This episode presents an interesting dynamic. When three old friends spend too much time together, things get a bit caustic. Being in a foreign country presents certain challenges. Bee has won a contest and shares the travel to Mexico with her friends. There is a silver lining, certainly, but when things aren't perfect it's hard to tell.
4 Reviews
Contrived, But Strangely Standing Out
richard.fuller110 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I suppose what always irked me about this episode when I first saw it as a youngster, was suddenly there was this friend, Myrtle. Of course she should take her friend Clara, so who was Myrtle? Now all these years later, Myrtle's place is a bit more obvious. An actress playing a role in an episode.
I watch the episode now and the biggest standout moment is definitely Frances Bavier's explaining the pictures to Andy. It is calm and subtle and her explanations cannot be disputed by Clara and Myrtle.
The upswing is definitely the re-created dreadful midnight dinner party at the end they all look forward to.
Rare for some of these episodes to actually conclude on a suitable note (assuming of course I am unable to recall the unedited airing of the episode, which I can't) When it airs on network TV now, it's definitely edited. One bit that seems to be cut is the ladies debating who will sit by the window going to Mexico (I think it is cut) but this then ruins a very good joke as, after the trip and the ladies have all had a falling-out, Bea bellows "well, I'll tell you one thing. On the flight back, this time we ALL had window seats!" Done well, breakdown and restructuring of a conversation can be interesting to observe and note. One of the best is on I Love Lucy when Ethel Mertz and Betty Ramsey realize they are both from Alberqueque.
While the dialogue over the photographs here isn't overly rich, it is a setup that is worth noting.
I watch the episode now and the biggest standout moment is definitely Frances Bavier's explaining the pictures to Andy. It is calm and subtle and her explanations cannot be disputed by Clara and Myrtle.
The upswing is definitely the re-created dreadful midnight dinner party at the end they all look forward to.
Rare for some of these episodes to actually conclude on a suitable note (assuming of course I am unable to recall the unedited airing of the episode, which I can't) When it airs on network TV now, it's definitely edited. One bit that seems to be cut is the ladies debating who will sit by the window going to Mexico (I think it is cut) but this then ruins a very good joke as, after the trip and the ladies have all had a falling-out, Bea bellows "well, I'll tell you one thing. On the flight back, this time we ALL had window seats!" Done well, breakdown and restructuring of a conversation can be interesting to observe and note. One of the best is on I Love Lucy when Ethel Mertz and Betty Ramsey realize they are both from Alberqueque.
While the dialogue over the photographs here isn't overly rich, it is a setup that is worth noting.
Epilogue only funny part.
vitoscotti22 August 2022
Episode just didn't click. Clara Edwards (Hope Somers) & Myrtle (Ruth Thom) are excellent in small doses. But, with extended screen time are insufferable. All the non-regular trip actors were very bland. Would have been a perfect episode for the brilliant Vito Scotti to play a Mexican. Emmett's story about his trip to "wide open" Akron was amusing. His fix-it shop seems cluttered and without much space for the guys loafing gabfests. Emmett has unexplainedly popped up out of nowhere (like Howard did) to become Andy's good friend and implied he was always there but not seen. Treat to see Elmo (Vince Barnett). Again Andy wraps up the story making all good outsmarting the town's dolts. Epilogue was zany and funny which towered over the rest of the stinker episode.
Two stubborn ladies and Bee
mcgx628 July 2023
This is one of the new episodes that is just plain irritating!! First Bee wins and Clara and Myrtle make the trip unbearable. Speaking of Myrtle why should Bee even consider taking her. She is only ever in five episodes and her name is Maggie and Ella in the first four!!! Clara has been around since season one. She should have been the one Bee took. Not to mention that an entire episode based on Bee, Clara and "Myrtle" is just plain painful to watch. These final seasons episodes are strained and some are just painful to watch. When Don Knotts and Barney Fife left the chemistry also left. Andy had no one to spar with!!
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