Three Wishes for Opie

This is my sixth favorite episode of the show, here it's something different as we get into supernatural territory. It's funny as it's sort of a case of punchline and payoff with every wish. I really love how Barney reacts to the whole thing, nervous and excited about the whole thing.

Throughout the episode we are sort of pulled in two directions where on one hand were skeptical but on another, we almost are believers. It's interesting how each wish comes true, you could easily dismiss as pure coincidence but then again it almost seems rather strange that those things immediately came true just as Opie spoken the wish.

My favorite scene is seeing Barney along with Floyd and Gubber are testing the waters in a Tarot ritual. It's just funny how all three are reacting as all three are clearly spooked out. It's even funnier when we see Barney makes a wish, it comes true and he is just shaking in his boots.

Whether it's just pure coincidence or even higher forces at work, I leave that up to you. But as an old saying goes, "You got to wonder."

Rating: 4 stars

I thought director Howard Morris had (Helen Crump) Aneta Corsaut over do it with her anger at the beginning. She's been through it before. And why didn't she put 2 + 2 together that Barney might be at it again. After that misfire it was a stellar episode.

Bsrney delving into the occult was very clever. Great scene in tho courthouse back room with scaredy cats Barney, Floyd, and Goober. Some classic Floyd, "Oh my, oh my...yes, yes".

I like how Opie stood up to Barney and set him straight on what he said, and didn't say. A terrific epilogue with always funny Barney barging in on Andy and Helen.

As season five continues its slide towards the inferior "color episodes", we get another example of how the show was able to mine laughs from Barney and his minions (this time its Goober and Floyd). Barney buys a fortune telling set from a police auction supposedly confiscated from a band of gypsies, and soon the cards align and grant Opie three wishes. As each wish comes true (by some coincidences), Barney gains more and more confidence in the powers of the "Count". When Opie starts to make his third and final wish Barney cuts him short and assumes he is wishing that his Pa and Helen would get married. This sets up a series of flashbacks as Andy explains the goings on to Helen, who by this time is very upset that everyone in town thinks she is getting married. A good episode with some classic Barney moments (e.g. the seance in the back room of the courthouse).

... Airing on December 21 1964, his would have been the Christmas episode for TAGS normally, but instead we get an episode with an eerie paranormal vibe to it. It's also the only episode of TAGS that I recall having a flashback to it.

Andy discovers that people all over town think he and Helen are getting married - of course Barney is to blame. But now Helen is mad at Andy for presuming that they are engaged since he hasn't even asked her to marry him, and now he has to smooth things over. This is where the flashback portion takes place as Andy explains to Helen what happened.

Apparently Barney got a fortune telling set at an auction that involves invoking the 200 year old spirit of one Count Isvan Taleki. As a result of this fortune telling set, Opie is granted three wishes. Will any or all come true? If so, is there a logical explanation? Watch and find out.

This is one of the best-written episodes of TAGS, especially in the way it makes such good use of supporting cast members: Helen - it's consistent with her character that she would be initially outraged thinking that Andy was being chauvinistic toward her and stubbornly refuse his attempts to set the record straight , but afterward be understanding and even entertained by his recounting of the story; Floyd and Goober - it's hilarious and totally believable that they would take seriously Barney and his fascination with the paranormal. Opie - he shows his character's growing maturity in how he doesn't quite buy in to Barney's excitement in the Count initially and wants to see what happens with his wishes. The episode is also very efficient the way it tells a fairly intricate tale and wraps everything up neatly with a great comic twist finish all within 30 minutes.

Barney and the supernatural is always a combination for good comedy. Add Goober and Floyd to the mix and you get a hilarious combination of the super-funny! Barney buys some fortune telling cards and an old lamp. He gets a book learns just enough to earn some laughs. Opie gets 3 wishes, 2 of which come true as does a wish that Barney makes. Andy, as always, tries to bring some common sense to the table but as everyone knows, when Barney gets on a tear, he's gonna be on it until it runs its course. The séance scene with Barney, Floyd and Goober is classic and makes this one of the best TAGS episodes ever.

I won't spoil the ending for you but you won't be disappointed.