A shift from Beaver's gullibility episodes to Wally delving into real life. Carol (Cindy Martin) highlights a well done episode. Tony Dow displays some skilled tennis talent. James Drake who played Don Kirk died at only 44. Will Wally & Beaver ever wise up?
5 Reviews
Game, set, but no match; for now.
pensman12 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Wally's off to play tennis, a game Beaver sees as a girl's game. Real games are football and baseball because girls can't play. Wally is supposed to play with Eddie Haskell, but runs into Carole Martin who is coming off a hissy fit because her boyfriend is going away. Wally is smitten and makes a date to play with Carole the following day. Carole smells opportunity, Eddie loses a partner.
Ward and June are curious as to who the new partner might be, but Wally dodges an answer. Wally isn't seeing tennis, he's seeing love. He just forgot that in tennis "love" can mean you are losing. The following day when Carole spots her boyfriend with another girl he coaches, Carole is sure to say very loud that she's glad Wally made it for their date. Beaver and Gilbert see Wally playing with a "woman," who is old enough to be one of his teachers. Maybe he's playing with her because he needs to pass a course. Eddie and Lumpy come looking for Wally and see him playing with Carole; they can't figure out how it's possible as Carole is out of Wally's league. Let's say they are impressed.
On the way out of the court, Wally runs into Carole's boyfriend who threatens him: stay away from his girl or else. Wally has to talk with Ward. He tells his dad that he finds himself in a triangle. Carole is a tad older than Wally, maybe 22. Then this older guy, maybe 24, tells Wally to move on; actually, he's the asst. tennis pro. Ward gets the picture instantly but how to protect Wally from a situation he might not be able to handle. Ward does his best, but Wally's not in a listening mood.
Up in their room, Wally has a chat with Beaver. Wally refers to Carole as a girl; Beaver, as a lady. No doubt Wally "hears" Beaver but Wally decides he will show up for the next match regardless. There he sees Carole in an embrace with her boyfriend. Now Wally understands what Ward was trying to warn him about; Wally confesses to June that he's amazed his "old" father knows so much about love and stuff. No tennis reference there.
Wally has a new match lined up. He is going to be playing with a substitute teacher. For a moment Ward and June panic, but the teacher is a he; and he actually played on the Davis Cup Team. He's bringing his niece to play with him because he would like Wally to meet her. We might have a genuine "love" match being played after all.
Ward and June are curious as to who the new partner might be, but Wally dodges an answer. Wally isn't seeing tennis, he's seeing love. He just forgot that in tennis "love" can mean you are losing. The following day when Carole spots her boyfriend with another girl he coaches, Carole is sure to say very loud that she's glad Wally made it for their date. Beaver and Gilbert see Wally playing with a "woman," who is old enough to be one of his teachers. Maybe he's playing with her because he needs to pass a course. Eddie and Lumpy come looking for Wally and see him playing with Carole; they can't figure out how it's possible as Carole is out of Wally's league. Let's say they are impressed.
On the way out of the court, Wally runs into Carole's boyfriend who threatens him: stay away from his girl or else. Wally has to talk with Ward. He tells his dad that he finds himself in a triangle. Carole is a tad older than Wally, maybe 22. Then this older guy, maybe 24, tells Wally to move on; actually, he's the asst. tennis pro. Ward gets the picture instantly but how to protect Wally from a situation he might not be able to handle. Ward does his best, but Wally's not in a listening mood.
Up in their room, Wally has a chat with Beaver. Wally refers to Carole as a girl; Beaver, as a lady. No doubt Wally "hears" Beaver but Wally decides he will show up for the next match regardless. There he sees Carole in an embrace with her boyfriend. Now Wally understands what Ward was trying to warn him about; Wally confesses to June that he's amazed his "old" father knows so much about love and stuff. No tennis reference there.
Wally has a new match lined up. He is going to be playing with a substitute teacher. For a moment Ward and June panic, but the teacher is a he; and he actually played on the Davis Cup Team. He's bringing his niece to play with him because he would like Wally to meet her. We might have a genuine "love" match being played after all.
Wally's Love Trangle
MichaelMartinDeSapio28 February 2014
One of the pleasures of watching the later seasons of "Leave It to Beaver" is seeing Beaver and Wally in more "mature" situations, as befitted their age (after all, by the end of the series, Wally was ready for college and Beaver was about to enter high school). In this fifth season episode, Wally finds himself in nothing short of a love triangle. He meets a pretty girl at the tennis court who happens to be four or five years older than him; the two hit it off very well, and the girl appears to enjoy Wally's company. Little does Wally know that the girl is only using him as a ruse to make her boyfriend jealous! Wally learns some hard lessons about life and human nature, and is reminded once again of Ward's wisdom and life experience. This bittersweet episode is superbly written, plotted and acted. If you like this one, be sure to check out Season 6's "Box Office Attraction," another episode about Wally becoming infatuated with an "older" woman.
YOUNG WALLY, OLDER CAROLE?
tcchelsey24 March 2024
Hugh Beaumont did a fine job directing this episode, and got a good performance from popular actress Cynthia Chenault, playing an older girl who gets the best of Wally. The plot reminds me of a typical episode from GIDGET, and I reviewed so many, one of those Top 10 heart-breakers.
Wally is playing tennis and happens to meet pretty Carole, who uncharacteristically is really into him!
Wally seems to be the best thing around since sliced bread. Or is he? It turns out Carole has a little secret.
She's actually trying to make he boyfriend jealous, and knowing he's watching from a distance, Carole chooses poor Wally as the perfect fall guy. And does Wally fall flat.
What do y'all think about that?
A sentimental tale, less on comedy this time around, and a bit more poignant to its advantage. Cynthia Chenault is quite good in this role, her only appearance on the series, discovered by actress Shirley Booth, who got her cast in a very successful Broadway play before coming to Hollywood.
Not to be missed. And Ward is the best dad ever with his spot on fatherly advice. SEASON 5 EPISODE 33 remastered/Universal.
Wally is playing tennis and happens to meet pretty Carole, who uncharacteristically is really into him!
Wally seems to be the best thing around since sliced bread. Or is he? It turns out Carole has a little secret.
She's actually trying to make he boyfriend jealous, and knowing he's watching from a distance, Carole chooses poor Wally as the perfect fall guy. And does Wally fall flat.
What do y'all think about that?
A sentimental tale, less on comedy this time around, and a bit more poignant to its advantage. Cynthia Chenault is quite good in this role, her only appearance on the series, discovered by actress Shirley Booth, who got her cast in a very successful Broadway play before coming to Hollywood.
Not to be missed. And Ward is the best dad ever with his spot on fatherly advice. SEASON 5 EPISODE 33 remastered/Universal.
Wally, The Cheerful Loser
StrictlyConfidential29 December 2020
(*Wally to Carol Martin quote*) - "You sure play good for a girl."
This episode of TV's "Leave It to Beaver" should have been titled "Leave It to Wally".
Anyway - While waiting for that scoundrel, Eddie Haskell to show up at the tennis courts, Wally ends up playing a game with Carol Martin who's a woman in her early-twenties.
As you can well-imagine - Wally is quite taken by Carol and her flirting. But, little does he know that she's just using him to make her tennis instructor boyfriend jealous.
See what happens when Wally swallows the bait and becomes quite attracted to Carol.
This episode of TV's "Leave It to Beaver" should have been titled "Leave It to Wally".
Anyway - While waiting for that scoundrel, Eddie Haskell to show up at the tennis courts, Wally ends up playing a game with Carol Martin who's a woman in her early-twenties.
As you can well-imagine - Wally is quite taken by Carol and her flirting. But, little does he know that she's just using him to make her tennis instructor boyfriend jealous.
See what happens when Wally swallows the bait and becomes quite attracted to Carol.
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