Ward's treatment of June - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

desilu #1 · 06-16-2003, 06:08 PM

Since I've been watching LITB, I have noticed that Ward is such a great husband. I guess that is one reason that I find Ward sexy.
It could also be that I have always watched I Love Lucy and forget the difference between June and Lucy. I keep waiting for an episode where June overspends or gets into some kind of trouble with Ward.

Out of the episodes I've seen, I never saw a fight between them.
If he disagrees with her on something he seems to be careful in how he talks to her as if to not hurt her feelings. He just seems to be very considerate of her feelings. When June gets upset when the boys do something wrong he just seems to get more upset with them, like in the episode where Beaver got locked in the school and he pulled the fire alarm to get out. I know he was embarrased but he told Beaver how he upset his mother. That just seemed to make him more angry. Is it just me that sees that or is Ward one of these husbands that would be riddled with guilt if he was to make his wife feel bad in any way? I know my husband feels horrible if he makes me cry when he gets upset but then again I can be a little too sensitive. Any thoughts?

Mijada · 06-16-2003, 07:17 PM

I would love to have a husband like Ward. He was very family oriented. His first priority was always making sure June and the boys were provided for.

Commander Benson · 06-16-2003, 08:09 PM

What makes Ward and June come off so well as a couple is the same thing that makes Jim and Margaret Anderson, over at Father Knows Best , "click"--they have been together long enough to be comfortable with each other, but not bored with each other; they are still as much in love as the day they married.

The badinage between Ward and June is often the highlight of an episode. I've mentioned before the wonderful "No, it's true--Lindburgh really did fly the Atlantic" exchange. Another moment I loved was--and I'm not enough of a LITB maven to know which episode it was--when Ward opens the car door for June in the driveway. June makes a comment about how wonderful it is that Ward is still so gallant after all these years. Ward responds to the effect that it is the least he can do for his wonderful wife; then he looks around with mock surreptiousness and adds: "Besides, the neighbours might be watching."

They were both familiar with the other's foibles. June tended to be a bit over-protective of the boys, while Ward had an occasional tendency to pontificate. However, instead of these traits being a springboard to argument (as to-day's sitcom married couples are wont to do), Ward and June accepted them in each other, didn't try to change the other, and supported each other.

We all know real-life couples like this: they make no declarations of devotion, yet it is obvious to us that the two are deeply in love. It is a testament to the acting skill of both Hugh Beaumont and Barbara Billingsley that they can convey this to us, the viewership, so on the mark.

If you will forgive a bit of sitcom cross-pollination, I recently saw a similar moment like this in a recently rerun episode of Father Knows Best . Jim comes home from work to find his three children engaged in various antics in the living room. He stares at them for a bemused moment and declares: "I must be in the wrong house!"

Then, Margaret emerges from the kitchen, greets him with a sincere "Hello, dear", and kisses him. Jim smiles and softly replies: "No, I'm in the right house."

Commander Benson

tdr · 06-16-2003, 08:20 PM

Ward is quite an expert at sparing peoples' feelings, but this is largely due to the fact that LITB is about Beaver and Wally, so June and Ward are there to be the perfect parents as part of their ideal existence; at least 'ideal' as a perception of middle class America. Ward avoids conflict with June, and also with anyone else to the extent that he can. But he is, of course, no pushover, or he could not carry aura of perfection; so he is also firm in dealing with people; like the salesman who sold Beaver ice skates way too big for him, and the pushy first car salesman who tries to sell him and Wally a used car.

He is even firm, though still tactful, with June on a few occasions; one of which is definitely when "Beaver Runs Away," and Ward refuses to go out and look for him, so June give him the cold shoulder.

frani · 06-17-2003, 07:21 AM

I adore Ward. He's always the reason I watch the show. And I love everything about the show, but he is the highest spot. He is handsome, intelligent, accomplished and there's nothing more important to him than the welfare of his family. He is never too busy to give his full attention to what Wally is upset about or something. When he isn't solving a problem with his wise advice, he is simply sitting and reading with June or playing golf. He is incredibly nice to Fred Rutherford, who is a complet idiot.

I know a man like that could not possible exist in the world, but I do enjoy watching it on tv.

BrandonS · 06-17-2003, 08:08 AM

Frani, you're right. But everything about Mayfield is so much "better than real." I wish I could click my heels together three times and say, "There's no place like Mayfield," and find myself there. I'd even be willing to live through the 50s again.

desilu #1 · 06-17-2003, 07:47 PM

ITA with you Frani, Ward is awesome. Maybe I'm just a romantic sap but he truly gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when he is with June spending time reading the paper together and when he helps her do dishes. I thought it was so cute when he attempted to cook dinner in one episode even though he burned it. I can watch a man make an attempt like that everyday. I'm a lucky woman too because I have a husband that I consider to be my modern day mixture of Ward Cleaver and Ricky Ricardo. I have always been fascinated with the 50's and always wished I had my own time machine to go back whenever this world got out of hand which I suppose is everyday! But I would take my husband!

Kitt · 06-22-2003, 09:18 PM

I don't think Ward is all that unrealistic of a character. He makes a lot of wrong snap decisions. He gets flustered. He gets angry and visibly has to control himself. He works at being a good man. He reaches back into his past to remind himself of what happened to him as a boy when he needs to be understanding. He is indeed very sweet to June. That's partly because he is not convinced that he always has the answer. He is a humbe man who knows that he has made plenty of mistakes and misjudgements. He welcomes input even from his young sons. He wants to be reminded of what goes on in the minds of young people berfore he makes a decision about something. I can relate to Ward. I'm the father of two daughters. I've reached back into my own childhood memories lots of times when I was trying to do the right thing by my daughters. I can't say that those experiences have been all that usefull though as far as the women I've crossed paths with in my life.

Women have proven to be much more complicated, confusing and diverse than children.

Kitt · 06-25-2003, 11:35 PM

Tonights episode was the one about Beaver feeling like a goofy ckutz. He'd decided that his parents no longer liked him as they had when he was a cute kid. Among other things, I noticed that Ward did reach back into his childhood memories. That's how he came to realize how Beaver was feeling, and how June and he were being insensitive to his feelings. Good episode!

maranatha · 06-30-2003, 12:32 PM

I think Ward was a wonderful husband. He treated June with consideration and respect & expected his sons to do the same. He usually conferred with June before making family decisions. He helped around the house. He complimented her cooking, appearance, etc. And I loved the way he continued to take her on dates (movies, out to eat, out for a soda, and even occasionally a week-end away with friends). He also noticed June's non-verbal behaviors that might indicate fatigue, worry, or sadness and talked with her about what was going on. I think June got a good one when she stole Ward's heart!

06-16-2003, 06:08 PM	#1
desilu #1 Lucy/Desi 4-EVER Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 23, 2000 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan USA Posts: 724	Ward's treatment of June Since I've been watching LITB, I have noticed that Ward is such a great husband. I guess that is one reason that I find Ward sexy. It could also be that I have always watched I Love Lucy and forget the difference between June and Lucy. I keep waiting for an episode where June overspends or gets into some kind of trouble with Ward. Out of the episodes I've seen, I never saw a fight between them. If he disagrees with her on something he seems to be careful in how he talks to her as if to not hurt her feelings. He just seems to be very considerate of her feelings. When June gets upset when the boys do something wrong he just seems to get more upset with them, like in the episode where Beaver got locked in the school and he pulled the fire alarm to get out. I know he was embarrased but he told Beaver how he upset his mother. That just seemed to make him more angry. Is it just me that sees that or is Ward one of these husbands that would be riddled with guilt if he was to make his wife feel bad in any way? I know my husband feels horrible if he makes me cry when he gets upset but then again I can be a little too sensitive. Any thoughts?
	__________________ Amy M. Weaver

06-16-2003, 08:09 PM	#3
Commander Benson Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Posts: 55	What makes Ward and June come off so well as a couple is the same thing that makes Jim and Margaret Anderson, over at Father Knows Best , "click"--they have been together long enough to be comfortable with each other, but not bored with each other; they are still as much in love as the day they married. The badinage between Ward and June is often the highlight of an episode. I've mentioned before the wonderful "No, it's true--Lindburgh really did fly the Atlantic" exchange. Another moment I loved was--and I'm not enough of a LITB maven to know which episode it was--when Ward opens the car door for June in the driveway. June makes a comment about how wonderful it is that Ward is still so gallant after all these years. Ward responds to the effect that it is the least he can do for his wonderful wife; then he looks around with mock surreptiousness and adds: "Besides, the neighbours might be watching." They were both familiar with the other's foibles. June tended to be a bit over-protective of the boys, while Ward had an occasional tendency to pontificate. However, instead of these traits being a springboard to argument (as to-day's sitcom married couples are wont to do), Ward and June accepted them in each other, didn't try to change the other, and supported each other. We all know real-life couples like this: they make no declarations of devotion, yet it is obvious to us that the two are deeply in love. It is a testament to the acting skill of both Hugh Beaumont and Barbara Billingsley that they can convey this to us, the viewership, so on the mark. If you will forgive a bit of sitcom cross-pollination, I recently saw a similar moment like this in a recently rerun episode of Father Knows Best . Jim comes home from work to find his three children engaged in various antics in the living room. He stares at them for a bemused moment and declares: "I must be in the wrong house!" Then, Margaret emerges from the kitchen, greets him with a sincere "Hello, dear", and kisses him. Jim smiles and softly replies: "No, I'm in the right house." Commander Benson
	__________________ "Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, 'I served in the United States Navy.' " -- President John F. Kennedy Last edited by Commander Benson; 06-17-2003 at 08:13 AM.

06-30-2003, 12:32 PM	#10
maranatha Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 12, 2002 Location: Foxworth, MS Posts: 120	Ward's treatment of June I think Ward was a wonderful husband. He treated June with consideration and respect & expected his sons to do the same. He usually conferred with June before making family decisions. He helped around the house. He complimented her cooking, appearance, etc. And I loved the way he continued to take her on dates (movies, out to eat, out for a soda, and even occasionally a week-end away with friends). He also noticed June's non-verbal behaviors that might indicate fatigue, worry, or sadness and talked with her about what was going on. I think June got a good one when she stole Ward's heart!

06-16-2003, 07:17 PM	#2
Mijada Spencers mom Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2001 Location: eastern US Posts: 4,093	I would love to have a husband like Ward. He was very family oriented. His first priority was always making sure June and the boys were provided for.

06-16-2003, 08:20 PM	#4
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	Ward is quite an expert at sparing peoples' feelings, but this is largely due to the fact that LITB is about Beaver and Wally, so June and Ward are there to be the perfect parents as part of their ideal existence; at least 'ideal' as a perception of middle class America. Ward avoids conflict with June, and also with anyone else to the extent that he can. But he is, of course, no pushover, or he could not carry aura of perfection; so he is also firm in dealing with people; like the salesman who sold Beaver ice skates way too big for him, and the pushy first car salesman who tries to sell him and Wally a used car. He is even firm, though still tactful, with June on a few occasions; one of which is definitely when "Beaver Runs Away," and Ward refuses to go out and look for him, so June give him the cold shoulder.

06-17-2003, 07:21 AM	#5
frani Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 445	I adore Ward. He's always the reason I watch the show. And I love everything about the show, but he is the highest spot. He is handsome, intelligent, accomplished and there's nothing more important to him than the welfare of his family. He is never too busy to give his full attention to what Wally is upset about or something. When he isn't solving a problem with his wise advice, he is simply sitting and reading with June or playing golf. He is incredibly nice to Fred Rutherford, who is a complet idiot. I know a man like that could not possible exist in the world, but I do enjoy watching it on tv.

06-17-2003, 08:08 AM	#6
BrandonS Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 18, 2002 Posts: 8,824	Frani, you're right. But everything about Mayfield is so much "better than real." I wish I could click my heels together three times and say, "There's no place like Mayfield," and find myself there. I'd even be willing to live through the 50s again.

06-17-2003, 07:47 PM	#7
desilu #1 Lucy/Desi 4-EVER Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 23, 2000 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan USA Posts: 724	ITA with you Frani, Ward is awesome. Maybe I'm just a romantic sap but he truly gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when he is with June spending time reading the paper together and when he helps her do dishes. I thought it was so cute when he attempted to cook dinner in one episode even though he burned it. I can watch a man make an attempt like that everyday. I'm a lucky woman too because I have a husband that I consider to be my modern day mixture of Ward Cleaver and Ricky Ricardo. I have always been fascinated with the 50's and always wished I had my own time machine to go back whenever this world got out of hand which I suppose is everyday! But I would take my husband!

06-22-2003, 09:18 PM	#8
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	I don't think Ward is all that unrealistic of a character. He makes a lot of wrong snap decisions. He gets flustered. He gets angry and visibly has to control himself. He works at being a good man. He reaches back into his past to remind himself of what happened to him as a boy when he needs to be understanding. He is indeed very sweet to June. That's partly because he is not convinced that he always has the answer. He is a humbe man who knows that he has made plenty of mistakes and misjudgements. He welcomes input even from his young sons. He wants to be reminded of what goes on in the minds of young people berfore he makes a decision about something. I can relate to Ward. I'm the father of two daughters. I've reached back into my own childhood memories lots of times when I was trying to do the right thing by my daughters. I can't say that those experiences have been all that usefull though as far as the women I've crossed paths with in my life. Women have proven to be much more complicated, confusing and diverse than children.

06-25-2003, 11:35 PM	#9
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	Tonights episode was the one about Beaver feeling like a goofy ckutz. He'd decided that his parents no longer liked him as they had when he was a cute kid. Among other things, I noticed that Ward did reach back into his childhood memories. That's how he came to realize how Beaver was feeling, and how June and he were being insensitive to his feelings. Good episode!