When I was growing up my grandparents were avid watchers of TAGS and were largely the ones who got me into it. However there was one episode that they would always change the channel over and that was Season 4's Opie the Birdman. Their reasons for hating the episode are the same ones I've found a lot of TAGS fans have with the episode: It's too sappy, Andy completely overreacted to the bird's death (My grandpa said that if Andy yelled at him like that over a bird dying he would've taken Andy to the woodshed), Andy's a blatant hypocrite given he's fond of hunting quail and crows, and the worst offense is that it's just not that funny of an episode.

When asked what the best Andy Griffith Show episode the usual responses are The Pickle Story, Man in a Hurry, Barney's First Car, Mountain Wedding, Citizen's Arrest or The Haunted House as those episodes are extremely funny and very touching. Opie the Birdman is usually either the fifth or sixth episode given and half the time it feels like the only reason it is is due to being number 63 on the 100 Best Episodes of All Time list. It would appear that only the critics consider it the best but there might be some TAGs fans who like it.

Yes, that and The Pickle Story are overrated. The Pickle Story is as bland as they thought while filming it. Shoo fly/he's dead isn't funny at all.The only good scene is with Clara and her scrapbook. Birdman is mawkish. I either skip it or start watching when the killing, crying, and reprimand are over. The rest is good. One critic made a fuss about the episode and then others joined in when writing about the series. But overall the series deserves as much praise, or even more, as it's gotten.

Of the ones mentioned I think Citizen's Arrest is among the worst of the series. This is probably my 2nd most hated of the B&W episodes. The only one I hate more is The Bed Jacket. I agree that Opie the Birdman is sappy, but it has some great lines especially about the tweezers.

Birdman is an ok episode. I agree that it's overly sentimental, but I'm of the opinion that there are no bad episodes of TAGS. That being said, I've always thought Mr. McBeevee is a better Opie & Andy episode.

I always thought “Birdman” was too sappy. “Citizen’s Arrest” was hilarious, thought not as much in the middle while Barney is in jail.

I always enjoy the Birdman episode, but likely not for the reason we are supposed to.
I could care less about the "responsibility" angle. I think it's great because it depicts people doing something irresponsible to wildlife, and then investing the effort to make it right.

I get a warm glow at the end when Andy says: "but don't the trees seem nice and full?"

But then I am odd, whenever there is a Jurassic Park movie on TV, I find myself rooting for the dinosaurs.

Yes it is because I was not please with Opie’s teary eye look

Well, if it comes on, I won't tune it out, but it's not my favorite, either. I don't have titles handy but my favorites are

1. The count Von Delecki (not spelled right, I know) episode.

2. The Lydia Crosswaithe episode where Andy and Barney were trying to get Goober to date her.

3. The How do you do, Mrs. Wiley? episode with Ernest T. Bass.

4. The Judy, Judy, Judy fun girls episode.

5. The episode where Andy tells Helen, it's over. (just kidding, but I'd like to see it!)

opie the birdman is ok but i have always thought man in a hurry was way overrated and kind of boring

To me, Mr. McBeevee is the greatest episode.

I agree that "Man in a Hurry" is overrated. I found it very boring.

First off the funniest scene for me is in Barney Mends a Broken Heart with Lydia who hates the guitar. Daphne was great she coulda been watching George Raft. Also really enjoy Crime-Free Mayberry.

Having said that I think Opie, the Birdman is okay especially after the scolding. I’m not fond of Helen (liked Peggy), Citizen’s Arrest, Loaded Goat, Dogs, Dogs, Dogs, Aunt Bee The Crusader, Cave Rescue and any episode where Opie has to fight a kid or plot surrounds Otis like Hot Rod Otis.

I liked Andy’s English Valet. Hilarious. Gomer and Mary Grace, The Bed Jacket, Convicts at Large, any episode with the Darlings but love Briscoe Declares For Aunt Bee and any episode where Andy gives Barney confidence after he fumbles things. The ones I could watch over and over are too numerous to mention. I know Bee’s old flame, Roger Hanover isn’t popular but I love how Andy can’t stand him. Neither could I.