Anyone notice in the early episodes Ward and June are more human and funny then in the later episodes? In the later episodes they seem too robotic serious people who are always worrying. The early epsidoes also seemed to focus more on June and Ward then later on in the show.

Yes! And that is why I like the early episodes so much better than the later ones, besides the fact that Beaver was actually a cute little boy back in the early ones. In the later episodes, as you say they made June and Ward lose something between them, although if you really pay attention, Hugh and Barbara still have a great chemistry that even the writers couldn't take away. ;) I see how comfortable and natural they are with each other and they look so great together.

I also have to add that I thought in the earlier episodes Ward and June had a sexual intensity between them that the writers sadly cooled off. ;)

The last couple of seasons tend to center to a large degree around Wally and his friends. Eddie and Lumpy's charactors are much more developed by this time than Beaver's friends. Beaver only has Gilbert left by this time as Larry and Whitey are long gone. Wally seems much more natural and a better actor the last couple of seasons too.

ward and june were a hot couple, and maybe even hugh and barbara :)

The last couple of seasons tend to center to a large degree around Wally and his friends. Eddie and Lumpy's charactors are much more developed by this time than Beaver's friends. Beaver only has Gilbert left by this time as Larry and Whitey are long gone. Wally seems much more natural and a better actor the last couple of seasons too.

Wally's adventures were much more interesting than Beaver's as the series approached its demise. Wally was dating, getting after school jobs, preparing for college, etc. Most of Beaver's late adventures leave me with the feeling 'been there, done that.' Wally's adventures are quite the opposite - they're fresh and fun.

Wally's adventures were much more interesting than Beaver's as the series approached its demise. Wally was dating, getting after school jobs, preparing for college, etc. Most of Beaver's late adventures leave me with the feeling 'been there, done that.' Wally's adventures are quite the opposite - they're fresh and fun.


As fresh and fun as it can be considering that the show ended in 1963! :lol:

I'm sorry, I thought this topic was directed at Ward and June. Funny how it sways back to Wally and Beaver. :rolleyes:

I'm sorry, I thought this topic was directed at Ward and June. Funny how it sways back to Wally and Beaver. :rolleyes:
Well, it doesn't mention Ward and June in the heading. But feel free to direct it in any direction you'd like. We wont object.... :rolleyes:

yeah I agree, Beaver was boring towards the end and Wally was interesting. The only good thing about Beaver and his friends were how they said and did silly stuff but as Beaver and Gilbert got older they didn't do much for the show. Personally Eddie Haskell and Gilbert (early shows) carried some episodes for me.

Well, it doesn't mention Ward and June in the heading. But feel free to direct it in any direction you'd like. We wont object.... :rolleyes:

It may not mention Ward and June in the heading but they were the topic in the post and that is what I meant.

well we only have a few chances to have posts that are actually DIFFERENT around here, so may as well go with the subject and leave it that way

Anyone notice in the early episodes Ward and June are more human and funny then in the later episodes? In the later episodes they seem too robotic serious people who are always worrying. The early epsidoes also seemed to focus more on June and Ward then later on in the show.

Now that TVLand is running the earlier episodes I have a chance to compare the early and late episodes. I've noticed that Ward and June seem to enjoy each other's company more in the earlier episodes than they do in the later episodes. June seems more energetic, more attractive, more fun, more outspoken, and more charming than she does in the later episodes - where she appears to be nothing more than a typical 50s TV wife/mom in crisp frock and pearls. And Ward seems to be a man with his own shortcomings and faults. Ward and June were more interesting in the earlier episodes. I wonder if the change in their characters had anything to do with the move from CBS to ABC after season 2? Could ABC have given the creators directions to alter June and Ward ever so slightly? To make June more the bland, typical TV housewife and Ward more the unerring, authoritarian TV Dad?