Episode Reviews - "Substitute Father" - season 4

[stevea]

This episode concludes season 4. As the episodes opens, Ward is leaving town for a business trip, and advises Wally he'll be in charge. Later, as Beaver and friends are leaving the fifth grade classroom for the final time, an older kid trips Beaver. As the school bell rings, Beaver calls him a name which was apparently a swear word.

Miss Landers witnesses this, and sends Beaver home, instructing him to bring a parent back for a meeting.

Beaver convinces Wally to be his substitute father and accompany him to this meeting, but Miss Landers is having none of it. But after protracted negotiations, Miss Landers eventually accepts Wally's presence.

Later, Beaver confesses the goings-on to June, but begs her not to ask him what he said.

[MichaelMartinD]

A strong and memorable episode to round out that season. I like how they showed Wally stepping into Ward's shoes, accepting a fatherly responsibility toward Beaver. It was a good way to show Wally maturing and taking a more adult role. And we'll never know what bit of profanity Beaver said!

[Sgt. Saunders]

I think Miss Landers should have asked Beaver why he cursed at that older student, but she didn’t bother to find out the reason for Beaver’s use of that obscenity.

Then again, Miss Landers hardly used good judgment herself when she entrusted the unreliable Gilbert Bates to deliver Beaver’s report card to June and Ward. And, after Gilbert foolishly handed over that report card to prankster Eddie Haskell, we all know what great turmoil that regrettable act caused in the Cleaver family. “Thank you, very much,” Miss Landers.

[MichaelMartinD]

I think the episode was making the point (whether we agree with it or not) that bad language is never justified, at least in someone Beaver's age. Instead of cursing the other kid out, Beaver could have just kept his cool and gone to Miss Landers and told her of the incident. Miss Landers is so kind and understanding that I'm sure she would have done something.

[MichaelMartinD]

Another thought: it could be that the word or phrase Beaver used was so egregiously offensive that (in Miss Lander's judgment) it overshadowed whatever act may have provoked it. Kids are always going to be cruel - whether by tripping each other in the hallway or whatever. But how you respond to it, that is the test, and the lesson Beaver had to learn. It does seem unfair that Miss Landers didn't at least ask what provoked the volley of profanity. But she's smart enough to have known that SOMETHING must have provoked it, and that Beaver didn't just randomly start cursing at the kid for no reason. That would have been out of character for Beaver, and Miss Landers knows him thoroughly.

By the way, it's been a while since I've seen the episode; was the profanity "bleeped out," or what?

[stevea]

Originally Posted by MichaelMartinD

Another thought: it could be that the word or phrase Beaver used was so egregiously offensive that (in Miss Lander's judgment) it overshadowed whatever act may have provoked it. Kids are always going to be cruel - whether by tripping each other in the hallway or whatever. But how you respond to it, that is the test, and the lesson Beaver had to learn. It does seem unfair that Miss Landers didn't at least ask what provoked the volley of profanity. But she's smart enough to have known that SOMETHING must have provoked it, and that Beaver didn't just randomly start cursing at the kid for no reason. That would have been out of character for Beaver, and Miss Landers knows him thoroughly.

By the way, it's been a while since I've seen the episode; was the profanity "bleeped out," or what?

Whatever the word was, the school bell rang and covered it.

[MichaelMartinD]

Originally Posted by stevea

Whatever the word was, the school bell rang and covered it.

Saved by the bell!