Episode Reviews - "Beaver's Birthday" - season 5

[stevea]

Here we go with Gilbert causing trouble again, and naive Beaver falling prey to his evildoing.

Beaver wants a model car, and he gets several cash gifts for his birthday. But Ward convinces him to bank the gifts.

Later in the day, everyone is out--Beaver and Gilbert arrive at casa Cleaver, and Beaver gets a notice that the post office has a registered letter for him. They hightail it to the post office, as Beaver remarks, "I hope they don't hit us." I never got that line. The mail is $10 from Uncle Billy.

Anyway, Gilbert insists they go back to Beaver's house via Grant Avenue, where the model store happens to be. Naturally, Gilbert talks Beaver into buying the model with the new gift.

Beaver takes Gilbert's advice and tells Ward that Gilbert gave him the car. Beaver also writes thank you notes, including one to Uncle Billy--but June does some detective work. As usual, the discipline is up to Ward, to whom June immediately reports her findings. Ward has Beaver designate his own punishment for lying.

I think Ward went overboard by punishing Beaver. Beaver pointed out to Ward that he made him put the original money in the bank--although Ward disputes this, it was still Beaver's impression. So I think a lecture from Ward about lying would have been enough, particularly since it was Beaver's birthday. Ward could have said, "Happy birthday--you've learned your lesson, so I'm suspending your punishment."

What do you think?