The Big Valley (TV Series) Brother Love (1967) User Reviews

You will remember this episode long after the show has ended

[kfo9494 · 7/10 · 25 September 2012]

This episode features Robert Goulet as a traveling preacher that goes from town-to-town healing the lame and making the mute speak. The problem is that the people that he is healing are in on the little trick. So the team is out to take money from people that want others healed.

Just like the Neil Diamond song, Robert Goulet is called Brother Love as he pretends to preach the gospel in his traveling show. Till one day he falls for the beautiful Audra Barkley. Then after an accident, Audra will need divine help and Brother Love has a chance to change his ways.

Robert Goulet was well casted as Brother Love where the love for money overpowered all his thoughts. The youthful Goulet was pleasant to the eye even having to sharing the screen with the beautiful Linda Evans.

Not the most interesting episode but a script that you will remember long after the show has ended.

A good solid episode with superb acting

[mgelonec-399-413805 · 8/10 · 17 June 2012]

I have often wondered if this episode inspired Neil Diamond's song "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show", or perhaps the song inspired the episode. The name is one obvious similarity. Many of the lyrics also fit: "And when he lets go half the valley shakes", "Eyes black as coal and when he lifts his face every ear in the place is on him". Besides, look at the original album photo for the song. It shows Neil Diamond standing in front of an old-west, 1800s wagon!

Anyway, Robert Goulet does a fine job as a false preacher whose real plan is to con people out of their money with fake faith healings. He pretends to be a preacher whose traveling salvation show is his church. Gavid MacLeod,who later played the skipper of "The Love Boat" and Strother Martin, a fabulous character actor who was in just about everything that was on TV back in those days round out the guest cast as characters who pretend to be seeking Brother Love's healing power because Strother Martin's character pretends to be crippled (Gavin MacLeod's character pretends to be his brother).

The drama centers around Audra Barkley's falling for the faker. Heath is suspicious of Brother Love and finds out the truth. During the episode, however, Brother Love falls for Audra.

Interesting Corn

[summerfields · 7/10 · 15 April 2010]

Robert Goulet, of all people plays the phoney, money-scheming Brother Love, and dang if he doesn't do a credible acting job: he's not bad at all.

Goulet is almost too handsome here: the scene where he enters the Saloon and does the male version of Carry Nation bit, Heath says "I wouldn't do that" (Love was about to toss away Mr. Barkley's beer for heaven's sake!) A great scene, finely executed.

Naturally, there is going to be a wee romantic interlude with our Audra (who goes temporarily blind in the interim) Not a great episode but definitely a memorable one - if not only for the 'right' reasons - Goulet had presence.

Gavin McLeod and Strother Martin are fine in their supporting roles.

I rather liked it

[sandy-55148 · 8/10 · 22 May 2021]

The writing was good, twists and turns as expected. Bob Goulet in true form, acting and singing, what he does best.

Nick does appear in this episode and didn't seem to think much of the charlatan. Seemed like the whole family, except for Audra who is a bit naïve and young, knew better.

Too easily redeemed

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 15 August 2016]

Robert Goulet gets to sing a line or two in this Big Valley story about an itinerant revivalist preacher trying to gather a crowd. Even before the story reveals him to be a conman it's pretty obvious he is. But some local respectable backers give him a bit of credibility as he decides to fleece the Stockton populace. That's what he's visiting the Barkleys for.

Although Goulet does a great job as do Strother Martin and Gavin McLeod as his come on shills who Goulet "heals" the story here is way too hokey. Let's say that Goulet does not look like the kind who would redeem too easily. Even to win Linda Evans's favor.

Not one of the better stories.

Nothing Behind Blue Eyes

[janet-conant · 2/10 · 10 April 2021]

This is one of the most unwatchable episodes of Big Valley that I haven't seen in a while. Big Valley has delivered great acting by James Whitmore, Bruce Dern, Royal Dano, Colleen Dewhurst, Albert Salmi, Quentin Dean, John Dehner, a very young Richard Dreyfus, Marlyn Mason etc so was surprised by the bad acting. Who could possibly believe that Brother Love (played by Robert Goulet with tongue in cheek) is on the level. Only Heath has his doubts. If Nick were in the episode he would also dismiss him as a con. All I could remember about this miserable episode were the blue eyes of Audra and Brother Love.

When Goulet thinks Audra is dying that fake praying is beyond belief. Who wrote this garbage? Are we to believe that Brother Love is genuine? Never. I'm surprised an actor like Strother Martin would participate. All I can remember are those piercing blue eyes of our two stars and of course Ms. Stanwyck's blue eye shadow.