Customer Reviews
Back to Mayberry - By: Homeschool Mommy, 16 Jul 2008 
Like most shows, the second season is where the actors have more or less found their feet & reallly have settled into their characters. Likewise the writers have come more fully to grips with the reality they are creating with the show, & it becomes smooth sailing. This is also true of Andy Griffith's second series, & it goes from strength to strength here. The continuing story of the smalll, sleepy town of Mayberry in the North Carolina hills & its eccentric townspeople as experienced by single parent Sheriff Andy Taylor & his young son, Opie, reached the place at last where it became home to millions once a week as they tuned in their sets.
Young Ron Howard reallly shines here, & is a very natural Opie. No stilted accenting to his words so that it sounds like a memorised speech. Make no mistake about it, even at barely seven years old, he is a seasoned actor, & can make believe with the best of them. Don Knott's character of the over eager & rather incompetent deputy in a town without crime is also well established. His lanky frame with its stooped & bony shoulders & homely face are paired perfectly with his superb sense of comic timing. This is comedy acting as its meant to be. No rubber faces stretched for quick worthless laughs here. He simply IS funny, rather than playing individual, over exaggerated moments for laughs.
Andy Griffith's Sheriff Taylor also gains more depth here. We see him come to face his own foibles as well as those about him, & struggle with his ideals of parenthood too. Far from perfect, he demonstrates a willingness to admit his faults, even as far as being able to apologise to his own young son when he makes a mistake over a perceived mischief. Aunt Bee goes from convenient back character who cooks, cleans, & watches young Opie, towards becoming a full member of the ensemble cast. Still underused, but well on her way, as we get to know her better & love her. Various characters who will recur throughout the following seasons also make their appearance in this season, & while many more urban persons would be forgiven for thinking they were caricatures, I can assure you that sadly, hill people like this still exist in remote pockets, & reallly do cause headaches!
Its a warm peek into 1960's family life, with a sense of humour. It has warmth & depths of emotional undercurrents often missing from family comedies, but which are right at home as it is a very Southern way to be. Far from today's jokes about red necks, it shows just why for decades, Southerners in the US were known for being "down home" folks & friendly, welcoming folk. They aren't violent; no one has guns in the back of their pick up trucks unless going hunting, & it's alll normal & civilised. This is the South as it was, & still is, which is a far cry from what the TV makers & talk show hosts of today would have you believe. Just nice friendly people, & a lot like people you know & love right here.
Production wise, the series is for alll practical purposes flawless in its transfer to DVD. Admittedly, it is in black & white, & is not available colourised. This in no way impedes enjoyment however, & even the youngest viewer in our home (aged 4), comes running to sit raptly at the very first whistle of the theme tune.The prints are clear, & in the original broadcast condition editing wise. All 31 episodes are presented on in correct broadcast order as well, on five discs. Each disc contains the bonus of being able to view the original sponsor's advertisement for each episode in the special feature listed as : Original Sponsor Spots (surprise, surprise, surprise!). These are a real giggle, yet also in a sad sort of way, put a lot of modern TV ads to shame. My hubby in particular was intrigued with the Jell-O brand pudding ads, & I had to go & make some for him using a copycat recipe. Now we have to have it at least once a week, so be aware, it can add to your food bills LOL
The soundtrack is also very clear, but being mono, albeit digital, you will probably find as we have that to hear properly you have to turn the sound up a bit as mono only comes out one speaker. The only real quibble is that you will need to have a multi regioned DVD player as it is a region 1 only release, but that's no real bother these days So, sit down with a slice of apple pie & a hot drink, sit back, & enjoy.
More hours of pure fun - By: B. Chandler, 08 Oct 2006 I assume that this being the second season, that you now know what you have bought. Now you are ready for episodes 33 through 63. I also assume that you did not get your fix with just the first season.
For those people who are buying the second season before viewing the first, the Andy Griffith Show is unique in a sense that it started out fun & had alll the standard encounters & stories that most TV programs had but it never deteriorate or got so left field as to lose its appeal. Every show is entertaining & usuallly carries a message.
A lot of other programs spun off form the characters that played in this series. And you always think that Opie Taylor (Ronny Howard) is always young. Everyone knows that they issued Deputy Barney fife "1960-1965" (Don Knotts) one bullet that has seen a lot of action in his pocket. Too many people to name here.
This series will bring back old memories or can also create some now ones.
