The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) Opie and the Bully (1961) User Reviews

Sure to ruffle the feathers of some over-protective parents...

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 12 October 2010]

This is a very good episode of "The Andy Griffith Show", but I am also sure that some parents will freak out at the show's old fashioned message. As for me, I liked it and think it was generally very good advice.

Opie is being bullied by a kid at school. To keep from being beaten up, Opie has been giving the kid his lunch money. Andy begins to suspect something is up due to Opie's odd demeanor and once he learns that the boy has been getting lunch money from Aunt Bea AND him at the same time. Barney decides to help (and, for once, does a good job) and sees Opie begins threatened. Andy, however, does not want to directly confront the situation but teaches Opie vicariously to not give in to threats and intimidation by telling him the story of Steven Decatur and the Barbary Pirates (a fair parallel to Opie's problem). And, in the end, Opie takes a stand and comes back battered and bruised--but proud of himself and realizing that it really didn't hurt after all (a somewhat spurious statement, but cool nonetheless).

This episode is one of the non-comedic ones--which is not a bad thing. Unlike many sitcoms, "The Andy Griffith Show" was much more concerned with character development and teaching nice life lessons. On this account, this is a truly exceptional episode.

Ain't Opie adorable all battered and bruised?!

Wonderful example of parenting

[FlushingCaps · 8/10 · 3 March 2015]

At breakfast, we see Opie get a nickel for milk money at school--from Aunt Bee and then from Andy a minute later. We soon see Opie being bullied by a kid wanting his milk money, under the threat of a "knuckle sandwich." Opie evades Andy's questions about the extra nickel that night, but the next day, after Barney plays detective in the funniest scenes in the show--following Opie from about 15 feet behind--he learns what is happening and tells Andy about the bully.

Andy wisely says nothing directly to him, but takes him fishing, hoping to come up with an idea. As they are about to leave the fishing hole, Andy gets inspired. He tells Opie about an incident from his childhood--presumably made up, but we don't technically know. He tells about being a boy and getting bullied by a "Hodie Snitch." He concludes by telling Opie how getting a sock in the nose didn't hurt a bit. Opie keeps asking him about that as they walk home.

Opie is seen the next day confronting the bully, but we cut away right before a punch is thrown. Opie is most happy to learn that what Andy told him about a punch not really hurting was true, and he shows that he won the fight by returning the stolen nickels.

While there were some good laughs, largely from Barney, this was another tender story with a great lesson about how lecturing your kid is often not the best way to handle a problem. Andy's inspiring story of how he dealt with a similar situation was tremendous.

For the serious point made, I gave this an 8.

Touching Father and Son

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 28 November 2019]

Opie is a victim of bullying having to get money from Andy and Aunt Bee to pay the jerk off. It is a classic story where the victim is caught between a rock and a hard place. Andy does a masterful job of giving the little boy an out, though at great physical risk. Ronny Howard does another fine child acting job.

Captures the parent-child relationship in a most special way

[fguliuzza · 10/10 · 23 December 2006]

I know the episode where Opie saves the baby birds is often identified as THE classic show from this series but I would suggest that "Opie and the Bully" really showcases the relationship between Andy and Opie better than any other -- and let's face it, that's what made this program so special.

When Andy discovers that Opie has been paying off the bully, he takes his son fishing and shares a story about how he, Andy, was ordered away from their fishing hole by a bully when he, Andy, was a boy. He told Opie how he stood up to the bully and, after taking the punch in the nose that the bully had promised, he rose up to defend himself. Opie asked what happened after that. Andy told him, "We fished this spot today didn't we?" "Yeah," noted Opie, "yeah!" The next great scene is when Opie comes to Andy and asks him to hold his school clothes down at the office. Andy knows that the boy is going to face the bully and the tenderness his displays when he picked up Opie to hug him is just tremendous. The scene does an amazing job of showing the combination of pain and pride that a parent feels when they have to let their child go into the world knowing that the child is going to get hurt (whether the child is 6 or 36!).

Among the other great Andy-Opie moments certainly include Andy's parenting of Opie when the boy shoots the mother bird and a tremendously underrated episode where Opie makes friends with a telephone repairman named Mr. McBeeVee (where Andy demonstrates just how much he trusts his son -- when there's no rational basis for doing so).

How to handle a bully

[firstboy · 8/10 · 23 August 2022]

Opie was lucky that his dad knew he was being bullied. As is often true Opie was suffering in silence. But once his Dad knew about the bullying he guided, but did rescue, Opie by relating a parable about his own experience. The story had risk - even injury. But the point was that the fear of the bully and the humiliation of not resisting him was worse than any bloody nose or shiner that Opie might get. And that lesson is wonderfully illustrated by Opie wanting to keep that shiner as long as he can. This a terrific story of how a parent should help their child overcome bullying.

Season 2 starts the classic episodes

[vitoscotti · 8/10 · 27 February 2022]

Season 1 was figuring out how the Andy & Barney characters were at their best. Now in season 2 mostly gone is Andy's "No Time For Sergeants" cornball exaggerated southern accent silly character. Barney is now brighter, but still goofy hilariously funny. Not a constant clown. Soon, Aunt Bea's deep southern accent will be dwindled down.

The episode features a brilliant performance by Ronny Howard.

No weak PC parenting here. This is how life was in the 60s. Strong loving parents building high character in their kids. Today's wacky PC times are a huge contrast to this wonderful time. Being bullied is a life experience everyone can relate to. I'm surprised Andy told Opie to basically be a punching bag. But, instead be sure to get the first punch in if the bully persisted.

Not a lot of big laughs. More of a touching episode. But, a very solid episode.