The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) Runaway Kid (1960) User Reviews

Not particularly funny, but a great episode on ethics...

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 18 October 2010]

This is one of those wonderful episodes that teaches a great object lesson as opposed to looking for laughs. It begins with Opie finding a kid who has run away and he befriends him. Opie isn't sure what to do and knows that he's promised not to tell this secret to anyone--as he swore to this new friend that he'd not betray him. But he also knows that the boy has run away and the adults are actively looking for the boy. Eventually, Andy is able to get the boy to turn himself in using some wonderful old fashioned common sense. But then, he has to have a discussion with Opie about the need to break promises in certain situations. Opie is initially confused but in the end understands the error in his thinking and all is forgiven.

The first few seasons had some dandy shows featuring Andy and Opie. Few of them were hilarious (though they had their moments). Instead, most of them emphasized important timeless values and the show manages to convey them in a gentle and entertaining manner.

Opie Has a Lot of Time on His Hands

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 21 November 2019]

When Opie tells on a friend after a promise of anonymity, Andy tells him to be true to his promise. This, of course, leads to an incident where that idea is tested. A little boy is running away from home and Andy has to test his advice. I always wonder what happened to Andy's wife. Opie is pretty young, so she seems to have left the picture in the recent past. I don't recall ever having heard what happened.

Surprisingly good for a "teach a lesson" episode.

[vitoscotti · 7/10 · 15 September 2022]

Andy Griffith really toned down the exaggerated southern accent country bumpkin clownish act for this episode. Don Knotts' Barney character has been funny from the beginning. Barney still needs some tweaking before the character is the classic Barney Fife. Very curious Andy would withhold information that he knew George Foley's whereabouts to the Eastmont sheriff. Could of eased the parents worrying earlier. Ron Howard's acting, timing, delivery and line remembrance is truly remarkable for a 6 year old. Funniest routine is Don Knotts writing Andy a ticket and the push & pull comedic debate following. Great epilogue of the same.

2 Police Cars!

[kathleenlafratta · 8/10 · 22 October 2022]

I always thought that they only had the 1 squad car in Mayberry. But after seeing this episode for the 50th time I noticed Barney pulls up in front of Andy's house in a second squad car! It looked like an old Chevy with a bubble light on top. This car was never seen again, to my knowledge. I have watched so many episodes on repeat and realized that I notice new things in each episode just about every time. I liked the first 5 seasons of the show because Don Knotts was in those. When he left, the show lost it all as far as I'm concerned. Also when they replaced Gomer with Goober I was furious! After that the show was dead.

Believable to Me With GREAT WRITING

[[e-mail] · 10/10 · 28 June 2024]

I'm sure some will take offense at Andy's perfect approach (to everything) but this episode encompasses it perfectly.

More complex issues than usual with an amazing Opie portrayal. This show is just excellent on so many levels; acting a given, but the words between the characters are on a super-pro level. They lead to immerorial lines, such as near the end when Opie says to Andy. "Maybe you'd like to come with me" (if Opie wants to run away again)

Aunt Bee's line "sort of takes the starch out of it" referring to Tex's refusal to tell his folks he was running away is one of Aunt Bee's in the entire series.

You can't beat this writing.

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Runaway kid episode

[mr-faber1 · 7 January 2020]

Opie's mother's death only mentioned once in the show. fans of the show are all aware of this.

Andy didn't break a promise.

[TerryS-50928 · 8/10 · 16 July 2024]

I believe reviewers have missed the fact that the boy Tex changed his mind and asked Andy to call his father. Even though Andy did something no law enforcement would EVER do by not immediately calling the boy's father. When one person asks another to promise something both have the right to nullify that agreement if it is mutually agreeable. This is what Andy should have told his son. It is not breaking a promise if the other person releases you from that promise. That would have a much better life lesson for Opie. The example Andy gave to Opie was a bit far-fetched. Sure, saving a drowning person would be the right thing to do but that had nothing to do with a promise made to another person. Andy should have simply told Opie that Tex changed his mind-something that Tex had a right to do with Andy's encouragement.