The Big Valley (TV Series) Guilty (1967) User Reviews

Jarrod is haunted by a local conviction and tries to help

[kfo9494 · 8/10 · 11 March 2013]

In this episode, Jarrod is distraught about a man, Jeff Bowden, he defended in court yet was convicted of killing a local priest. Jarrod has concerns about the witness's story and the verdict haunts him. But it just so happens that on Bowden's trip to prison, Bowden escapes and heads back to Stockton where his wife is due to have a baby.

In other character's situation, Audra is substituting for the local school-teacher and spends her days teaching the children. But it just so happens that Bowden takes refuge in the schoolhouse and holds Audra and the kids hostage as he thinks of a way to escape and see his wife.

Jarrod intervenes in the plight of the children and tries to get Bowden to lay eyes on his newborn son. But during the visit, Jarrod will learn that his feeling for the convicted man is misplaced.

Nothing really stand out about this episode but it did hold interest to the very end. The script was interesting since the episode ended in a manner that was unforeseen from what was expected. A nicely acted show that was a good and entertaining watch.

Trapped and doomed

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 23 April 2016]

The whole Barkley family with the exception of Lee Majors who is not in this episode is in crisis. Norman Alden who was defended unsuccessfully in court for robbing a church and killing a priest escapes on his way to jail. Wife Joyce Ebert is expecting any day now and Alden wants to see his new child.

In escaping Alden takes refuge in the schoolhouse where Linda Evans is substitute teaching. Richard Long who was Alden's attorney still acts on behalf of his client. And Barbara Stanwyck and Peter Breck are both pretty nervous standing around not knowing what to do.

The scenes with Richard Long and Norman Alden are what highlight this episode. Alden is first rate as a man both trapped and doomed by the court and his own conscience.

Worth watching for Norman Alden.

A Very Heady Episode

[mlbroberts · 8/10 · 25 July 2021]

A lot of the action in this episode is internal. Jarrod is haunted after his client, Jeff Bowden, is convicted of a murder he believes the man did not commit, but on the way to prison, Bowden escapes and comes back to town, to see his wife give birth. Bowden gets cornered in the schoolhouse where Audra Barkley is substitute teaching. One of the kids - the son of the man who testified against Bowden and who is freaking out because he thinks Bowden is out to get him - escapes and sounds the alarm.

Jarrod goes into the schoolhouse alone to try to get Bowden to let the school kids and his sister free, then ends up helping Bowden escape yet again so he can go home and see his wife and then turn himself in. Meanwhile, his wife has had a son, and Bowden gets to spend a moment with them, holding the baby's hand. But then Bowden turns on Jarrod, refuses to turn himself in, and a shootout in the street ensues as he tries to escape one more time. The final revelation comes and in the end, everyone - especially Jarrod - has truth to face.

Many of the "Jarrod" episodes were thinking episodes, containing a lot of what happens when things aren't what they seem and how do you face the truth when you finally have to.

The valley is big enough for all kinds of people

[jarrodmcdonald-1 · 20 September 2016]

A story like this seems almost too ambitious for a 48 minute western TV show. A lot more could have been explored with the townsfolk and how they might be divided about a man being sent to jail for a crime someone else may have committed. And definitely, a lot more could have been done when he escapes and comes back to town to even the score.

As it is, some of the scenes with the sheriff and his deputized men seem a little lackluster. It's like they are just aimlessly wandering around waiting for the fugitive to show himself or for someone to come forward with a tip on his whereabouts. Of course, that does happen when a druggist's son races down main street to tell everyone the wanted man has taken refuge inside the local school. A place where Audra just so happens to be working as a substitute teacher.

I thought the scenes inside the schoolhouse were interesting, but the action crawled to a snail's pace. During the third act, the viewer is made to wait for something to finally happen. After considerable delay, the sheriff and his posse do arrive at the school. Jarrod is with them, sworn in as one of the deputies, because he hopes to appeal to his former client's sense of decency.

While certain tensions are not explored in depth, and the action builds rather slowly, there are still some worthwhile moments in the episode. One of these moments comes midway into the story when Victoria is shopping for a present for the fugitive's newborn child. She has a very sharp conversation with the store owner about their valley being big enough for all kinds of people, and that a convicted man's wife and baby do not deserve to be called trash.