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Let’s take a look at the functions of the different characters.
The protagonist was the widowed Sheriff Andy Taylor. He had a shrewd mind hidden behind a good-old-boy smile. That was his secret weapon. The antagonists always underestimated him. His role was that of caretaker to a town full of people too innocent to protect themselves. His weakness was that he was too nice, bordering on enabling.
The protagonist was the widowed Sheriff Andy Taylor. He had a shrewd mind hidden behind a good-old-boy smile. That was his secret weapon. The antagonists always underestimated him. His role was that of caretaker to a town full of people too innocent to protect themselves. His weakness was that he was too nice, bordering on enabling.
This was apparent when dealing with his sidekick, Barney Fife. Bumbling Barney meant well, but was often more of a hindrance than a help. He occasionally redeemed himself by luck rather than skill.
Andy’s Aunt Bee acted as the sweet voice of reason, but she occasionally got it wrong and this offered mild interpersonal conflict.
Otis, the town drunk, was usually a hindrance or complication to solving the story problem.
Floyd, the Barber, was the town gossip with feathers for brains. His tidbits of information sometimes helped and sometimes hindered.
Opie was Andy’s son and often posed important thematic questions. He occasionally got into trouble.
Goober and Gomer Pyle were goofy gas station attendants who innocently interfered. Their station was the portal to the town.
Andy was occasionally given a love interest who offered interpersonal conflict based on the occasional jealous pang or misunderstanding.
The antagonists were a series of moonshiners and petty criminals passing through. Once in a while they dealt with a real criminal (bank robber).
The characters not only offered local color, they were the source of interpersonal conflict. They aided or impeded and sometimes brought trouble to their door.
Andy’s genuine love for them kept him motivated to save them from their own folly and the bad guys who passed through.
There were no special effects, no guns blazing, no brutal murders. Sheriff Taylor was a loving but firm disciplinarian with Opie (and the rest of the town). Mayberry was a sweet place to pass a summer’s evening full of genuine love and kindness.
I doubt storytelling will ever return to that level of innocence, but the world could use a little country comfort these days.
I doubt storytelling will ever return to that level of innocence, but the world could use a little country comfort these days.
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Thanks.
I've always loved Andy Griffith. My favorite episode was the Pickle episode.
Charles,
I LOVE the Andy Griffith show! As an adult, I watched the reruns so much that I quoted the Andy wisdom to coworkers and family members. My brother bought me an autographed sweatshirt bearing a photo of Gomer, Andy, Barney, and Opie.
I ashamed to admit this, but I don't recall the Pickle episode. I found it listed in Season Two, but I can't find any online clips of it. Now I feel bereft. I can't believe my Andy knowledge is incomplete. I got some TV watching to do!
Stephen,
Anytime!
I love Andy Griffith! and the pickle episode was sooo funny...if it is the one I'm thinking of, it is where Aunt Bea makes pickles for the fair...and it just gets funnier from there...ya gotta watch it...grin...
Andy said once (I think on Larry King) that the pickle episode was his personal favorite.
I loved Andy, Lucy and Dark Shadows - back in the day.
I don't know what that says about me.
If Pickles was tops for Andy, I must see it.
Aunt Bea wasn't one of my favorite characters. Some people describe her as warm, but I never got that feeling from her. She seemed like she'd be one of those legalistic church ladies to me. She just didn't come across as a sympathetic character.
Thanks - I love Any Griffith, too!
Great vid! :)
Merry Christmas Danette! Have a wonderful holiday and a happy new year!
Best,
E
Oh wow, thanks Danette. I haven't watched any of Andy's shows in ages. I must get the DVD sets. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!
I try doing this all the time . . . singing Christmas carols while walking around and interacting with people, but not talking to them . . . just singing, instead. But they don't let you. They say stuff like "Did you feed the cat yet?" and "What time did you say you wanted to go to church again?" and "Look, this present has my name on it and it's leaking!" Why can't life be more like Mayberry?
Oh, that was so wonderful! I loved every bit of it and sang right along with Andy. (Though at first I was a little worried lest his wife tell him to get the heck out with that guitar and stop messing around her holiday table and getting in the way...)
Thanks for that nostalgic little bit of Americana. My kids even sang along!
Ha! Susan! Perhaps you should up your game. Try banging pot lids at the climactic beats of your songs.
Mary,
Nothing says small town America like the Andy Griffith Show.
THis is really nice. I'm sorry I'm viewing it late, but it's timeless in a way.
Thanks for sharing this.
Hi, Danette! Hope you had a great holiday!!
FYI, I "reviewed" your first sentence in my "It's a Start" post today. Stop by and check it out!