In this fifth-season episode we find Beaver once again getting into a mess at school, but a more sophisticated mess than in his younger days. Beaver and Gilbert have an exam coming up in Mr. Blair's English class, and in order to help them prepare for it Wally gives them an old English exam of his to study. To the boys' shock and surprise, Mr. Blair's exam turns out to be identical to the practice exam! Naturally, both boys remember the answers, ace the test, and are duly congratulated by both Mr. Blair and their parents. But Beaver feels uneasy. He knows he doesn't deserve the high mark, and tells Ward so. (The fact that he chooses to go to Ward with his problem this time shows that he is making some progress!) Ward analyzes the situation with Beaver, explaining the difference between outright dishonesty and mere misrepresentation, which this apparently is. He advises Beaver to tell Mr. Blair everything and see how he decides to handle it.
What I most like about the episode is that it shows Beaver progressing beyond black-and-white ethical issues to the gray areas. Beaver's reaction to the situation, and his inherent honesty and integrity, are in strong contrast to Gilbert. Gilbert happily welcomes the high mark and is not about to rock the boat by confessing that he knew the answers ahead of time; moral complications don't faze him. In the end, though, he learns that "to whom much is given, much will be expected."
The role of Mr. Blair is taken by the wonderful Wendell Holmes, one of the best recurring players on the series (he also memorably played the alcoholic handyman in the third season "Beaver and Andy," as well as several other teachers throughout the course of the series). Supporting actors in LITB are occasionally wooden, but Holmes is always genuine and natural and warm, authoritative without being authoritarian. He epitomizes the kind of wise, understanding adults that populated this show. One subtle touch: Mr. Blair, during his scene with Beaver, expresses satisfaction in the solid moral upbringing Beaver is receiving at home, and declares that he would like to "meet that father of yours"; and the necktie Mr. Blair is wearing is recognizably the same one worn by Ward in other episodes. A suggestion of the bond between parent and teacher, perhaps? A visual parallel to the identical English exams? Knowing the thought and care that went into this series, I wouldn't be surprised if this were a deliberate piece of symbolism rather than a slip-up by the wardrobe department.
Earlier in the episode, Ward asks Wally what Mr. Blair is like. "Well," Wally answers, "he's the kind of guy who drives around in a convertible, but he never puts the top down." In Cleaver-land, it's the square and cautious who win the race.