Out of all of the Black and White episodes, the one I flat out can't stand is Opie Loves Helen. The Plot is Opie falls in love with Helen and Andy must put a stop to it. The big reason I hate this episode is that Bob Ross (who wrote the episode and can't write to save his life) tried to repeat the success of Season 3's The Rivals. Unfortunately while trying to copy from the always Great Harvey Bullock (who wrote The Rivals) Bob failed to realize the reason The Rivals worked was that the majority of the comedy comes from Barney thinking that eight year old Opie is trying to steal Thelma Lou from him . In addition to that there's also the famous Duck Pond conversation, which is arguably one of the most funniest moments on the show

Opie loves Helen does not have any of this. Unlike Thelma Lou, Helen Crump is not a likable character nor is she sweet. Barney's role is reduced and he doesn't have that many funny lines. By this time in the series Opie is also too old for this kind of plot and why is he falling for a woman he once referred to as Old Lady Crump? There's also the little bit of Opie buying his teacher stockings. In the rivals Harvey Bullock kept Opie's crush innocent. Here Opie goes just below buying Helen underwear.

So yes, I hate this episode for being both a poor rehash of a classic plot and for being completely unbelievable and not funny. Those are my thoughts, what are yours?

I suppose they thought it was cute then, but today, that would not fly. And certainly not the reverse situation, i.e. a female child dating a grown up man.

Out of all of the Black and White episodes, the one I flat out can't stand is Opie Loves Helen.

I agree with you, this episode is actually unfun to watch

Before puberty boys have no, interest in girls opie may have seen Helen more a mother figure than girlfriend.

Wasn't this a situation where the sales lady should have known better than to sell a young boy women's stockings?

I'm thinking that Opie wanted to buy Helen a handkerchief, but was short in change. I think the sales lady should have verified who the hosiery was for. Either call home or realize that nylons are totally inappropriate for a school teacher gift.

Around this time, we have an episode from Leave it to Beaver where Beaver almost gifts his teacher a slip instead of handkerchiefs. And that's one where the mom (June) phones in an order for a slip and the wrapped gifts become mixed up. Had June purchased each item in person one-at-a-time, then Beaver would not have been in a dilemma.

Before puberty boys have no, interest in girls opie may have seen Helen more a mother figure than girlfriend.

Which she later developed into, after all.