MovieChat Forums > The Big Valley (1965) Discussion > Episodes that are perfect 10s

Episodes that are perfect 10s

posted 8 years ago by jarrodmcdonald-1
19 replies | jump to latest

I've been keeping track of the episodes that I gave a rating of 10 on the IMDb. I'm watching them on disc and have just finished season 3. So when I get through season 4, I will probably add a few more 10s.

I'm interested to know if other people rate these as highly as I do:

SEASON 1 perfect 10s
THE ODYSSEY OF JUBAL TANNER
MY SON, MY SON
NIGHT OF THE WOLF
THE BRAWLERS
JUDGMENT IN HEAVEN
THE INVADERS
TEACHER OF OUTLAWS (my favorite episode from this season)
BARBARY RED
BY FORCE AND VIOLENCE
THE MIDAS MAN
LAST TRAIN TO THE FAIR

SEASON 2 perfect 10s
THE MARTYR
TARGET
HIDE THE CHILDREN
DAY OF THE COMET
WAGONLOAD OF DREAMS
BOY INTO MAN (my favorite episode from this season)
DOWN SHADOW STREET
THE LADY FROM MESA
DAYS OF GRACE

SEASON 3 perfect 10s
NIGHT IN A SMALL TOWN
LADYKILLER
THE DISAPPEARANCE
A NOOSE IS WAITING (my favorite episode from this season)
FOUR DAYS TO FURNACE HILL
DAYS OF WRATH
MIRANDA
SHADOW OF A GIANT
FALL OF A HERO
BOUNTY ON A BARKLEY

[–] PrometheusTree64 8 years ago

I also liked "In Silent Battle" in Season 4 -- it was effectively creepy despite the presence of BATMAN. I also liked "The Profit and the Lost".

My problem with "JUBAL TANNER" was how everyone pretended that it all turned out just fine in the end!

--
LBJ's mistress on JFK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcXeutDmuRA

[–] spasek 8 years ago

Season 1:

Forty Rifles
Odyssey of Jubal Tanner
My Son, My Son
The Murdered Party
Night of the Wolf
The Brawlers
By Fires Unseen
Under a Dark Star
The Death Merchant
Hazard
The River Monarch

Season 2:

Caesar's Wife
Target
The Velvet Trap
A Day of Terror
The Iron Box
Hide the Children
Down Shadow Street
Court Martial
Plunder
Turn of a Card
Showdown in Limbo
Lady from Mesa
Days of Grace

Season 3:

Flock of Trouble
Time after Midnight
The Disappearance
The Good Thieves
Days of Wrath
Shadow of a Giant
Bounty on a Barkley
The Challenge

Season 4:

They Called Her Delilah
Run of the Cat
Deathtown
The Jonah
The Long Ride
The Profit and the Lost
Joshua Watson
The Secret
The Other Face of Justice
Point and Counterpoint

[–] elvisforever-633-689384 8 years ago

Don't have any perfect 10's but some of my favorites are first season - Palms of Glory - Forty Rifles - The Brawlers - Winner Lose All - Night of the Wolf - By Fires Unseen - The Death Merchant and Season 2 - Lost Treasure - Legend of the General - Great Safe Robbery - Iron Box - season 3 - Night in a Small Town - Explosion - Night of the Executioner - Journey Into Violence The Good Thieves - Shadow of A Giant - Fall Of a Hero and season 4 - The Prize - Hunters Moon - Twenty Five Graves of Midas. Of course there are some others but these are all I could think of and I have a tendency towards the Heath and Nick episodes

[–] jarrodmcdonald-1 8 years ago

I finished watching season 4 today. So I can add these:

SEASON 4 perfect 10s
IN SILENT BATTLE (my favorite episode from this season)
THEY CALLED HER DELILAH
PRESUMED DEAD
RUN OF THE CAT
DEATHTOWN
THE JONAH
THE LONG RIDE
TOP OF THE STAIRS
THE SECRET
THE 25 GRAVES OF MIDAS
DANGER ROAD
POINT AND COUNTERPOINT

[–] cps617 8 years ago

My favorite ten are
BOOTS WITH MY FATHERS NAME
NIGHT OF THE WOLF
LAST STAGE TO SALT FLATS
SHOWDOWN IN LIMBO
25 GRAVES OF MIDAS
HAZARD
THEY CALLED HER DELILAH
THE MURDERED PARTY
RUN OF THE CAT
THE BRAWLERS

[–] jarrodmcdonald-1 8 years ago

25 GRAVES OF MIDAS

I like how this episode doesn't have a happy ending. They leave and we see Anne Baxter just sort of in the street. She's lost everything of value by that point, including her self-respect. And you can't help but wonder how she will get on with the rest of her life.

I also think this is a good example of a story that focused equally on two Barkleys. Many offerings put one member of the family in the foreground and everyone else plays a supporting role. But in this particular story, screen time is balanced between Nick and Heath. (Richard Long was behind the camera directing.)

[–] spasek 8 years ago

I agree. Anne Baxter is one of my favorite classic Hollywood actresses, and she more than proves why in this episode. She out-acted Bette Davis in "All About Eve" (in my opinion) and she also stole the spotlight in "Razor's Edge."

I know that Richard Long directed the episode, and I found it intriguing that Nick was the one who was sent to deal with Dutton and investigate the tragedy. This is not typically Nick's forte, as it is usually Jarrod, who is far more diplomatic as well as being a sharper investigator, to find out what happened and to try and set things right.

It was interesting to see Nick behave in an almost "Jarrod-like" manner in this episode.

[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

"Day of Terror" (?) with Colleen Dewhurst is amazing.

I agree about "The Lady From Mesa", one of my top five faves. It's low on
action, and a standard story and script, but Lee Grant should've been
Emmy nominated for her outstanding work as "Rosemary Williams." So many
layers, and you can just feel her pain when she relives her childhood
while talking to her unconscious father. This level of acting is very
rare on TV.

[–] spasek 8 years ago

A Day of Terror...can't believe I missed that one for my list. I'll add that one for sure. Indeed, it's just fantastic to watch two iconic actresses on screen together.

[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

"Annie" was obviously based on the "Ma Barker" legend ("Ma" and her outlaw
sons). The men who play Dewhurt's sons are also very good.

[–] PrometheusTree64 8 years ago

And Michael Burns half naked is always good value.

--

[–] chas437 8 years ago

I'm just getting around to rewatching this great series.

I just finished The Man from Nowhere. This had the potential to be one of the greats, but the ending was sort of botched. They never resolved key issues from the plot. How was the land dispute resolved? What happened to Libby?

[–] mlbroberts 8 years ago

I think you can deduce, from the last scene, that Libby sold out and moved out, and that was how the dispute was resolved. The question that remained for me is once she moves on, what does Libby do with that horrible mother-in-law? Ick, what a woman........

[–] chas437 8 years ago

The land issue wasn't resolved. I thought Jarrod said Libby's claim to the land was valid, and that's why he was on his way to visit her.

[–] mlbroberts 8 years ago

I thought he was sent to mediate rather than take sides, but I don't remember it that well.

[–] mlbroberts 8 years ago

I don't give 10s very much, so my list is short.

Season 1 - Palms of Glory - great intro episode, characters are more solid than ever

Season 2 - Court Martial- I like how it keeps you riveted as to what these guys are really going to do, then the plot twist at the end pulls your stomach out

Season 3 - Days of Wrath - I get caught up in watching Jarrod go so far against character

Season 4 - The Secret - I like the common sense plot solution at the end - who saves all these secret keepers from themselves

[–] phillindholm 8 years ago

Sheree North was wonderful in ''The Man From Nowhere'', and should have (at least) been nominated for an Emmy. Ditto Colleen Dewhurst for ''A Day Of Terror''.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

Season three: "Journey into Fear" is worth a nod just for Quentin Dean's outstanding and touching performance as a
young widow, who is the hapless daughter of religious freaks who kidnap Heath and accuse him of killing her husband.
Powerful ending, and a great final piece of dialogue for Majors.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

I cannot, for the life of me, understand why "Target" made so many top-ten lists, when it's such a boring hour.
There is no action to speak of, just James Whitmore yelling, screaming, and drinking all over the place. And Julie
Adams is sinfully wasted. Simply awful.