Good episode on right & wrong & the way to handle it. The kids in town are playing in the woods like Robin Hood & his merry men when the come across a hobo camping. What are you kids doing? playing Robin Hood, do you know what Robin did ? He helped the poor by taking from the rich & can you guys help me. So the boys start taking food from there homes and giving it to him, apple pie,a ham & Andy gets calls about food missing. Andy ask Opie does he know anything about it & Opie tells him about the hobo & his game leg & how they are helping him.Where is this guy Opie gets upset thinking his dad will be like the sheriff in Robin Hood & arrest him. Andy assures him he wants to help & Opie is exciting & everyone goes to the woods. When they arrive Andy tells the hobo they are thereto help in finding him a job so he can get back on his feet. Hobo wants none of that & takes off running Opie turns & sees he is OK & knows now he was lying. The story is the same today with some people.
4 Reviews
Merry, Merry, Quite to the Contrary
Hitchcoc9 December 2019
Opie and his friends have been introduced to Robin Hood by way of TV. Unfortunately, they didn't see the end of the show (bedtime). So they decide to play. But what stalls them is an opportunist, living in the woods in a lean-to. He hands the kids a bill of goods and gets them to bring him food from their homes. They are robbing the rich and giving to this guy. There are some funny moments, mostly when Barney starts pontificating.
Well-Written Opie-Centered Ep
MichaelMartinDeSapio28 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This is an extremely well written episode with a fine "conservative" message for kids. Opie and his pals have been playing at "Robin Hood" in the woods. One day they meet a hobo (the word wasn't politically incorrect then) who convinces them that in order to be truly like Robin Hood and his merry men, they should take from those who have and give to those who don't (i.e., him). Opie is at pains to explain to the hobo that his Pa, although a sheriff, is not a bad guy like the Sheriff of Nottingham. The hobo responds that just the same, perhaps Opie should keep his dealings with him (the hobo) a secret. This sets up a classic conflict between children and the adult authority, typical of TAGS.
As I mentioned, this episode imparts fine conservative values. Andy explains the nature of law and order and personal responsibility to Opie, and remarks that the best thing for the hobo would be to help find him a job. Naturally, at the first whiff of this the hobo shows his true colors and runs away. The episode's final segment is the perfect icing on the cake: Opie inquires about the morality of the lies Andy told the hobo in order to make his point to the kids. After hemming and hawing, Andy admits he "doesn't have a leg to stand on," and Opie forgives him. At this point in the series Opie is on the cusp of a more adult perspective on the world, and the episode catches well his tottering between childhood and adulthood. I should also mention that the episode shows Barney at his very Barney-est.
The one slightly jarring note in the episode is sounded by Douglas Fowley as the hobo. Fowley seems to come from another era with his stagey, vaudeville-esque portrayal; it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to imagine him in clown makeup riding a unicycle. A much more realistic portrayal of a hobo was furnished by Buddy Ebsen in the episode "Opie's Hobo Friend." In any event, this is one of the better kid-centered episodes of TAGS.
As I mentioned, this episode imparts fine conservative values. Andy explains the nature of law and order and personal responsibility to Opie, and remarks that the best thing for the hobo would be to help find him a job. Naturally, at the first whiff of this the hobo shows his true colors and runs away. The episode's final segment is the perfect icing on the cake: Opie inquires about the morality of the lies Andy told the hobo in order to make his point to the kids. After hemming and hawing, Andy admits he "doesn't have a leg to stand on," and Opie forgives him. At this point in the series Opie is on the cusp of a more adult perspective on the world, and the episode catches well his tottering between childhood and adulthood. I should also mention that the episode shows Barney at his very Barney-est.
The one slightly jarring note in the episode is sounded by Douglas Fowley as the hobo. Fowley seems to come from another era with his stagey, vaudeville-esque portrayal; it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to imagine him in clown makeup riding a unicycle. A much more realistic portrayal of a hobo was furnished by Buddy Ebsen in the episode "Opie's Hobo Friend." In any event, this is one of the better kid-centered episodes of TAGS.
Perfect casting of Douglas Fowley
vitoscotti10 May 2022
Douglas Fowley (Hobo) in a memorable performance. The boys see first hand laziness, and deceit. I wonder if Opie was really that dumb to fall for the con man's game. Though they are told to respect their elders. But, probably weren't told about shiftless bums like this.
The laughs come from Douglas Fowley laying on the bull pretty thick. Don Knotts had some funny scenes. Playing checkers, lack of literary knowledge, fox theory, and a lot of repeating himself when praised.
Bit of a dud epilogue with Opie inquiring about white lies. Season 4 certainly is loaded with some true masterpieces.
The laughs come from Douglas Fowley laying on the bull pretty thick. Don Knotts had some funny scenes. Playing checkers, lack of literary knowledge, fox theory, and a lot of repeating himself when praised.
Bit of a dud epilogue with Opie inquiring about white lies. Season 4 certainly is loaded with some true masterpieces.
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