I would say that about 95% of the first five seasons is absolutely perfect, and a very large fraction of this is classic, some of the best material ever to be shown on the small screen. Who can forget the great Don Knotts' brilliant, first class portrayal of the bumbling, bug-eyed, high strung, sometimes egotistical but always lovable Deputy Barney Fife? Of a similar calibre is Andy Griffith's interpretation of the loving, laid back Sheriff Andy Taylor, who is the moral center of Mayberry, always has time for anyone with a problem, and is somehow able to do his job without routinely carrying a gun (now if that does not say something about a lawman's ability, I don't know what does). Frances Bavier is great as the always loveable, frequently excitable, mother figure, and Ron Howard is a perfect Opie (this is a shameful confession for a 16 year old guy, but he was just the cutest thing in the world). The vast majority of the supporting characters were superb; Thelma Lou worked perfectly as Barney's understanding, always faithful and patient girl (who had a habit of covering his face with lipstick and mussing up his hair, making him look like the silliest creature that ever lived; incidently, it was just a shame that they didn't get married during the series), Gomer was naive, innocently lovable gas station attendant, and later mechanic who eventually got his own show, also excellent, Goober, Gomer's cousin, was a hillarious, somewhat nonintellectual but always honest mechanic, who took over when Gomer left for the Marines, and Floyd was the always funny town gossip; says Howard:"there are 3 basic forms of communication in Mayberry: telephone, telegraph, and tell Floyd." Some of the characters later on did not work as well (I think); for example, Warren, Howard, Emmett, Sam Jones, and, despite what others might say, I would have to put Helen in this category. It always seemed to me that Helen never trusted Andy, and just about every 3 weeks was on the verge of breaking up with him. Despite this, the last three seasons were still quite enjoyable for the most part, although not as classic as the first five. Quite justly, a series which, over 40 years later, is at least as popular and well regarded as when it first came out.
Review of The Andy Griffith Show
