"The Andy Griffith Show" A Wife for Andy (TV Episode 1963) Poster

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7/10
Barney Goes Over the Edge
Hitchcoc8 December 2019
When Barney believes that Andy isn't doing an adequate job raising Opie and needs a wife. Soon every eligible woman in Mayberry is showing up at Andy's door. Andy is supposed to check them out and choose the best one for himself. But Andy gets the upper hand again--as usual.
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7/10
Barney Goes Full-Tilt Obnoxious
AudioFileZ27 November 2023
At just 2:34, barely past the opening theme, the classic crossed arm Barney stare appears. And, Barney, in his deep knowledge of relationships and child-raising, of course, has something to say about Andy being both the mother and father to Opie. That Barney shares his uninformed opinion surprises no one.

This time Barney pulls what is close to an event. Assembling the most attractive single women in mass at Andy's house, Barney believes he can help Andy find Mrs. Right. Actually, Barney did good on one hand, but, hey, he's Barney and the whole is somehow always less than the parts. Andy takes offense.

While we've already met new school teacher, Helen Crump, this episode makes it clear the series will be throwing Andy and Helen together as Andy's new love interest. Barney shows his male chauvinism in hilarious fashion. Undernourished, uninformed, and uneducated is no way to go through life...unless you're Barney Fife and we wouldn't want it another way. And this is what makes this episode rise as Andy and Barney are at odds and the yin and yang is pretty entertaining.
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9/10
Barney at his worst
vitoscotti27 April 2022
The herding of the prospective wives was Barney at his most insensitive and obnoxious. Funny scenes Barney introducing Andy & Helen, grilling Helen, then disapproving of Helen. Especially like how angry Barney became as Helen gave the wrong answers to his grilling. Then serving uncooked leg of lamb to rush her out. Epilogue was weak just a redo of Barney's disappoval.
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8/10
I forbid you to see that girl
mloessel23 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is classic Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife at his interfering best. The Sheriff finally meets the lady he wants to court (aka Helen Crump). He enjoys her company and some other fine qualities unfortunately she can't cook and has a jealous streak a mile long. The jealous streak doesn't reveal itself until some episodes later. In the meantime Fife takes on the role of match maker and Helen doesn't make the cut. It is funny to see how bold Fife gets when he disagrees with the Sheriff about choosing Crump as the lady he wants to pursue. Fife decides to surprise Taylor with Mayberry's loveliest ladies inviting them to meet at Taylor's house for a supposed meeting with Fife's gal Thelma Lou. Tayor is not interested as Fife explains to Taylor why the ladies are there. Fife then thanks the ladies for coming and offers a flimsy excuse (starting a ladies softball team) as to the reason for meeting.

The writer gave the Sheriff more then a handful of lovely ladies to pursue. He started with Miss Ellie (aka Elanor Donaghue) who was a little too young. She was introduced in the first season as the niece of the Drugstore owner Fred Walker who ran Walker's Drugstore and didn't last past the first season. Unfortunatley, there was no chemistry and Taylor wasn't very comfortable in attempting to make an on screen romance believable. The chemistry issue was revealed in an interview with Eleanor some years later. And then we have three nurses: Julie Adams, Sue Ann Langdon and Peggy (aka Joanna Moore) followed by Thelma Lou's cousin Karen visiting from Arkansas. She was a championship skeet shooter that was equal too if not a little better at shooting then Taylor. Oh oh oh I'd be remiss if I forgot to mention Taylor's high school sweetheart Sharon. Sharon DeSpain (actress Peggy McKay) was introduced in the 'Class Reunion' episode. She was living and working in big city of Chicago where everything was at a quicker pace and there was more to do and see. Mayberry had become too slow a pace for her.

Of all the ladies Taylor has had in his life he chooses the one who can't cook and shows some insecuity whenever Taylor either innocently fiirts with or is with another woman. In time I liked that quality because her jealousy showed a flaw that was so out of place. She was a very dedicated teacher and was a good friend to Thelma Lou. When the courting dust finally settled Helen made the final cut becoming the future Mrs Andy Taylor.
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5/10
Over the top
bdrake-5398811 July 2023
I agree with one other reviewer. Barney, in his attempt find Andy a wife, was obnoxious and over the top.

What kind of friend would do that...acting obnoxious and of course a know it all.

That's the writing that gave Don Knotts this character. Patronizing, full of himself and arrogant. In other episodes such as The Choir, Don Knotts was hilarious. He made this show in the first five seasons.

This episode was a but much. Inviting all these unsuspecting women to Andy's house. Not approving of Helen ( of course Andy did marry Helen). The writers made Barney look like a know it all jerk. Knowing more than Andy. Insensitive to Andy's and Helen's feelings.
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