Class Reunion

This one episode contains much of what made The Andy Griffith show great even though it doesn't have appearances by Opie or Aunt Bee. How? Because it has perfect examples of the show's humor (Barney's landlady growing mushrooms in her basement 'for fun and profit') but also more serious moments, such as when Andy meets his old high school flame at their class reunion. They wonder why they ever broke up, but as they discuss old times and current days, they remember that they split up over having different goals and dreams for the future. Meanwhile, Barney was anticipating seeing his old heart throb and hoping she won't make a fool of herself when she sees him. Quite the contrary, she doesn't recognize him, in fact she doesn't even remember him.

The episode ends with Andy and Barney cleaning up after the reunion, and sort of re-capping the evening. Barney says it makes him kind of sad, seeing the people they went to school with, and how they're all getting older. Repeating a phrase that had been written in one of their high school yearbooks, Andy asks Barney, "Do the tears on your pillow bespeak the pain that's in your heart?" Barney kind of chuckles, but wistfully says "Yeah..." and Andy says "Me too." After a moment's pause to reflect, they get back to their clean-up. That's the ending of the episode, and probably one of the finest ones that ever aired.

Perhaps the most romantic episode of the series. A very touching story written by Greenbaum and Fritzell. Andy and Barney are not caricatures by this point of the series (and especially with these two writers) but believable characters with real lives. From the third season, which along with season four, are the peak of the series. The writing is the best in these two seasons. Andy is very good here as is Peggy McCay in the role of Sharon DeSpain. The relationship, emotions,the sense of loss are all believable. What might have been.

The final scene with Andy and Barney is brilliant. Two life long friends who have both had their share of pain.

You've heard the phrase: you can't go back". It's catchy and in it is some kind of bigger universal truth we'll all face on different levels. Here's another popular phrase: "time waits for no one". Time is the separator of what was, what is, and what will be. I can see why Pink Floyd wrote a song simply about it on an elemental level. It's a constant that all of existence must bow to. Well, enough of that and back to that you can't go back. In fact, you can, and folks constantly do with functions like class reunions. In the end what the bottom line is you can't go back save for all those great, even painful, memories...but, you must move forward as that is what life is all about. Great episode that makes one ponder a big question.

This episode is just ok. It's certainly shows there wasn't much continuity in the series. Later, in the color episodes Andy and Barney go to a class of '48 reunion. (huh?). Thelma Lou comes back, married. Hmmm.

In this episode, Andy is reunited with his high school sweetheart. We learn that they drifted apart after high school. At some point after that, Andy fell in love with a nameless woman, married her, had a son with her, and lost her for unknown reasons. The interesting thing is while Andy and his old girlfriend are catching up, there is no mention of his son or lost wife. At some points in the series, it's almost like it never happened.