Question About The Silent Treatment Episode?

[Jack1000]

Guys,

This is the one where Beaver refuses to speak to June, after she makes him go to the store:

Do you guys think that during the filming of that episode that the bee really stung Beaver? I wonder if it did and how many times they had to shoot that scene? Beaver is kind of dumb here, as he first thinks of swatting the bee with a newspaper, but actually tries to squash it with his hand. Hey, if you do that to a bee, you are going to get stung.

I wonder how David Butler, the director, did that particular scene. I mean, how do you get a bug to behave on cue?

Jack

[1954Boomer]

I've wondered that myself. It did appear that Beaver really did pick up that live bee, didn't he? The way Beaver acted toward June in that episode he really deserved to get stung by that bee. Lol!

I never much cared for this particular episode. I thought Beaver deserved an Atomic Wedgie for treating his mother the way he did.

[Jack1000]

Originally posted by 1954Boomer
I've wondered that myself. It did appear that Beaver really did pick up that live bee, didn't he? The way Beaver acted toward June in that episode he really deserved to get stung by that bee. Lol!

I never much cared for this particular episode. I thought Beaver deserved an Atomic Wedgie for treating his mother the way he did.

I agree with you. The Silent Treatment seems to be mean-spirited. The writers were trying to make Beaver into some type of Eddie Haskell character here, which didn't work. You would have had to have made Beaver a more disrespectful person in the series' later years (Some might remember that tean rebel in the 60's, James Dean?) for an episode like this to work. Beaver was always gullable and daring in doing things that he wasn't supposed to do. But, this episode is the only time that he shows disrespect to either of his parents.

Jack

[HaskellGirl]

I think Beaver acted pretty realistic in this episode. Teenagers are often moody and aren't always rational. And if watch the older episodes (where Beaver is young), its not unusual for Beaver to stand defiant against his parents. This is a really good episode, IMO.

[Kitt]

I was uncomfortable watching that episode. It was probably based on some true life stuff that goes on between kids and moms, because that sure does happen, but it was irritating to watch.

I highly doubt that Jerry Mathers really got stung by a bee. I'd bet the farm that he didn't, lol. I don't know how they filmed it and all but I'm sure they didn't have Jerry Mathers getting stung for 6 or 7 takes. If they did then I guess they were trying to get back at the Beav for being such a punk. If that was the case, poor Jerry Mathers--he got stung for the Beaver's rotten attitude.

[1954Boomer]

Just to clarify my point here, I do think that the episode was realistic in the sense that teens often DO rebel against their parents. And let's face it, Beaver was a teenager by this point. However, I thought that the premise of having Beaver mad at June simply because she made him go to the store was rather lame. I think the episode would have worked better if the scenario was that she refused him to go to a party, let's say, or perhaps stay out late with his friends. In other words, something a little more substantial than simply that she wanted him to go to the store for a loaf of bread or some milk.

[Kitt]

Originally posted by 1954Boomer
I think the episode would have worked better if the scenario was that she refused him to go to a party, let's say, or perhaps stay out late with his friends. In other words, something a little more substantial than simply that she wanted him to go to the store for a loaf of bread or some milk.

I think you're missing or forgetting part of what the plotline included. (Although it didn't follow up on what I'm about to mention very well.) Beaver had been casually invited to go with Wally, Eddie, and, I think, Lumby-- the 'big' guys-- to hang out while one of them worked on a car, or something. Being included like that was a 'coming of age' development that Beaver was very flattered and excited about. June not only squelched that but worse yet, she embarrassed him in front of the 'big' guys. She was oblivious to what a big deal was going on in front of her eyes. That was the underlying reason why Beaver was so put out and unforgiving. Not because he had to go to the store or run an errand for her.

In a way, in the end, the storyline kind of forgot to follow up on and fess up to June's insensitivity to Beaver in the whole debacle.

[1954Boomer]

Thanks, Kitt, for helping to clarify why Beaver was upset. Funny, I've seen that episode dozens of times over the years, however I never thought that Beaver might be mad at June for embarrassing him in front of "the big guys." I can see now just why he carried on for as long as he did. It makes more sense now.

[Kitt]

Originally posted by 1954Boomer
Thanks, Kitt, for helping to clarify why Beaver was upset.

Sorry I took so long to reply to your post. You're welcome.

One reason why you and others might not have picked up on Beaver's real reason why he was so miffed with his mom is that he was fooling himself why he was so miffed. In his mind it was the trip to the store and not the humiliation he felt by being treated like a kid in front of the older guys. It was just one of those growing pain episodes. That's why it ended with the bee sting. That scene with Beaver getting help from his mom with the bee sting clearly showed that Beaver's transistion from childhood to adulthood was in flux.

[rich2]

It's deep. That was a cool episode.

[1954Boomer]

Excellent analysis, Kitt!

[CCRYDER1968]

I don't liker watching that episode...Beaver being so mean to his mommy who is always so nice to him