Gilbert was a rat right from the beginning. Talking Larry into not paying Beaver back and going to see The Iron Fiend. Then when Beaver confronts Larry and wants to go outside and fight, Gilbert says he's not fighting anybody and says Larry is sort of a rat. Gilbert was always a rat whereas Larry had a conscience.

Larry was pretty quick to go along with it. You're right, though, he did have a conscience. In the Ivanhoe episode he eventually confessed (in front of everyone)...we never know if Miss Landers exacted a punishment for him.

That little group--Larry, Whitey, and Gilbert--were together for two episodes in a row. Up to no good in either one, of course.

Larry talked Beaver into plenty, he may have had a conscience, but he never learned and turned around and talked Beaver into something else.
Of course if Beaver wasn't such a pushover he wouldn't let Gilbert, Larry, or anyone talk him into things. Same with Larry.
Rats shouldn't get full blame when they have such gullible/weak willed friends.

I do agree though, Larry did always seem sorry for what he did, Gilly on the other hand came off like Eddie when apologizing, never seemed totally sincere.
Whitey though, when he got Beaver to climb into the bowl of soup. That grin on Whitey's face was pure evil.

All of Beaver's friends (Larry, Whitey, Gilbert, Richard) seemed to be rats to some degree.

The only time Gilbert was guilt free was in Beaver's Hero when he just stood around and Mistaken Identity. I don't think he even threw a rock. He was guilty of not doing his own work in Beaver's Poster. When we first met him he was quite obnoxious.

The only time Gilbert was guilt free was in Beaver's Hero when he just stood around and Mistaken Identity. I don't think he even threw a rock. He was guilty of not doing his own work in Beaver's Poster. When we first met him he was quite obnoxious.
Speaking of "Mistaken Identity" Richard was a big rat in that episode! When the policeman caught him and asked for his name and address he gave Beaver's name and address instead!

I like how Richard wasn't sure of the spelling of "Cleaver." The cop should have known he was giving a false name.