User Reviews

Goober receives a letter from his brother Braden (familiar character actor Woodrow Parfrey) that he is returning to his hometown for a visit. Braden left for the Navy nearly 20 years ago and stayed in California. Goober was always pals with his older brother and is anxious to show him that he owns his own gas station. Goober's perception is that his brother works in a factory and scrimped and saved to afford the trip. Unknown to him, Braden is a successful and important engineer in the government's space program. Upon arriving, Braden decides to not tell of his position and to just enjoy the company of his brother and Mayberry friends. However, at dinner he receives an important call and they discover his importance and success. It makes Goober feel inferior, and merits of both lifestyles are pondered.

A sharper, more developed script would have made this a nice episode. The concept was there.

Good story that borrows from quite a few "The Andy Griffith Show" themes and pieces them together. Goober feeling inferior has been used multiple times but still was not bad here.

A really cute close-up Millie Swanson (Arlene Golonka) scene in the library. Sam's (Ken Berry memory loss miraculously comes back again remembering reading about Braden Pyle. Absurd an executive engineer would be solving math problems over the phone. He'd have competent brilliant minds working under him not needing to be spoonfed solutions constantly. The technical engineer nomenclature appeared to be made up mumbo jumbo. Howard was prophetic that the mail system would one day be obsolete.

The usual wonderful TAGS/MRFD continuity items. Odd Goober and Braden on good terms never discussed Braden's business success. Braden must be highly educated in hiis corporate position. Goober was in the dark on this too apparently. Goober discloses his family owned a garbage removal company Braden was supposed to step into. What happened to this company? Why didn't Goober slide into it's management being a heir? Why didn't Braden rent a car with his lofty income while in Mayberry? Where does Millie get the money for her top of the line outfits working in a bakery?