8 reviews
Beaver is quite right in this one
Beaver Won't Grow Up
"When I was a child," said St. Paul, "I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways."
But not Beaver Cleaver. While older brother Wally took on new responsibilities and grew into manhood, Beaver seemed to be perpetually straying back into childhood. In this episode, Beaver's parents want to give Beaver's old train set to Jimmy Battson, a little boy in the neighborhood. Beaver at first agrees because he knows he's outgrown it. However, as soon as he and Gilbert (Beaver's chief tempter in the two final seasons) dust off the set and play with it awhile, they become hooked on it and Beaver decides to keep it. He tells Wally to stave off the little boy when he comes to take back the train. But it's the boy's sister Georgia who comes, a sweet and very pretty lass about Wally's age. Wally is done for! He hands the train set over, and when Beaver finds out Wally "double-crossed him in order to get mushy with a girl," he's furious.
With Beaver yelling "Rat! Rat!" and locking himself in the bathroom, it's more or less a flashback to when he was eight years old, even though he's on the verge of entering high school. It's left to Ward to straighten Beaver out and talk him into acting his age.
Beaver's childish behavior is a bit disturbing, but this is a solid episode. The scene between Wally and Georgia ("She goes to boarding school and thinks she looks like Natalie Wood") is excellent. There's also an interesting comment from Ward speculating about Gilbert's dysfunctional parents, whom we never see.
But not Beaver Cleaver. While older brother Wally took on new responsibilities and grew into manhood, Beaver seemed to be perpetually straying back into childhood. In this episode, Beaver's parents want to give Beaver's old train set to Jimmy Battson, a little boy in the neighborhood. Beaver at first agrees because he knows he's outgrown it. However, as soon as he and Gilbert (Beaver's chief tempter in the two final seasons) dust off the set and play with it awhile, they become hooked on it and Beaver decides to keep it. He tells Wally to stave off the little boy when he comes to take back the train. But it's the boy's sister Georgia who comes, a sweet and very pretty lass about Wally's age. Wally is done for! He hands the train set over, and when Beaver finds out Wally "double-crossed him in order to get mushy with a girl," he's furious.
With Beaver yelling "Rat! Rat!" and locking himself in the bathroom, it's more or less a flashback to when he was eight years old, even though he's on the verge of entering high school. It's left to Ward to straighten Beaver out and talk him into acting his age.
Beaver's childish behavior is a bit disturbing, but this is a solid episode. The scene between Wally and Georgia ("She goes to boarding school and thinks she looks like Natalie Wood") is excellent. There's also an interesting comment from Ward speculating about Gilbert's dysfunctional parents, whom we never see.
- MichaelMartinDeSapio
- Apr 4, 2016
- Permalink
Beaver's at the in-between age
Beaver, as a pre-, early- teenager still having his childish moments is certainly not unusual in real-life.and the writers used that at times during this period. Heck, nowadays it's not unusual for a mid-20-year-old to be living with mom and dad and acting childish and irresponsible. A decent epi sode.
I'll also critique some other posts: If you can't write a coherent sentence (let alone a paragraph) don't bother. I have no idea what the next-previous poster (inicholsonlarry) is going on about and I suspect he doesn't either....
I'll also critique some other posts: If you can't write a coherent sentence (let alone a paragraph) don't bother. I have no idea what the next-previous poster (inicholsonlarry) is going on about and I suspect he doesn't either....
- pmike-11312
- Apr 5, 2022
- Permalink
Great one liners once again
Beaver: "How does a kid know when to stop acting like a kid?" Mathers meets the acting challenge of acting like a pre-adolescent.
Dow wants to flirt but holds back. A brilliantly nuanced scene. It's got all the Wally mannerisms: hands in the pocket, licking the lips, shuffling the feet.
Gilbert: "Why d'ya have to go and have them lover boy for a brother? " Gilbert is especially excellent in this episode. This kid has such a bright acting style. It's no wonder he grow up to be a successful filmmaker.
Ward lectures, June on the need to relax when he comes home from work. Classic. Always teasing and clever, never unkind.
Iconic American life once again rendered in perfect one-liners.
Dow wants to flirt but holds back. A brilliantly nuanced scene. It's got all the Wally mannerisms: hands in the pocket, licking the lips, shuffling the feet.
Gilbert: "Why d'ya have to go and have them lover boy for a brother? " Gilbert is especially excellent in this episode. This kid has such a bright acting style. It's no wonder he grow up to be a successful filmmaker.
Ward lectures, June on the need to relax when he comes home from work. Classic. Always teasing and clever, never unkind.
Iconic American life once again rendered in perfect one-liners.
- tim-jackson4
- Feb 19, 2023
- Permalink
One of my favorite, but most of them are...
I see other reviewers and their low ratings of individual Leave it to Beaver episodes and wonder if they are really die hard fans of the show. Even the episodes I like the least, I find are more enjoyable than most programs broadcast today.
As for this episode, it is one of my favorites and I think the actor who gives the best performance is Stephen Talbot. It seems as if the writers gave him some of the best lines in many of the episodes in which he appeared. I won't give you the exact lines, but I will tell you, that when Beaver and Gilbert confront Wally about what happened to Beaver's train set, put down your phone, if you use it while watching TV, practicing your multi-tasking skills, and just pay attention to that scene. You'll hear two of Gilbert's best lines in the entire series.
Enjoy this wholesome show. It's everything you would expect from a late 1950s and early 1960s family situation comedy and then add some quality production onto that.
As for this episode, it is one of my favorites and I think the actor who gives the best performance is Stephen Talbot. It seems as if the writers gave him some of the best lines in many of the episodes in which he appeared. I won't give you the exact lines, but I will tell you, that when Beaver and Gilbert confront Wally about what happened to Beaver's train set, put down your phone, if you use it while watching TV, practicing your multi-tasking skills, and just pay attention to that scene. You'll hear two of Gilbert's best lines in the entire series.
Enjoy this wholesome show. It's everything you would expect from a late 1950s and early 1960s family situation comedy and then add some quality production onto that.
- LeaveItToBeaverBooksDotCom
- Aug 15, 2022
- Permalink
A Very Childish Beaver (Again)
(*Gilbert Bates to Wally Cleaver quote*) - "You can't tell me to shut up. I'm not in your family."
Ho-hum. This was yet another predictable episode from Season 5 of TV's "Leave It to Beaver".
It seems that the scriptwriters don't want Beaver to grow up and so Beaver keeps doing really childish things even though he is about to turn 13.
Anyway - I didn't care at all for this particular episode.
Ho-hum. This was yet another predictable episode from Season 5 of TV's "Leave It to Beaver".
It seems that the scriptwriters don't want Beaver to grow up and so Beaver keeps doing really childish things even though he is about to turn 13.
Anyway - I didn't care at all for this particular episode.
- StrictlyConfidential
- Dec 14, 2020
- Permalink
Only average episode
Georgia (Toby Michaels), and Gilbert (Stephan Talbot) help to keep afloat a sinking episode. Wally mesmerized by Georgia is cute. Average at best episode.
- vitoscotti
- Jul 14, 2021
- Permalink
Same old same old.
If they keep giving away everything and blaming everybody for things Beaver lies about or conceals he'll never be a responsible adult with a decent job who won't be living with his mama for 30 years.........oh wait.....
Rather stale writing since Andy and Barney turned into robots over looking at a girl several times .......as did Richie,Ralph Mouth and Potsie.
- nicholsonlarry-72025
- Dec 28, 2021
- Permalink