User Reviews

It's Wally's birthday and he doesn't see it as special, that means no party. He says he is planning to spend the day with Eddie for burgers. Actually, it's more of a scheme to meet some girls, think Mary Ellen Walters, and go off to the movies together. Beaver makes Wally feel a little guilty because Beaver mentions the good times they had on Wally's previous birthdays.

Wally decides to have a small party at home and then he will take Beaver to the movies as a surprise. Wally asks June if she can make a cake for a small party; there will always be other times to meet girls.

While shopping for Wally's present Beaver makes a big mistake, he takes Larry Mondello with him. Larry wants a bow and arrow set so he can play with it and he convinces Beaver to buy it for himself and get Wally a cheap 45 cent present. Larry argues that after all, Wally didn't even want Beaver around for his birthday. Why should Beaver spend his money on a camera for Wally. Beaver buys the bow and arrow set, and on the way home Larry Mondello breaks it.

On the home front, Eddie Haskell is busy convincing Wally that Ward and June are probably getting him a gyp for a birthday present, clothes or a suit or something. Beaver has arrived home and it's time to open presents. Aunt Martha sent a ten-dollar check, and Ward and June give Wally a nice wrist watch, Eddie gives Wally a microscope, and Beaver gives him a paddle toy. After seeing Wally's reaction, Beaver goes upstairs saying he says he has a headache.

Ward decides he needs to find out what happened so he calls Judson's store and Mr. Judson tells Ward about the bow and arrow set. Ward and June have a discussion with Beaver and Ward suggests Beaver return the bow and arrow set and exchange it for the camera. Ward and June see Beaver hide the set and ask where is the camera. Now Beaver tries to lie out of the situation with his usual inventive stories. Ward says he knows Beaver hid the set, now Beaver has to fess up the truth. Ward suggests Beaver tell Wally the truth and apologize.

Beaver does and Wally takes it with the grace that indicates Wally is on his way to becoming a fine person.

A good episode that explores the relationships between brothers and the emotional growth of character that comes with growing up. I know that the writers need a foil to start the complication going in the story but it's hard to believe that Beaver would follow the advice of such a poor friend every time. Especially as Larry bails out every time he pushes Beaver down the primrose path.

No way a salesmen sells a weapon to kids. It was very rare, or never for teen boys to exchange birthday gifts like Eddie did.. I don't think Wally would really want Eddie in on his family events with his past, and snide remarks.

This was mostly a good and funny episode but it had one rather serious flaw in it. The major flaw is that Beaver was pretty rotten here and there was a serious lesson that should have been impressed upon the young Beaver but unfortunately his parents Ward and June dropped the ball here,big-time.

What in the world am I talking about? Let me try to explain. Older brother Wally has a birthday coming up and a small party is being planned. The whole situation turns into a major disaster. The thing that gets the ball rolling is Beaver getting the idea that his big brother Wally is going to go to the movies with his pals but Beaver isn't going to be invited. This sets the stage for Beaver selfishly spending most of the money that was earmarked for Wally's present,on something for himself instead.

While Beaver is out shopping for Wally's birthday present, Beaver gets egged-on by his pal Larry to spend most of Wally's birthday-present money on himself. Beaver buys his brother Wally a cheap toy that would be better-suited for a younger child. Then,the expensive item that Beaver buys for himself ends-up getting broken before it is ever used. Next,the cheap toy Beaver gives to Wally looks particularly chintzy compared to the great gifts that everyone else gives to Wally,so Beaver looks and feels pretty silly. The parents start to piece-together the actual facts and confront Beaver. The Beaver admits to most of what happened, leaving out the part about him breaking the expensive item he bought for himself. The matter is eventually settled but Beaver ends-up getting very-little punishment for what he did. Beaver was sneaky, dishonest,he lied,he was selfish,and he was irresponsible.

For all of this,Beaver suffers practically no consequences.

Most of the basic story here was good,it was funny,and it was pretty-believable. The only problem was with the odd lack of punishment,and not even a stern lecture from the parents. This lenient, nonchalant parental dynamic seems oddly out of character for the typically staid and solid Ward and June Cleaver. Beaver surely had a serious lecture coming to him and some sort of a meaningful punishment-but he somehow received very-little of either.

This is a good episode with a believability problem. 7/10.