminating in her perfectly delivered: "My dear Opie, we are not going to find something for exactly 67 cents". That actress is perfect as is the whole show. Not silly nor funny enough for some, but absolutely heartwarming in a most realistic way. Actually there is a whole second half slightly less plausible part of the episode for those who aren't charmed by Opie's attempts to find the perfect gift with his limited finances.

For me, this episode has it all, including a good performance from Griffith besides a very good one from Barney and a wonderful one from Opie, all boosted by exceptional writing, highlighted in the closing scene when Opie recites that archaic poem from Barney to his classmate and she replies (shockingly) "sure"

Really Opie?

[chelcieblue · 4/10 · 27 January 2024]

I am more attracted to Thelma Lou. Opie is just backward and moving in on dad's best girl buying her something special and rather personal-stockings. Leave it to Andy to jump in with good advice about the stockings. Opie you are a lost cause,son. I know it's not my favorite episode but Barney steal the show but doesn't realize Opie has the hots for Crump. Thelma Lou is not uptight like Helen. Could have been better if Otis moved in on Thelma Lou,lol. Otis tickling Thelma Lou's feet .... Barney would be peeved indeed. ........... Andy had girlfriends before I liked EllieWalker from the first season the most.